(Courtesy of East Carolina Media Relations)
East Carolina won two games Sunday to force a Monday game in its regional at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville, N.C.
The Pirates dispatched Binghamton, 16-9, in an elimination, game, then withstood a late rally from South Carolina in Sunday’s second game for an 8-6 victory.
The winner-take-all final for the right to play North Carolina in the Super Regionals begins at 6 p.m. Monday.
East Carolina 8, South Carolina 6
Kyle Roller hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Pirates (45-18) were never headed, although they had some anxious moments.
Dustin Harrington hit a solo homer in the ECU fourth, and Brandon Henderson made the score 8-0 with a seventh-inning grand slam against USC starter Nolan Belcher. The Pirates increased their school-record season home run total to 105.
Trailing 8-0, South Carolina (40-22) scored two runs in the seventh inning and brought to potential winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth before losing.
East Carolina starting pitcher Kevin Brandt (9-1) pitched into the ninth inning before the Gamecocks threatened.
East Carolina responded with closer Seth Simmons, but the Gamecocks greeted him with three straight hits before he settled down to retire the final two batters he faced.
East Carolina 16, Binghamton 9
In the day’s first game, an eight-run fifth inning propelled the Pirates to victory. Kyle Roller led them by hitting two home runs in the fifth as part of his 4-for-5 day.
Brad Mincey (10-5) recorded the win for the Pirates, throwing his first career complete game while giving up two earned runs on 11 hits.
The Pirates had 19 hits.
Written by Palmetto State Staff
