GREENVILLE, N.C. - Monmouth dropped an 11-2 decision at East Carolina in collegiate baseball action on Saturday afternoon, at Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Hawks fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Pirates, ranked No. 24 at the start of the season, improve to 2-4.

Trailing 4-0 in the third inning, Brett Holland led off the frame for the Hawks with a single and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Kyle Higgins advanced Holland to third on an infield single, and Holland crossed home plate on a double-play ball off the bat of Shawn Teters.

ECU responded with three runs in the home half of the third inning to claim a 7-1 advantage, before the Hawks pulled within 7-2 in the fifth inning. In the top of the fifth frame, Teters delievered an RBI single, which plated John Dennis.

The Pirates posted four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to corral the 11-2 edge.

Higgins led the Monmouth charge, going 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot, while five other Hawks, including a pinch-hit by Tim McEndy, registered a hit apiece.

Ryan Buch (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Hawks, as the righty worked 1.0 inning, allowing four earned runs on five walks. Kyle Breese tossed 3.1 frames, surrendering seven runs on seven hits and three walks. Brett Conner worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings, while Andy McDonnell worked a scoreless eighth frame for the Hawks.

Monmouth and ECU play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday, at 1:00 p.m., as senior Matt Marc-Aurele is set to start for the Hawks.