ECU rallies with record eighth inning to top Rice in AAC Tourney opener

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Top-seeded East Carolina exploded for a Championship-record 12 runs in the eighth inning on the way to a 12-4 come-from-behind victory over No. 8 seed Rice in the second game of the 2024 American Baseball Championship.

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With the win, East Carolina (41-13) advances to the winner’s bracket and will take Wichita State on Thursday, May 23 at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Rice (22-35) will play in an elimination game and take on UAB on Wednesday, May 22, at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.

Down 4-0 in the eighth, Carter Cunningham started the scoring barrage when he singled home Joey Berini before Ryley Johnson scored on a grounder by Jacob Jenkins-Cowart to cut the lead to two. Cunningham came home on a check swing single by Dixon Williams before Justin Wilcoxen singled to score Jacob Starling to tie the contest.

The Pirates took the lead on an RBI single by Luke Nowak and then Berini hit a second ball of the inning to right field that was lost in the sun to score another run. Johnson hit a 3-run triple to right-center field before scoring on a wild pitch, while Starling hit a 2-run home run to right field to close out the scoring.

Colby Wallace (1-0) earned the win for the Pirates, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. ECU starter Ethan Norby pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with three strikeouts.

Rice’s JD McCracken pitched six scoreless innings with four strikeouts while scattering a pair of hits. Kyte McDonald hit a triple, single and double in his first three at-bats, scoring twice.

2024 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.

Schedule
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 Wichita State 8, No. 5 UAB 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 East Carolina 12, No. 8 Rice 4 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 7 Charlotte 9, No. 2 UTSA 5 (12 innings) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 3 Tulane | 47 minutes after Game 3 | ESPN+

Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: Rice vs. UAB | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+

Thursday, May 23
Game 7: Wichita State vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+

Friday, May 24
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+

Saturday, May 25
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 (if necessary) | TBD | ESPN+

Sunday, May 26
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS/ESPN+

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