GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina scored four runs in the first inning and tacked on four more throughout the game as ECU defeated Old Dominion baseball 8-2 on Wednesday evening in Greenville.
“Disappointed in our performance today,” ODU Head Coach Chris Finwood said. “It was a beautiful day for baseball and we didn’t play well. They outplayed us in every area. Getting down early like that is tough at a hard place to win. We had some chances and we couldn’t get the big hit and they did a good job of expanding the lead. I was proud of Brody Connors in his first collegiate start at second base. I thought he played well and had some really competitive at bats. He has a chance to be a very good player.”
ECU (3-5) scored four runs in the first on an RBI single from Walker Barron and three-run home run from Austin Irby to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead after the first inning.
Old Dominion (2-5) got on the board in the top of the third with a two-out rally. TJ Aiken walked and Luke Waters followed with a single. Kainen Jorge doubled down the left field line, scoring Aiken but Waters was thrown out on a close play at the plate.
ECU got the run back in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead before ODU made it 5-2 in the top of the sixth. Aiken led off the frame with another walk and Jorge followed with a walk before Maverick Stallings drove in Aiken to cut the lead to 5-2. Brody Connors was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Evan Holman flew out to end the threat.
The Pirates scored two more runs in the seventh inning and Dixon Williams capped the scoring in the eighth with a solo homer.
Stallings went 2-for-4 with an RBI double to lead the ODU offense, while Aiken went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored.
Frankie Wright suffered the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, in his one inning of work.
The Monarchs travel to Middle Tennessee this weekend to compete in a tournament to face St. Bonaventure, UT Martin and Middle Tennessee.