“I thought Nathan Disch had good stuff tonight but made a couple of mistakes that a nationally-ranked team will make you pay with,” said Head Coach Tim Montez. “I think these guys understand how close they are to being a good, solid ball club. We need to be a mentally tougher now that we’re on the road, because we were in that right until the last pitch, and this series is a good test for all of our club.”
Gould’s long ball was a solo shot that came with two-outs in the first inning.
ECU (15-7) answered with an RBI single by Eric Tyler in the second. The Pirates took the lead in the fourth on a two-run home run by Bryce Harman.
Jacksonville (14-7) scored two runs in the fifth inning thanks a two-out rally. Nathan Koslowski ripped a line drive single and Seth DeWitt reached on infield error. Dakota Julylia then delivered a hit to right field to plate Koslowksi. Parker Perez finished the scoring with an infield single to score DeWitt.
ECU pulled away with a pair of runs off starter Nathan Disch (3-2) in the sixth. Disch went 5.1 innings with six hits and four earned runs in the loss. He registered five strikeouts and walked two. The Pirates scored on a Zack Mozingo single and after Ryan Granda entered in relief, a bases-loaded walk.
Kyle Arjona would finish the inning and total one inning of relief an allowed a run in the seventh off another Mozingo single. Shane Wise threw the final inning and a third and struck out two batters.
Evan Kruczynski (3-0) was credited with the win with only one earned run off eight hits in 7.2 innings. He totaled seven strikeouts while only walking one.
Joe Ingle picked up his fourth save with no hits over 1.1 innings. The Dolphins play East Carolina again Friday with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
Following the series with ECU, Jacksonville returns home to host UCF on Tuesday, Mar.29 for its Vs. Cancer game.