Box Score

Greenville, N.C. - For a second-straight day, East Carolina erupted for five runs in the early innings in completing the series sweep of Western Carolina, 9-3, in nonconference baseball action on Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Field. Four Catamount errors helped the Pirates to six unearned runs, while WCU lit the scoreboard three times over the final three innings of the finale.

Three Catamounts managed two-hit games on Sunday with junior slugger Andrew Bullock blasting a two-run home run in the eighth as a part of his 2-for-4 showing with senior Cameron Blaquiere matching that performance with a double. Freshman Will Prater collected the first hits of his collegiate career finishing 2-for-2 as a pinch hitter while also playing second base.

Freshman right-hander Zach Franklin (0-1) worked through four and a third in his collegiate debut on the mound, settling in after the five unearned runs scored in the opening frame. The line for the Marion, N.C., native included a total of six unearned runs for the Pirates on six hits with a strikeout countering two walks.

Junior Jake Moebius tossed two innings in his second relief appearance of the season with a strikeout before handing the ball to Jake Niezen who worked around a one-out single to work two-thirds of a scoreless seventh. Transfer Chase Walter made his debut on the mound in the eighth, allowing a run on one hit with a pair of walks and two strikeouts from the 6-7 right-hander.

The Pirates (3-0) struck first in the home half of the opening inning, pushing across five unearned runs all with two outs to take advantage of a walk and a WCU error. Catcher Jake Washer delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single into right field ahead of Connor Litton who belted a three-run home run to clear the bases and give the home squad the five-run cushion.

ECU cashed-in on another pair of Catamount miscues in the fourth inning to stretch the advantage to six before tacking on two more runs off of three-consecutive hits including a two-run double by Bryant Packard to hit eight runs for a third-consecutive day.

Western Carolina (0-3) got on the board in the top of the seventh inning as catcher Spencer Holcomb reached on an infield single deep behind the bag at third base before Blaquiere bounced one over the fence in center for a ground-rule double. Freshman Justice Bigbie then grounded out to second, plating the second run of his career as Holcomb scampered home on the play.

In the eighth inning, Prater reached for the second time on a line drive shot into right center field before Bullock blasted his first homer of the year, a two-run shot that cleared the fence in right center to pull the Catamounts back to within five.

However, the Pirates manufactured a run, scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final tally.

Working in the starting role on a pre-determined pitch count, ECU starter Chris Holba (1-0) was lifted after four and two-thirds innings of four-hit, scoreless action but was credited with the victory. Holba struck out eight, though two WCU runners reached on wild pitches. Five Pirate relievers scattered WCU's three runs and five hits over the final four and a third innings, adding two additional strikeouts for a combined 10 on the day.

Litton led East Carolina with a 3-for-4 showing including the three-run home run as four Pirates posted multi-hit games. Washer finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in while Packard tallied two RBI, reaching twice in a 1-for-3 showing with a walk.

Western Carolina returns home on Tuesday, Feb. 20 to open a season-long, six-game home stand beginning with the frontend of a midweek nonconference home-and-home with Morehead State (2-2), which finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.