
Pirates Drop Series Finale Against Wichita State
April 19, 2026 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina Pirates (24-16-1, 9-6 American) dropped the series finale to the Wichita State Shockers (24-17, 8-7 American), 13-1, on Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium, but secured the American Conference series victory after taking the first two games of the weekend.Â
The Pirates were unable to complete the sweep as Wichita State's offense broke the game open in the middle innings. After a scoreless start through two frames, the Shockers plated an unearned run in the third before erupting five runs in the fifth and adding three more in the sixth to build a commanding lead.Â
East Carolina struggled to generate offense throughout the afternoon, managing just four hits against Wichita State's pitching staff. The Pirates' lone run came in the eighth inning when Braden Burress singled and later scored on Davin Whitaker's RBI triple to right field.Â
Whitaker accounted for the only extra-base hit for ECU and drove in the team's only run, while Walker Barron, Colby Wallace and Burress each added a hit.Â
On the mound, Ryan Towers (3-3) took the loss after allowing one run, unearned, over three innings of work. The Pirates used multiple arms out of the bullpen as Wichita State tallied 12 hits and 13 runs, capitalizing on 11 walks and several key situational hits.Â
Despite the setback in the finale, East Carolina claimed the weekend series and continued its strong play in conference action.Â
The Pirates will take a short break in their homestand, heading to Norfolk for a Tuesday night midweek game against Old Dominion. The contest on Tuesday will mark the second and final game the Pirates will face Old Dominion this season.Â
First pitch in Norfolk is set for 6:00 p.m. EST.Â
The Pirates were unable to complete the sweep as Wichita State's offense broke the game open in the middle innings. After a scoreless start through two frames, the Shockers plated an unearned run in the third before erupting five runs in the fifth and adding three more in the sixth to build a commanding lead.Â
East Carolina struggled to generate offense throughout the afternoon, managing just four hits against Wichita State's pitching staff. The Pirates' lone run came in the eighth inning when Braden Burress singled and later scored on Davin Whitaker's RBI triple to right field.Â
Whitaker accounted for the only extra-base hit for ECU and drove in the team's only run, while Walker Barron, Colby Wallace and Burress each added a hit.Â
On the mound, Ryan Towers (3-3) took the loss after allowing one run, unearned, over three innings of work. The Pirates used multiple arms out of the bullpen as Wichita State tallied 12 hits and 13 runs, capitalizing on 11 walks and several key situational hits.Â
Despite the setback in the finale, East Carolina claimed the weekend series and continued its strong play in conference action.Â
The Pirates will take a short break in their homestand, heading to Norfolk for a Tuesday night midweek game against Old Dominion. The contest on Tuesday will mark the second and final game the Pirates will face Old Dominion this season.Â
First pitch in Norfolk is set for 6:00 p.m. EST.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tsengeg, Amar (2-0)
L: Towers, Ryan (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Gustafson, Jaden 1
RBI: Wulfert, Josh 3 ; Gustafson, Jaden 2 ; Jones, Jayson 2 ; Washburn, Owen 2 ; Duncan, Kaleb 1 ; Ganter, Nolan 1
SH: Gonzalez, Ethan 3
SF: Duncan, Kaleb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ulloa, Alex 2 ; Escobar, Evan 2 ; Gustafson, Jaden 2 ; Jones, Jayson 2 ; Washburn, Owen 1 ; Duncan, Kaleb 1 ; Ganter, Nolan 3
CS: Wulfert, Josh 2
HBP: Ulloa, Alex 1 ; Jones, Jayson 1 ; Duncan, Kaleb 1

Batting:
3B: Whitaker, Davin 1
RBI: Whitaker, Davin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burress, Braden 1
CS: Sabater, Jeff 1
HBP: Whitaker, Davin 1
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