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ECU freshman Bristol Carter brings home game-winning run in bottom of 9th vs. North Carolina

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery02/25/24
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© Andrew Craft / USA TODAY NETWORK

The ECU Pirates came into Sunday having split the series with the North Carolina Tar Heels. On Sunday, they won the deciding game, thanks to a clutch hit from Pirates’ freshman Bristol Carter. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases juiced, Carter brought home the game-winning run, as ECU prevailed over UNC, 10-9.

It marked the second straight season that ECU won their series with UNC.

UNC pinch hitter Gavin Gallaher smashed a three-run shot in the top of the seventh inning to push the ‘Heels ahead 5-4, but the Pirates would respond in a big way. ECU put three more runs on the board. In the top of the eighth inning, UNC scored three runs on three hits to push the score back to 8-7. It was a really back-and-forth contest that came down to the wire in the end.

Carter Cunningham and Luke Nowak both belted home runs in the win for the Pirates.

Bristol Carter was one of the more highly touted baseball players in America coming out of high school and he’s proving a lot of people right by delivering clutch hits like that one when it mattered most. Carter was named a 2023 first team high school All-American by Perfect Game. As a senior in high school, he batted .546 with 59 hits, 11 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 60 runs scored, and 34 RBIs.

A dynamic athlete, Carter earned first team all-state in football his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons for Northwest Guilford High School. He hauled in 1,408 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons combined.

With the win, ECU improved to 5-2 overall on the 2024 season. They’ve won two straight and both of those have come over the No. 15 ranked Tar Heels. ECU’s two losses have come to Campbell (7-6) and UNC (2-1).

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Sunday’s win was the first walk off victory for the Pirates since beating UCF 7-6 in 13 innings at the AAC Baseball Championship Tournament (May 26th, 2023).

The ECU win happened before a record crowd on Sunday. The Pirates had 6,017 people in attendance for their thrilling win over the ‘Heels, which shattered last year’s record of 6,003 fans that watched ECU knock off UNC on Feb. 24, 2023.

Coming up next for the Pirates, they’ll face the Old Dominion Monarchs, as they travel to Norfolk, Virginia for a showdown on February 27th. Then on March 1st, they’ll face off against the Purdue Boilermakers. ECU will also have a rematch with the Campbell Camels on May 14th.