Charlotte Rallies Past ECU In The Ninth For 8-7 Win

Sunday, April 14

Greenville, N.C.

1:00 p.m.

East Carolina University

27-8, 8-4

Charlotte

16-20, 5-7

Charlotte

East Carolina

April 14, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENVILLE, N.C. – A grand slam off the bat of Carson Bayne in the top of the ninth proved the difference Sunday afternoon as Charlotte salvaged the series finale with an 8-7 win over No. 9 East Carolina from Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The Pirates (27-8, 8-4 AAC) still exited the weekend with a series victory and remained just one game back of UTSA for first place in the conference standings with five series to go (three at home). A 4-1 week for ECU included those two victories over the 49ers (16-20, 5-7 AAC) as well as a pair of no hitters by the pitching staff.

Tony Rossi (2-1) was credited with the win in relief, giving up one run in 1.1 innings of work with three strikeouts. Jackson DiLorenzo (1-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on one hit with a walk.

Ryley Johnson drove in three runs and walked twice to help pace the ECU offensive effort while Carter Cunningham finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Bayne would end up with two hits, a run scored and six RBI for the visitors.

With two outs and the bases clean in the top of the third, a walk, single and hit by pitch loaded the bases for Bayne who looped a two-run single to shallow right to give his team an early 2-0 advantage. East Carolina answered in the bottom of the fourth. Dixon Williams lifted a double to deep right field with two away and Colby Wallace followed with an infield single that was good enough to send Williams to third. Joey Berini then drew a walk in an epic 13-pitch at bat to load the bases for Johnson who stung a bases-clearing double off the wall in right to put the Pirates into the lead. Cunningham capped the inning with an RBI double that left the score at 4-2 after four complete.

Cunningham added some insurance to lead of the bottom of the seventh as he worked a 2-0 count and clubbed the next pitch into the trees past the right field wall to extend the lead to 5-2. Brandon Stahlman reduced the Charlotte deficit to 5-3 in the eighth with an RBI single before Dante DeFranco laid down a bunt to plate Thad Ector from third to make it a one-run contest. Jake Hunter kept ECU in front with an inning-ending strikeout.

Wallace singled with one out in the bottom of the eighth and moved to second on a groundout to start the bottom of the eighth. Johnson then struck out but would reach first on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Wallace to scamper home and the third wild pitch of the frame got him to third before a strikeout terminated the inning.

With one away in the top of the ninth, a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for Jayne who connected on a 2-0 offering and snuck it just inside the right fair pole for a grand slam and 8-6 49er lead. Bristol Carter would double with two outs and score on a Wilcoxen base knock to right to give the Pirates some life, but a fly ball to center ended the contest.

East Carolina's eight losses have occurred by a combined 10 runs.
The Pirates left nine runners on base and were just 5-for-22 (.227) with runners on.
ECU produced five two-out RBI.
The Pirates fell to 17-2 at home in 2024.
Johnson extended his on base streak to 33 games.

Up Next: East Carolina heads to Williamsburg Tuesday evening for a non-conference contest with host William & Mary. First pitch at Plumeri Park is slated for 6 p.m.