FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — In a wild midweek nonconference game defined by a late-inning offensive explosion, the East Carolina Pirates edged the College of Charleston Cougars 8-7 on Wednesday at Segra Stadium.

The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the eighth inning, transforming a tied contest into a back-and-forth slugfest. The Cougars, who had been held to just three hits since the first inning, erupted for four runs in the top of the frame to seemingly seize control. After loading the bases with two outs, second baseman Jacob Amman launched a grand slam off Pirates reliever Sean Jenkins, turning a 7-7 tie into an 11-7 College of Charleston lead.

East Carolina, however, answered immediately in the bottom half. Trailing by four, the Pirates mounted a rally against Cougars reliever Parker Sweeney and his replacement, Kurt Rogers. A single, a walk and a bunt single loaded the bases with one out. Colby Lashley then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring the decisive run. The Pirates’ second sacrifice fly of the game completed the comeback, plating the winning run without needing a hit.

The late drama overshadowed a masterful relief performance by East Carolina’s Nick Moran, who entered in the third inning and stifled the Cougars’ offense. The right-hander pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs while striking out three. His outing stabilized the game after the Pirates had fallen behind early, allowing his team to chip away at the deficit.

College of Charleston had struck first, capitalizing on a passed ball and a stolen base to score an unearned run in the first inning on an RBI single by Nick Diaz. East Carolina responded with three runs in the second, highlighted by RBI singles from Lashley and Ethan Barron and a sacrifice fly from Carter Burress, to take a 3-1 lead.

The Pirates added another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Justin Irby, but the Cougars’ bullpen, led by effective outings from Hunter Phipps and Kaden Myers, kept the game close. East Carolina then appeared to break it open in the sixth, scoring three runs—two unearned on a throwing error by pitcher Cole Frail—to tie the game at 7-7. Landon Penfield’s solo home run in the top of the seventh briefly put College of Charleston back in front before the eighth-inning fireworks.

Amman was the standout for the Cougars, going 3 for 4 with the grand slam and four RBIs. Diaz added three hits and two RBIs. For East Carolina, Lashley finished with three hits and two RBIs, while Irby and Barron each had two hits.

With the win, East Carolina evened its season record at 4-4. College of Charleston fell to 3-6.

The Pirates are scheduled to host a three-game weekend tournament beginning Friday against Rutgers. The Cougars will travel to Greenville, South Carolina, for a weekend event, opening against James Madison on Friday.