A three-run rally in the eighth inning was too little, too late for the Pirates to overcome their early 5-0 deficit, as East Carolina fell to Connecticut 6-4 Friday, clinching the eighth seed in the American Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament for the Pirates.
Connecticut’s (31-22, 14-9 AAC) starting pitcher, Wills Montgomerie, outdueled his counterpart on the mound, Chris Holba. Montgomerie threw seven innings on Friday, allowing three runs off of seven hits. Montgomerie also racked up six strikeouts in his start, while walking only one Pirate. On the other hand, ECU’s (28-27, 6-17 AAC) Holba lasted only two innings before he was pulled from the game.