Evansville wins Greenville Regional, advances to super regional after defeating East Carolina

East Carolina beat Evansville 6-5, winning the Greenville Regional and advancing to their first super regional. Kip Fougerousse hit a home run for the sixth game in a row, giving Evansville a 1-0 lead in the first inning. This tied the school's record for most home runs in a single season. Chase Hug scored another run in the second inning, making it 2-0 after a throwing error by Pirates catcher Justin Wilcoxen. East Carolina then tied the game with a two-run single by Jacob Jenkins-Cowart. The Pirates took a 5-2 lead, but Evansville fought back and eventually won the game. Evansville secured the win when Shallenberger hit a home run in the sixth inning, giving them the lead for good. This was Shallenberger's 17th home run of the season and the 38th of his career, ranking him third on the Aces' all-time list. The Pirates tried to come back but Evansville's strong pitching and hitting sealed the victory. This win was crucial for Evansville as they hadn't played in the NCAA Tournament since 2006. In the next game, East Carolina dominated Evansville with a 19-6 victory, forcing a deciding game to be played the following day. East Carolina's strong offense, led by Ryan McCrystal, Dixon Williams, and Joey Berini, overwhelmed Evansville. The Pirates scored consistently in every inning except the fifth, recording an impressive 19 hits. This win showcased East Carolina's resilience and determination to advance in the tournament. Overall, East Carolina's powerful performance in the regional tournament highlighted their ability to bounce back from setbacks and secure important victories. Evansville put up a good fight, but East Carolina's strong hitting and pitching ultimately led them to success in the tournament.