Pirates’ Baseball advances to Conference Tourney Championship after splitting Saturday games

CLEARWATER, F.L. (WITN) - After a morning loss to UTSA, East Carolina bested Wichita State 13-3 to close their Saturday and advanced to the Conference Tournament Final (played Sunday).

In the win, Colby Wallace drove in three runs, while Walker Barron, Austin Irby, Grady Lenahan and Michael Kalinich all had two. Lenahan had the game ending 2-run homer, to end the game in eight innings.

Joesph Webb started the game with Ethan Rose and Thomas Paxton coming in for relief.

In Game 1, the Pirates kept pace with UTSA into the 4th inning, but allowed two runs in the bottom half which would decide the game as the Roadrunners won 4-2.

Both Braden Burress and Grady Lenahan had an RBI in the loss, as Luke Payne, Ethan Rose, Charlie Hoagland and Gavin Marley all pitched.

They will play UTSA again in the final in a rematch of Saturday’s opener. It will start at 12 p.m.

The Pirates won this tournament last year, and split the conference regular season title with UTSA this season.