No. 19 Pirates shutout No.26 Seahawks, 3-0

East Carolina extends winning streak to eight with victory over rival UNCW

Credit UNC-Wilmington’s pitching staff for slowing down the powerful Pirate bats better than anyone has this season. The Seahawks’ sensational effort on the mound held red-hot East Carolina to just three runs and six hits—both of which are season lows.

However, No. 19 East Carolina (18-4, 3-0) received one of its better pitching performances of the season and some key strikeouts to escape jams—UNCW left 12 on base compared to just four for ECU—combined with a couple timely hits was the difference for the Pirates in their 3-0 shutout of the 26 th ranked Seahawks.

This meeting of ranked in-state rivals had a bit of a regional feel to it with regard to the errorless play of both teams, the enhanced importance of each pitch and the strategy employed by the coaches. Additionally, the game—which lasted only 2 hours and 13 minutes—was played in front of 2,892 on a chilly night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

With the opportunity to earn a quality mid-week victory, neither coach held much back. The Seahawks top relievers held the Pirates hitless over the last 3.2 innings, which prompted East Carolina’s Billy Godwin to use top reliever Kevin Brandt and Saturday starter Seth Maness to seal the deal.

Both entered the game on strict pitch counts considering they will each toe the rubber in starting roles this weekend at Marshall, but were efficient in their condensed roles.

Brandt worked his way out of a bases loaded one out jam in the sixth and allowed only one hit in 1.2 innings of work. He struck out three and walked no one.

Maness, who made just his second career relief appearance, recorded his first save as a Pirate. He surrendered just one hit while striking out three and walking one in two innings of action.

ECU starter Brad Mincey, who was making the first start of his sophomore season, received the victory to improve to 4-1. While he didn’t have his best command—four strikeouts, two walks, two hit batters—he battled and pitched his way out of a few tight spots. The Pirates’ top right-handed reliever scattered six hits in his 5.1 innings.

Kyle Roller, who went 4-of-6 with four runs batted in and a home run on Tuesday at Campbell, continued to swing a hot bat. The Pirates’ designated hitter gave his team a 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the first before doubling in his next trip to the plate. He grounded out in his final two at-bats.

Devin Harris also remained on a roll. The ECU right fielder is now 6-of-8 on the week and batting .417 on the season after going 2-of-3 with an RBI against the Seahawks.

East Carolina will continue Conference USA play on Friday when it travels to Charleston, WV to play the first of three games against the Marshall Thundering Herd. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Appalachian Power Park.