Tuesday, April 16
Williamsburg, Va.
6:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
28-8
14
at
13
William & Mary
25-12
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East Carolina
4
0
0
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1
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0
2
0
3
14
18
3
William & Mary
3
0
1
3
0
1
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1
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13
18
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No. 9 East Carolina Wins Wild One At William & Mary
April 17, 2024 | Baseball
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The old adage "they don't ask how just how many" certainly applied Tuesday night as No. 9 East Carolina rebuffed numerous comeback attempts by William & Mary to leave Plumeri Park with a 14-13 victory in a contest that went 13 innings and lasted five and a half hours.
The teams combined for 27 runs on 36 hits with six errors, 23 walks and 32 strikeouts and 47 runners left on base. The Pirates (28-8) did set the program single-game record for pitching strikeouts with 22. The Tribe (25-12) was just 1-for-24 (.042) with runners in scoring position.
Carter Cunningham tied career high single-game marks in hits (four) and at bats (seven), also finishing with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Ryley Johnson, Jacob Jenkins-Cowart and Bristol Carter all enjoyed three-hit performances as Johnson finished with four runs scored and Jenkins-Cowart added four RBI to his ledger. Lucas Trigani paced the home side with three hits and three runs scored.
Freshman RHP Parker Thomas collected his first collegiate save, recording the final two outs, while Erik Ritchie (1-0) was the winning pitcher in his first decision of the campaign after tossing one complete frame. Nick Lottchea (2-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts in three innings of work.
The Pirates came out blazing as Johnson clubbed a leadoff home run to right and Cunningham lined a 1-2 pitch into the gap in left center for a triple. Jenkins-Cowart was then cleared for takeoff as he took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the wall in right to make it 3-0. Cam Clonch capped the frame with an RBI single to push the lead to four.
The Tribe responded right away as a hit by pitch, single and walk loaded the bases with no outs. Another pair of walks and an additional hit by pitch plated three runs before Dixon Williams snagged a liner at second and doubled off the runner to terminate the frame and keep ECU ahead by one.
With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the third, a pair of singles and an error loaded the bases for Lucas Carmichael who worked a walk to bring in the tying run. East Carolina snatched the advantage back briefly in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single from Cunningham and a Bristol Carter run-scoring bunt single, but the home side put up a three spot in the home half via Nate Goranson two-run home run and subsequent Trey Christman RBI single.
Johnson led off the sixth with a single and advanced all the way to third with one out after stealing second and reaching third on a throwing error. Jenkins-Cowart would promptly drive him home with a sacrifice fly that tied the score at seven. William & Mary responded right back in home half of the inning as Henry Jackson notched a leadoff single and scored on a throwing error. Jake Hunter kept the Pirate deficit at just one by striking out three of the next four batters.
Down to its final offensive chance in the top of the ninth, the Pirates were able to grab two runs to propel themselves ahead. Luke Nowak drew a leadoff walk before Joey Berini ripped a double down the right field line that was more than enough to plate Nowak and knot the score once more. Berini would advance to third on a wild pitch and score off a Cunningham sacrifice fly to put the Purple and Gold in front. The Tribe was able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a two-out error as the game moved into extra innings.
Both sides would plate two in the 11th frame but came up empty in the 12th to send things to the decisive 13th inning. Cunningham wasted little time in the top half, sending a leadoff single into right field. Jenkins-Cowart then put a ball in play that was mishandled. When the dust cleared, he ended up on second and Cunningham was left standing 90 feet away from home. Williams would take an 0-1 offering into center field to drive home Cunningham before Carter got all of a 1-0 pitch and launched it well over the wall in left field to make it 14-11.
That long ball would prove the ultimate difference as a walk and single put the Tribe in business in the bottom of the 13th. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position with no outs before another walk and wild pitch saw them cross home to slice the ECU lead to one. With Thomas in the game and the bases loaded with one out, the rookie dug down and tallied a strikeout before inducing a fly ball to center that Johnson handled and vanquished the Tribe for good.
The teams combined for 27 runs on 36 hits with six errors, 23 walks and 32 strikeouts and 47 runners left on base. The Pirates (28-8) did set the program single-game record for pitching strikeouts with 22. The Tribe (25-12) was just 1-for-24 (.042) with runners in scoring position.
Carter Cunningham tied career high single-game marks in hits (four) and at bats (seven), also finishing with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Ryley Johnson, Jacob Jenkins-Cowart and Bristol Carter all enjoyed three-hit performances as Johnson finished with four runs scored and Jenkins-Cowart added four RBI to his ledger. Lucas Trigani paced the home side with three hits and three runs scored.
Freshman RHP Parker Thomas collected his first collegiate save, recording the final two outs, while Erik Ritchie (1-0) was the winning pitcher in his first decision of the campaign after tossing one complete frame. Nick Lottchea (2-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts in three innings of work.
How's everyone doing? 😅
— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) April 17, 2024
PIRATES WIN IN THE 13TH😤🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/QZCCLxSTtZ
The Pirates came out blazing as Johnson clubbed a leadoff home run to right and Cunningham lined a 1-2 pitch into the gap in left center for a triple. Jenkins-Cowart was then cleared for takeoff as he took the first pitch he saw and launched it over the wall in right to make it 3-0. Cam Clonch capped the frame with an RBI single to push the lead to four.
