GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Northern Illinois University baseball team dropped a midweek game in North Carolina as they fell in 11-5 to the East Carolina Pirates.
 
NIU (2-2) recorded 10 hits in the game for the second time this season and had their first game with multiple home runs.
 
"I love the way we competed on the mound and in the box, especially early on," said NIU head coach Ryan Copeland. "We got off to a good start with home runs from Couchman and Caden. (But) We couldn't find a way to get the big hits late in the game and that hurt us."
 
Charlie Parcell (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West) reached base to lead off the game before being called out at second. The Pirates struck first, scoring on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the opening frame.
 
Will Couchman (Edina, Minn./Edina) hit his tenth home run of his career to tie the game up in the top of the second. After Marcus Romero (Brighton, Colo./Legacy) reached on a single, Caden Robertson (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) launched a deep drive to right for a 2-run homer, pushing NIU in front 3–1.
 
NIU's defense came up big in the bottom of the second, stranding three Pirates to preserve the lead. In the top of the third, Parcell opened the inning with a single down the right-field line and moved to second on the following at-bat. Gavin Baldwin (Nashville, Ill./Nashville Community) then delivered an RBI single, bringing Parcell home and extending the Huskies' advantage to 4–1.
 
East Carolina (2-3) chipped away in the bottom half of the inning, pulling within one on a two-run homer. The Pirates drew even in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, then seized the momentum with a three-run shot that pushed them ahead 7–4.
 
The Huskies struck out only two batters from East Carolina and issued 12 walks in the contest.
 
"A lot of credit to the ECU hitters," noted Copeland. "Their approach was about as good as it gets and they weren't chasing (the ball). When you have to throw the ball in the zone all the time, it's hard to get people out. They are a good offense team and challenged our pitchers"
 
Mason Orton (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour) made his second appearance on the mound and first start of his career. Orton went two innings, allowing one run and a hit after facing 12 batters.
 
Cole Smith (Dubuque, Iowa/Dubuque Senior) added the fifth, and final, run of the game as Couchman reached via fielder's choice.

The Pirates pulled away in the bottom frame of the seventh inning, on a 3 RBI double as they extended their lead to 10-5. East Carolina added their final run of the game in the eighth inning.
 
Smith and Romero were the only Huskies to notch multi-hit games, with Smith finishing 2-for-4 and Romero going 2-for-3. Couchman and Robertson accounted for four of the five RBIs by the Huskie offense.
 
"We'll get on the road tomorrow and get a lift in before we leave (ECU)," said Copeland. "We were intentional with our schedule this year, and we're challenging our group by taking on another strong regional opponent from last season on this weekend."
 
The Huskies continue their stay in the Carolinas as they travel to USC Upstate in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Friday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. with the game airing live on ESPN+.