Pirates Split Saturday Doubleheader Against Xavier

Saturday, February 14

Greenville, N.C.

12:30 P.M.

East Carolina University

0-2

Xavier

2-0

Xavier

East Carolina

February 14, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina Pirates baseball split Saturday's doubleheader with the Xavier Musketeers baseball at Clark–LeClair Stadium, dropping the opener 9-3 before responding with a 12-5 victory in the final contest.

This was the first time the Pirates had lost their opening home weekend since 2022, when Bryant swept ECU.

Game 1: Xavier 9, ECU 3

The opener was tight through the first four innings before Xavier used a five-run sixth to create separation.

After three scoreless innings, the Musketeers broke through in the fourth inning, capitalizing on two ECU errors to plate a pair of unearned runs. Pirate starter Gavin Van Kempen worked four innings, allowing just two runs (both unearned) while striking out four and keeping ECU within reach early.

The Pirates answered in the fifth when Braden Burress was hit by a pitch, moved into scoring position, and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Jack Vogele to make it 2-1. In the sixth, Grady Lenahan doubled down the left field line and scored on a wild pitch, and Jack Herring followed with an RBI single up the middle to trim the deficit to 7-3.

Xavier, however, did its damage in the top half of the sixth, stringing together seven hits in the frame, including a two-run home run, to push the lead to six. The Musketeers added two more in the ninth for the final margin.

Burress led ECU offensively, going 3-for-3 with two stolen bases and reaching base four times. Herring finished 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Lenahan added two hits and Jacome recorded a double. The Pirates collected nine hits but stranded 11 runners in the loss.

Game 2: ECU 12, Xavier 5

ECU responded with its most complete performance of the young season in game two, pounding out 13 hits and scoring in six different innings to secure the doubleheader split.

The Pirates struck first in the second inning when Austin Irby doubled to right center and later scored on a ground ball double play to give ECU a 1-0 lead. After Xavier tied it in the third, ECU answered immediately in the bottom half.

Nick Parham was hit by a pitch to spark the rally, and Walker Barron followed with a single to center. A throwing error allowed a run to score, and Grady Lenahan delivered an RBI double to right center as ECU plated three runs in the inning to take a 4-1 advantage.

The Pirates extended the lead in the fourth. Jacome singled and later scored on an RBI single from Barron, and Burress drove in another run on a fielder's choice to make it 6-2.

Freshman right-hander Colby Weber was sharp in his collegiate debut, earning his first career win while recording his first collegiate strikeouts. Weber worked five strong innings, allowing just two runs on three hits while striking out six and walking one. He set the tone early, attacking the strike zone and limiting hard contact as ECU built its lead.

The freshman is dealing @ColbyWeber40 pic.twitter.com/ATPvIrXy3v
— ECU Baseball (@ECUBaseball) February 14, 2026

After Xavier trimmed the margin to 6-4 late, the Pirates created breathing room in the seventh. Burress singled, Herring followed with a base hit, and Lenahan laid down a bunt single to drive in a run. Irby added an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly from Brayden Bachman pushed the lead to 9-2.

ECU put the game out of reach in the eighth. Barron doubled down the left field line, Lenahan added a sacrifice fly, and Irby delivered a two-run double to left to cap a three-run frame and stretch the lead to 12-4.

Irby paced the offense with three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs. Lenahan also drove in three runs, Barron went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Herring scored three times. The Pirates played error-free defense behind their pitching staff in the win.

Gavin Marley bridged the middle innings out of the bullpen, and Frank Ciccone closed the final two frames to secure the 12-5 victory.

With the series concluding on Saturday, the Pirates will have an extra day to prepare for two midweek games on February 17 and 18. ECU will travel to Buies Creek on Tuesday to take on longtime opponent Campbell. With a quick turnaround, the Pirates will then host Northern Illinois on Wednesday with a new face.

First pitch in Buies Creek is set for 5:00 p.m. EST.