The Tribe responded right away as a hit by pitch, single and walk loaded the bases with no outs. Another pair of walks and an additional hit by pitch plated three runs before Dixon Williams snagged a liner at second and doubled off the runner to terminate the frame and keep ECU ahead by one.
With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the third, a pair of singles and an error loaded the bases for Lucas Carmichael who worked a walk to bring in the tying run. East Carolina snatched the advantage back briefly in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single from Cunningham and a Bristol Carter run-scoring bunt single, but the home side put up a three spot in the home half via Nate Goranson two-run home run and subsequent Trey Christman RBI single.
Johnson led off the sixth with a single and advanced all the way to third with one out after stealing second and reaching third on a throwing error. Jenkins-Cowart would promptly drive him home with a sacrifice fly that tied the score at seven. William & Mary responded right back in home half of the inning as Henry Jackson notched a leadoff single and scored on a throwing error. Jake Hunter kept the Pirate deficit at just one by striking out three of the next four batters.
Down to its final offensive chance in the top of the ninth, the Pirates were able to grab two runs to propel themselves ahead. Luke Nowak drew a leadoff walk before Joey Berini ripped a double down the right field line that was more than enough to plate Nowak and knot the score once more. Berini would advance to third on a wild pitch and score off a Cunningham sacrifice fly to put the Purple and Gold in front. The Tribe was able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a two-out error as the game moved into extra innings.
Both sides would plate two in the 11th frame but came up empty in the 12th to send things to the decisive 13th inning. Cunningham wasted little time in the top half, sending a leadoff single into right field. Jenkins-Cowart then put a ball in play that was mishandled. When the dust cleared, he ended up on second and Cunningham was left standing 90 feet away from home. Williams would take an 0-1 offering into center field to drive home Cunningham before Carter got all of a 1-0 pitch and launched it well over the wall in left field to make it 14-11.
That long ball would prove the ultimate difference as a walk and single put the Tribe in business in the bottom of the 13th. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position with no outs before another walk and wild pitch saw them cross home to slice the ECU lead to one. With Thomas in the game and the bases loaded with one out, the rookie dug down and tallied a strikeout before inducing a fly ball to center that Johnson handled and vanquished the Tribe for good.
- East Carolina emerged victorious in its first visit to Williamsburg since the 2000 campaign. The Pirates improved to 81-19 all time against William & Mary in the teams' 100th meeting on the diamond.
- ECU improved to 10-6 in true road contests in 2024 and notched its seventh-straight midweek victory.
- The Pirates fanned 22 Tribe batters to break the program single-game record of 20 that was set against George Washington in 1970.
- East Carolina was 6-for-10 (.600) with a runner on third and less than two outs and was 6-for-19 (.316) with runners in scoring position.
- Cunningham extended his hitting streak to 11 games and has put together a pair of double-digit hitting streaks this year. Johnson has also reached base safely in all 34 games he's played.
- ECU registered its 12th come-from-behind victory of the season and is 3-0 in extra-inning contests.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ritchie, Erik (1-0)
L: Lottchea, Nick (2-2)
S: Thomas, Parker (1)
Batting:
2B: Berini, Joey 1
3B: Cunningham, Carter 1
HR: Johnson, Ryley 1 ; Jenkins-Cowart, Jacob 1 ; Carter, Bristol 1
RBI: Johnson, Ryley 1 ; Cunningham, Carter 2 ; Jenkins-Cowart, Jacob 4 ; Williams, Dixon 1 ; Carter, Bristol 3 ; Clonch, Cam 1 ; Berini, Joey 1
SF: Cunningham, Carter 1 ; Jenkins-Cowart, Jacob 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnson, Ryley 4 ; Cunningham, Carter 3 ; Jenkins-Cowart, Jacob 2 ; Williams, Dixon 2 ; Carter, Bristol 1 ; Nowak, Luke 1 ; Berini, Joey 1
SB: Johnson, Ryley 1
HBP: Johnson, Ryley 1 ; Williams, Dixon 1 ; Wilcoxen, Justin 1 ; Clonch, Cam 1 ; Berini, Joey 1
Batting:
HR: Goranson, Nate 1
RBI: Carmichael, Lucas 2 ; Parker, Ben 1 ; Rush, Christian 1 ; Jackson,Henry 1 ; Goranson, Nate 3 ; Christman, Trey 1
SH: Jackson,Henry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carmichael, Lucas 2 ; Parker, Ben 1 ; Delossantos, Joe 1 ; Barnes III, Jerry 1 ; Jackson,Henry 3 ; Goranson, Nate 1 ; Trigiani, Luca 3 ; Adams, Corey 1
SB: Trigiani, Luca 1
HBP: Carmichael, Lucas 2 ; Holmes, Derek 1 ; Goranson, Nate 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
7
R
3
H
4
RBI
2
AB
6
R
4
H
3
RBI
1
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
7
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
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