GREENVILLE — Josh Hogue hit a solo homer to right field for N.C. State with one out in the top of the first inning to set a tone in a 4-1 win at East Carolina on Tuesday night.
The Pirates trailed the rest of the way in falling to 20-14 with their fourth straight loss.
The Wolfpack (22-11) added an unearned run in the second inning on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Heavner.
The Pirates got on the board in the bottom of the third when Dixon Williams came in on a sacrifice fly by Braxton Tramel.
An error allowed an unearned run for the visitors in the fifth.
Justin DeCriscio had an RBI single in the ninth to complete the scoring.
Four State pitchers limited ECU to three hits. Anderson Nance (5-1) pitched five scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts for the win. Jacob Dudan tossed a scoreless ninth with two whiffs for his second save.
Sean Jenkins (3-3) was charged with the loss.
The Pirates start a 3-game American Athletic Conference series at Charlotte (19-13) on Friday at 6:05 p.m. (ESPN+). Both teams are 6-3 in the AAC.
It’s later in the game, State’s pitching is dominating, with ECU having a mere 3 hits, and guys are still taking first pitches all the way; they need to compete better.