GREENVILLE, N.C. — No. 24 Coastal Carolina had no answers for East Carolina's Ethan Norby, who delivered a record-setting 19 strikeout performance as the Pirates blanked the Chanticleers 7-0 on Friday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
 
Norby's 19 strikeouts set an American Athletic Conference record and are the most by any pitcher in the country this season. The southpaw was dominant across 7.1 innings, allowing just three hits and no walks while keeping Coastal (10-4) off the scoreboard. Ethan Young closed out the final 1.2 innings, striking out three more as the Chanticleers fanned 22 times in the game.
 
East Carolina (7-6) took control in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Colby Wallace. Wallace struck again in the fifth, launching a grand slam to break the game open as the Pirates built a 6-0 lead.
 
Coastal managed just four hits on the night, with singles from Dean Mihos, Walker Mitchell, and Sebastian Alexander, along with a double by Blake Barthol. The Chanticleers' best scoring chance came in the seventh when Mihos and Barthol reached with one out, but Norby escaped with back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.
 
Luke Jones (0-1) took the loss for CCU, allowing two runs on six hits in 3.2 innings in his first collegiate start. Dominick Carbone, Tadan Bell, and Hudson Lance combined for the remaining 4.1 innings in relief.
 
The Chanticleers will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET with full coverage on the Chanticleer Radio Network and ESPN+.