CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — East Carolina pitcher Ethan Rose and three relievers combined on a six-hit shutout as the Pirates routed VCU 10-0 in an NCAA tournament game Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, with the game stretching into the evening.

The Pirates, now 38-23, took control from the opening inning, scoring three runs against VCU starter Cooper Campbell and never looking back. The Rams, who fell to 38-25, managed only six hits and never advanced a runner past second base after the third inning.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the first inning. After a walk to Lou Lenahan and a flyout, Braden Burress walked to put two runners on. Following a strikeout, Michael Kalinich singled to left field to drive in Lenahan, and Austin Irby followed with a two-run single through the left side to make it 3-0. Campbell, who entered after the first batter, allowed all three runs on two hits and two walks in the inning.

VCU had a chance to respond in the top of the second when Ben Kirkpatrick and Carter Warden singled, but a strikeout ended the threat. The Rams again put two runners on in the third on a single by Jake DeFranco and a walk to Jack Lee, but a strikeout ended that inning as well.

East Carolina extended its lead in the fifth. With one out, Luke Whitaker walked, and Kalinich singled. After a strikeout, Irby singled to drive in Whitaker, and a fielding error by second baseman Warden loaded the bases. Nick Parham walked to force in a run, making it 5-0.

The Pirates broke the game open in the sixth. Burress doubled, Whitaker singled to bring him home, and after a sacrifice bunt, Irby was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice fly from Ryan Barron scored Whitaker, and Parham singled to make it 8-0.

East Carolina added two more in the seventh. Burress singled, moved to second on a passed ball that also scored Lenahan, then scored on a double by Kalinich to cap the scoring.

VCU’s best remaining opportunity came in the eighth when Nate Lethert singled with two outs, but a fielder’s choice ended the inning. The Rams went down in order in the ninth.

Rose pitched five innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out three. Brett Antolick, Thomas Paxton and Michael Kalinich, who moved from designated hitter to catcher in the eighth, finished the game. For VCU, Campbell took the loss after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Relievers Caleb Clover, Hunter Gotschall and others held the Pirates scoreless in the final two innings.

Key contributors for East Carolina included Kalinich, who had three hits and three RBIs; Irby, who drove in three runs; Parham, who had two RBIs; and Burress, who scored three runs. For VCU, DeFranco, Kirkpatrick, Warden, Lethert, Petite and Flores each collected one hit.

The victory advanced East Carolina in the tournament, while VCU’s season ended with the loss.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of VCU 8, East Carolina 7, while Interstat’s ELO system gave the Pirates a 72.00 percent probability to win.