GREENVILLE, N.C. — Wichita State fell behind early and could not recover in an 8-0 loss in five innings to East Carolina on Saturday at Max R. Joyner Stadium.
 
Wichita State (11-9, 1-1) and East Carolina (16-9, 1-1) split the first two games of the series and are set for a rubber match on Sunday.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Pirates began the second with back-to-back singles to shallow center field and brought home the first run of the game on a throwing error. The next batter squeezed in another run on a sacrifice bunt to give East Carolina an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Pirates started the third the same way as the second with two base hits and loaded the bases with nobody out after drawing a walk from Jade Sanders.
 
Now facing Gabby Fakes, ECU ripped a single through the infield to score its first run of the inning. The next batter was hit by a pitch to force in another run, and a follow-up sacrifice fly made the score 5-0 through three innings.
 
East Carolina struck again in the fourth, scoring two runs on a double to right field to take a 7-0 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates ended the game in run-rule fashion with a solo home run to center field.
 
Sanders (2-3) took the loss, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing five runs on four hits. Kinzey Woody had the lone hit for Wichita State.
 
Up Next
Wichita State wraps up the series against East Carolina on Sunday at 9 a.m. CT at Max R. Joyner Stadium.