GREENVILLE — Rice scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past host East Carolina for a 10-5 win in the opening game of an American Conference series on Friday night.
“We played eight innings of good baseball,” said Pirates coach Cliff Godwin. “Tip your hat to Rice. … We didn’t do enough to win in the ninth inning.”
Paul Smith’s 2-run single to left center tied the score at 5 in the ninth. The Owls scored two runs on an infield error with two out to take the lead.
ECU slipped to 29-20-1 overall and 13-9 in league play.
The Pirates overcame a 2-0 deficit with a 3-run fourth inning in which Jack Herring, Davin Whitaker and Grady Lanahan had doubles.
Whitaker hit a 405-foot homer with Herring aboard in the fifth for a 5-2 ECU advantage.
Rice struck first, taking a 1-0 lead on Colin Robson’s solo home run to right in the top of the third.
The Owls went up, 2-0, in the fourth as Kutter-Gage Webb homered to right.
Landis Davila had a solo shot for the visitors in the eighth.
Left-hander Ryan Towers started and went six innings for the Pirates. He allowed six hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk, two hit batters and four strikeouts.
Towers escaped a bases-loaded situation with one out in the fifth on a strikeout and a ground out.
Joe Webb (6-5) pitched two and two-thirds innings after Towers. He yielded five hits and seven runs, only three of which were earned. Webb walked two and struck out four.
Thomas Paxton surrendered three hits and an earned run before getting the final out.
Herring and Whitaker had two hits each for the hosts.
Brayden Sharp (4-2) was credited with the win for Rice (30-20, 12-10 American).
The second game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. (ESPN+).
While the Irby error started the dam break of runs, the table was set for Rice when Webb was left on the mound when it was clear the Owls bats had caught up to him. This isn’t a dig at anyone. I doubt whether AK or CG felt there was another go-to guy to bring in. The injuries to the Pirates pitching once again bites ECU. Does anyone doubt whether Sean King would have been on the mound in the ninth?
Some how, the Pirates have to survive this gut punch, and come out hot on Saturday. The Pirates are still in second place in the AC, and with a win today, will remain in second going into the last week against FAU. Forget about Sunday, and next week. Your backs are against the wall today.
The Rice fly ball hit to left field after the Irby error was definitely misplayed, and became another missed 3rd out, which was only mentioned by the color guy in passing. Of course, they were already down by then, so in retrospect, it didn’t matter.
Yes, clearly CG felt he had no option, given how long he left Webb in, but that Irby error was the real killer, as they were still tied at the time.
This is a very bad time for a losing streak; hopefully it stops today.