GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — The East Carolina Pirates erupted for 11 runs in a marathon first inning and never looked back, routing the Charlotte 49ers 15-5 in an American Athletic Conference baseball game Saturday at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

The victory completed a three-game series sweep for the Pirates, who outscored Charlotte 39-16 over the weekend. East Carolina improved to 20-12 overall, while Charlotte fell to 18-13.

The most important part of the game was decisively the bottom of the first inning, which transformed a scoreless contest into a lopsided affair. After Charlotte starter Munn recorded just one out, the Pirates sent 16 batters to the plate, pounding out eight hits and capitalizing on a walk, a hit batter and a critical wild pitch. The inning featured six consecutive run-scoring plays after two were out, turning a 4-1 game into an 11-1 rout.

Braden Burress, the top star for East Carolina, ignited the onslaught with a leadoff double and capped the historic frame with an RBI double. He finished the day 3 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. His solo homer to deep left field in the third inning extended the Pirates’ lead to 12-1.

Davin Whitaker drove in four runs on three hits, including a two-run single in the first. Jack Herring added a two-run homer in the first as part of a 2-for-3, two-RBI day, and Jeff Sabater also contributed two RBIs.

Charlotte’s offense, which managed 10 hits, was led by Alec DeMartino. The right fielder went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. His two-run double in the fifth inning and solo homer to deep left in the seventh accounted for the bulk of the 49ers’ scoring.

The game was effectively decided by the Pirates’ early outburst, which came against Interstat’s pregame projection of a narrow 6-5 East Carolina win. The simulator had given the Pirates a 64% probability of victory, a figure they vastly exceeded with their offensive explosion.

Charlotte used six pitchers, with starter Munn taking the loss after recording only one out and allowing four earned runs. The lone bright spot for the 49ers’ staff was reliever Jaden Winter, who provided 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief with one strikeout.

East Carolina’s Joseph Webb earned the win in a predetermined staff day, allowing one earned run over three innings of work. Gavin Marley recorded the final out of the fifth inning to notch a hold.

The Pirates continue their homestand Tuesday against Duke. Charlotte travels to face North Carolina on Tuesday before returning home for a conference series against Rice next weekend.