University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Baseball Drops Game 2 To ECU, Sets Up Sunday Rubber Match
February 21, 2026 | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina baseball couldn't find enough offense to keep up with ECU on Saturday afternoon, losing 10-3 on a cloudy day at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
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The Tar Heels (6-1) played a tight contest with the Pirates that was tied 3-3 going into the seventh inning, but it was the ECU offense that produced the runs they needed down the stretch to take the win. The result sets up Sunday's return trip to Boshamer Stadium as the series decider.
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Small ball helped ECU take the lead early, scoring two on a squeeze play from Matthew Lashley in the second inning to up 3-0.
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UNC answered in a big way off the bat of Gavin Gallaher in the bottom of the third. The star second baseman launched his first home run of the season over the DBAP's left field blue monster to tie the game at three apiece.
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The middle frames saw the bullpen arms duel as Carolina's Walker McDuffie faced off with ECU's Jean Jenkins. McDuffie retired his first four before things got away from him in the seventh, when the Pirates Grady Lenahan hit a three-run home run of his own to put them in front for good. Four more in the eighth from ECU put the game away.
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The series finale in Chapel Hill is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch with coverage coming on ACCNX. Tickets to the contest are still available.
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The Tar Heels (6-1) played a tight contest with the Pirates that was tied 3-3 going into the seventh inning, but it was the ECU offense that produced the runs they needed down the stretch to take the win. The result sets up Sunday's return trip to Boshamer Stadium as the series decider.
Â
Small ball helped ECU take the lead early, scoring two on a squeeze play from Matthew Lashley in the second inning to up 3-0.
Â
UNC answered in a big way off the bat of Gavin Gallaher in the bottom of the third. The star second baseman launched his first home run of the season over the DBAP's left field blue monster to tie the game at three apiece.
Â
The middle frames saw the bullpen arms duel as Carolina's Walker McDuffie faced off with ECU's Jean Jenkins. McDuffie retired his first four before things got away from him in the seventh, when the Pirates Grady Lenahan hit a three-run home run of his own to put them in front for good. Four more in the eighth from ECU put the game away.
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The series finale in Chapel Hill is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch with coverage coming on ACCNX. Tickets to the contest are still available.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jenkins, Sean (1-0)
L: McDuffie, Walker (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Wallace, Colby 1 ; Lenahan, Grady 1 ; Barron, Walker 1
3B: Lenahan, Grady 1
HR: Lenahan, Grady 1
RBI: Lenahan, Grady 6 ; Lashley, Matthew 2 ; Herring, Jack 2
SH: Lashley, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wallace, Colby 1 ; Lenahan, Grady 3 ; Lashley, Matthew 1 ; Barron, Walker 2 ; Burress, Braden 2 ; Vogele, Jack 1
HBP: Vogele, Jack 2

Batting:
HR: Gallaher, Gavin 1
RBI: Gallaher, Gavin 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1
SB: Schaffner, Jake 1
HBP: Winslow, Macon 1
Game Leaders
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