WICHITA, Kan. -- East Carolina starter Ethan Norby retired the first 16 hitters he faced and held Wichita State to just one run over 7.2 innings as the Pirates evened the series with a 6-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

Norby (6-4) was dominant, setting the Shockers (14-31, 6-14) down in order for each of the first five innings before Kaleb Duncan lined a one-out double off the southpaw in the sixth. Meanwhile, East Carolina (27-20, 11-9) scratched across single runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings, plus two in the top of the fifth, to build a 5-0 lead.

Wichita State finally got to Norby in the eighth, getting a two-out double from Cole Dillon and a Duncan walk to set the stage for Davis Mauzy, who ripped a base hit into left-center that brought home the first run of the game for WSU and cut the deficit to 5-1. Kam Durnin worked a walk against Colby Wallace to load the bases for Camden Johnson, but Wallace struck him out to stymie the threat.

Wallace then launched a solo homer in the top of the ninth to get the run right back before pitching around a leadoff single in the home half of the inning to close out the win and earn his third save.

Brady Hamilton (2-6) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing four runs (three earned) over 5.0 innings while striking out three. The combination of five Shocker relievers allowed 10 total hits over the final four innings but managed to hold the Pirates to two runs.

East Carolina out-hit the Shockers 15-4, led by three knocks apiece from Braden Burress and Alex Bouche.

Wichita State and ECU conclude the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm CT.