GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — Colby Wallace’s solo home run tied the game and Walker Barron’s second run-scoring double provided the decisive margin as the East Carolina Pirates edged the Elon Phoenix 4-3 in a midweek college baseball matchup Tuesday night at Clark–LeClair Stadium.

The victory improved East Carolina to 13-8 overall, while Elon fell to 9-11.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the middle innings, transforming a contest initially dominated by pitching into a back-and-forth affair. Elon had carried a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second, but the Pirates chipped away with two runs on RBI hits from Barron and Carter Burress. The game then turned in the fourth. After Elon reliever Cole Hansen struck out the side in the third, Wallace led off the bottom of the fourth by driving a pitch over the left-center field wall for a game-tying home run.

East Carolina secured the win an inning later. In the bottom of the sixth, Justin Whitaker singled and Wallace followed with another single. Barron then delivered the key blow, a single to shortstop that scored Whitaker. Barron was thrown out trying to advance, but the run gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish.

Elon mounted a significant threat in the eighth, loading the bases with one out against the Pirates’ bullpen. Connor Bogdanchik and pinch-hitter Charlie Denty delivered RBI singles, and Shane Roche added a run-scoring fielder’s choice, tying the game at 4-4 and putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. East Carolina reliever Sean Jenkins entered and induced a popout to end the inning, stranding two runners. Jenkins then worked a scoreless ninth to secure the win.

The game was defined by strong pitching, particularly from East Carolina starter Ryan Towers. The Pirates’ top star earned the win, tossing five strong innings and allowing three hits and no earned runs while striking out five. He worked efficiently after a shaky first inning, silencing the Phoenix lineup and keeping his team close. Elon’s bullpen was also effective, with six relievers combining for seven innings of two-run ball. Cole Hansen struck out four in two hitless innings, and Cole Taylor, RJ Latkowski, Cole Miller and Kehler Hamilton each contributed scoreless outings.

Elon out-hit East Carolina 8-9 but struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position outside of the eighth-inning rally. Charlie Alford led the Phoenix with a triple and a single, scoring twice. For East Carolina, Wallace finished 2-for-3 with the home run, and Barron drove in two crucial runs.

According to pregame projections, Interstat’s game simulator had forecast an 8-4 East Carolina victory, while its ELO system gave the Pirates an 80.2% probability to win.

East Carolina opens a three-game home series against UAB on Friday. Elon begins a Coastal Athletic Association road series at Northeastern the same day.