Box Score
Box Score:  NCCU at ECU (HTML)


GREENVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina Central University saw its nine-game winning streak end on Friday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium as the Pirates of East Carolina scored three runs in the first three innings and held the visiting Eagles to one hit in the 3-0 victory.
 
Despite being held to one hit, NCCU still had its chances to put runs on the board as the Eagles left five runners stranded in the contest.
 
In the bottom of the first, ECU threw the first blow with two outs when Zach Houchins drilled a double to left field scoring Dylan Brown who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the frame as the Pirates took a 1-0 lead.
 
The maroon and gray had two runners on with two outs in the top of the second and failed to plate a run as Ronald Thompson (Chadbourn, N.C.) struck out looking to end the threat.
 
In the top-half of the third, the Eagles threatened again as Akeem Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) reached on a one out walk and ended up at with two stolen bases to give him 13 on the year, but senior Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) struck out to end the threat.
 
The game’s final two runs scored in the bottom of the third inning with one out when Jay Cannon’s single was followed up by Houchins first triple of the year to give the host Pirates a 2-0 advantage.  First baseman Chase McDonald ripped a single to put ECU up 3-0 when the next two batters reached to load the bases when Hood (Raleigh, N.C.) made the defensive play of the night catching Bryan Bass’s shallow pop fly to center field, then throwing a frozen rope home to gun McDonald at-the-plate, minimizing the damage for the Eagles.
 
Down by three runs the Eagles could have folded under the pressure, but starter Michael Romano (Spotsylvania, Va.) continued to battle on the hill keeping the Pirates scoreless the rest of his outing due to his gritty pitching and solid defense.
 
Junior Carter Williamson (Roanoke, Va.) broke up Jeff Hoffman’s no-hit effort in the top of the fourth with a single up the middle for hit No. 116 of his career.  Junior Spencer Franceschetti later hit into an inning ending double play to keep the Eagles scoreless.
 
The Pirates did not plate another run the rest of the way as ECU left 10 runners on base in holding on for the 3-0 shutout victory.
 
ECU (13-14) was paced by Hoffman’s effort on the hill as the righty threw a complete game shutout ending the night with seven strikeouts for the second time this season.  Hoffman (3-3) allowed only one hit on the night.
 
Offensively the Pirates recorded 11 hits as Houchins finished 3-for-4 at-the-dish with a double, triple, a run scored and two RBI.
 
Romano (2-4) threw seven innings, allowed only three runs with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
NCCU (18-10) will look to even-up the series in the weekend finale when they get back to action on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. as the Pirates make their first trip to the Durham Athletic Park to battle the Eagles in the fifth meeting between these two programs.  Admission is free.
 
For more information about NCCU athletics, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network app available in the App Store, Google Play and Amazon.