GREENVILLE — No. 11 East Carolina completed the opening weekend sweep of Radford with a 4-3 win today, thanks to a go-ahead single from Jake Washer in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Pirates’ first lead of the day. The scoring play capped off four unanswered runs for the Pirates.

“Hard work guarantees you success, it just doesn’t guarantee you tomorrow. I’m super proud of those guys because their testament to hard work is going the right way,” ECU head coach Cliff Godwin said.

ECU fell behind early as Radford got into scoring position in the second inning quickly, after J.D. Mundy hit a leadoff double and Straton Podaras was hit in the back by starting pitcher Tyler Smith. Mundy then scored on a passed ball during Colby Higgerson’s at-bat. Because of the passed ball, when Podaras crossed the plate on Jimmy Goldsmith’s groundout, his run came unearned. The top half of the inning ended when Smith took command of Clayton Baine and struck him out looking.

The Highlanders’ added another run in the top of the third when David Bryant crossed home plate after Andrew Szamski hit into a double play. Smith got out of a huge jam in the inning after loading the bases, allowing the Pirates to stay within three runs.

“You have to win all different types of games,” Godwin said. “I thought Tyler Smith, you know he could’ve lost it, but he only gave up three. He got a big double-play ball with the bases loaded and only gave up one run when he could’ve really given up more. If we get down by four or five there it’s a different ball game.”

Washer got ECU on the board in the bottom of the fourth with the first of two RBI, which led the team on the day. Spencer Brickhouse hit a single earlier in the inning and advanced to third on an error by Radford pitcher Cole Dunn when the Radford hurler missed on a pickoff throw to first. Although flying out, Washer hit a deep ball to center field that had no chance of returning to home plate in time to snag Brickhouse.

The Pirates added two more in the sixth when Bryson Worrell scored from third on Brady Lloyd’s fielder’s choice that put Washer out at second. From there, Brickhouse scored from third a few batters later, when Chandler Jenkins grounded out to shortstop.

Heading into the top of the seventh with a tie game, ECU blanked Radford for the fourth straight inning and Washer hit his second of two RBI in the game, singling to the left infield gap and sending home pinch runner Christian Jayne.

“I was just trying to drive him in you know, he was giving me a chance by being on base,” Washer said. “We came out with a lot of energy and did what we had to do.”

The Highlanders made it interesting in the top of the ninth when they put two men on, one in scoring position at second. Higgerson singled and pinch hitter Garrett Matheny walked, but Bryant flew out after a Podaras lineout and a Matt Roth strikeout.

Evan Voliva (1-0) got the win after going 2.1 innings in relief with one hit, no runs and five strikeouts. Sam Lanier (1) earned his first save of the season in his 2.0 innings of work as he also gave up one hit, had one walk and added two strikeouts. Smith got a no decision but posted a 4.2 inning stat line that saw four hits, three runs (two earned), two walks and three strikeouts.

“The conditions weren’t great, so I just went out there and tried to throw strikes and make them swing the bat and see what happens,” Voliva said. “We just have to trust what we’ve been doing all fall. Whatever he (Godwin) he calls for us we have to do great.”

ECU will play away at in-state opponent Campbell on Wednesday before returning home for its second of four straight home weekend series when it takes on Monmouth.