CONWAY REGIONAL: East Carolina 11, Florida 4 — Pirates Strike Early to End Gators’ Season

CONWAY, S.C. — There is no mystery as to what happened to the Gators in their two losses to East Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

Starters Liam Peterson (Friday) and Pierce Coppola (Sunday) managed to record only 10 outs combined, with Coppola lasting into the top of the third inning Sunday before exiting an 11-4 loss that ended Florida’s season. The Pirates advanced to face host Coastal Carolina on Sunday night in the Conway (S.C.) Regional.

Peterson lasted only 1 1/3 innings in Friday’s 11-6 loss to the Pirates, and on Sunday, Coppola escaped trouble in the first inning after loading the bases with a walk, hit batsmen and a bunt single. Two strikeouts opened the door for his early escape. But in the second inning, a walk, two singles and a throwing error by third baseman Landon Stripling proved too much to overcome, even as Coppola struck out the final three batters of the inning. East Carolina scored two runs, and after Justin Nadeau‘s single scored Stripling in the top of the third to make it 2-1, Florida’s momentum quickly stalled when Coppola walked East Carolina leadoff hitter Ryley Johnson in the bottom of the frame.

That was the end of Coppola’s afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium. In two innings, he allowed three hits, three runs (two earned), walked three, struck out five and hit a batter. Meanwhile, Pirates freshman Lance Williams limited the Gators to three runs over five innings.

East Carolina (35-26) scored five runs in the third and led 7-1 after three innings, the same recipe the Pirates used in Friday’s win when they led 6-0 after three innings. The Pirates scored 22 runs and pounded 27 hits in the two wins over Florida.

For the Gators, their season ends for the first time since 2022 somewhere other than the College World Series. Florida (39-22) surprised most by even making the NCAA Tournament after starting 1-11 in the Southeastern Conference. However, despite numerous injuries and a shaky pitching staff at times, the Gators won 14 of their final 18 conference games to earn an at-large bid.

They were the No. 2 seed in the Conway Regional but were ambushed by No. 3-seed East Carolina twice.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: ECU first baseman Austin Irby proved a pain in Florida’s side. Irby went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored Sunday. That came after he was 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBI and three runs scored in Friday’s victory over the Gators.