MEMPHIS — A 3-run sixth inning lifted Memphis to a 5-3 win over East Carolina on Saturday and evened the American Conference series at 1-1.
The Pirates (29-18-1, 13-7 American) meet the Tigers (17-28, 9-11) on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. in the deciding game (ESPN+).
After going scoreless in a 12-0 loss to ECU on Friday night, Memphis took a 1-0 lead on Saturday on a first inning home run by Javon Hernandez.
Memphis pushed its lead to 2-0 in the third when Hernandez walked, stole second and came home on a single to right center by James Smith IV.
Walker Barron walked and Jeff Sabater singled to start a 3-run fifth for the Pirates. Nick Parham reached on a throwing error that allowed Barron to score.
Braden Burress hit a fielder’s choice that brought in Sabater to tie the score. The second error of the frame allowed Burress to score for a 3-2 ECU lead.
Tyler Harrington had an RBI single to tie the score in the sixth and Shane Cox followed with a 2-run single for the winning margin.
Ethan Norby (5-2) left the game with the bases loaded in the sixth with none out and was charged with the loss. The left-handed junior starter allowed seven hits and five earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Joe Webb pitched two innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Ethan Rose retired the Tigers in order in the eighth.
Memphis starter David Case (5-6) went six innings and was credited with the win.
Carson Fair came in for Caden Robinson with two on and two out in the eighth. He escaped the threat with a ground out and picked up his ninth save with the help of a double play in the ninth.
The Pirates were outhit, 9-7, despite a 2-for-3 effort by Sabater, who raised his average to .361.
It’s hard to figure out this year’s diamond Pirates. The offense which showed up on Friday stayed in the dugout yesterday. The number of non-quality trips to the plate by several Pirates is hard to explain. Give credit to the Memphis pitching, which suffered through one inning of poor defense, and otherwise tamed the Pirates. The Tigers earned their runs with timely hitting when it counted.
While the Pirates can still win the series today, which is important, Saturday’s loss will hurt the postseason résumé. The Pirates simply were not that competitive at the plate.