GREENVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — East Carolina Pirates routed the South Florida Bulls 12-2 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader, erupting for six runs in the second inning and riding a dominant relief outing from Joseph Webb.

The Pirates improved to 28-16 overall, while the Bulls fell to 28-15. East Carolina collected 15 hits, made two sacrifice hits and took advantage of three South Florida errors. The Bulls managed three hits and struck out 10 times.

South Florida took an early lead in the top of the second inning. After Luke Rose was hit by a pitch, Mirza tripled to deep right field to drive in Rose. Carriles followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Mirza, and the Bulls led 2-0.

East Carolina answered immediately in the bottom half. Matthew Lashley doubled down the right-field line to score Sabater, who had walked. Kalinich singled to center to score Lashley, tying the game. Austin Irby then homered to deep right field, scoring Kalinich and himself, giving the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Braden Burress doubled to left center, and Jack Herring crushed a two-run homer to deep right, extending the lead to 6-2.

The game was suspended in the bottom of the third inning and later resumed, with several defensive substitutions for South Florida. After the restart, the Pirates added a run in the third on a single by Davin Whitaker, pushing the lead to 7-2.

In the fourth inning, Sabater scored on a single by Barron after advancing on a passed ball, making it 8-2. Herring’s single in the fifth drove in a run, and a throwing error by South Florida pitcher Gailey allowed another run to score, putting the Pirates up 10-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Burress led off with a double down the left-field line. After a groundout advanced him to third, Herring singled up the middle to drive in Burress, making it 11-2.

The Pirates added their final run in the eighth. Burress was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Whitaker and scored on a single by Herring.

Webb entered the game in the fourth inning with the score 7-2 and retired all 15 batters he faced over five innings. He struck out six, walked none and allowed no hits. The outing extended his scoreless streak to 14.1 innings over his last four appearances, including three straight scoreless outings against Wichita State earlier in the week.

Herring finished 4-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs. Burress went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and three runs scored. Whitaker was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Lashley was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. For South Florida, Lutz singled twice and Mirza added a triple. Rose, who was hit by a pitch, scored the Bulls’ first run.

South Florida used five pitchers. Nolan Bernard threw 2.1 innings, allowing one earned run on no hits with two strikeouts. Edwin Alicea pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on no hits with two strikeouts. Starter Sutton was charged with six runs in two innings.

The first inning featured a challenge by South Florida on a safe call at first base. The call was upheld.

The win was East Carolina’s second in as many days against the Bulls, following an 11-1 victory Friday night. The teams were scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday.