ESPN College Football

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Patrick Pinkney scored on a 30-yard run and East Carolina's defense forced two turnovers in the fourth quarter to beat Marshall 21-17 on Saturday.

Pinkney was 14-for-23 with 131 yards and an interception for the Pirates (3-2, 2-0 Conference USA).

East Carolina's Dominique Lindsay broke a 7-7 tie before halftime with a 3-yard touchdown run. Marshall (3-2, 1-1) pulled ahead 17-14 on Craig Ratanamorn's 28-yard field goal and Darius Marshall's 20-yard TD run in the third, setting up Pinkney's game-winning run.

Pinkney's only carry came on a 30-yard score to put East Carolina ahead 24-17 in the third quarter.

The Pirates defense held strong in the fourth, as Marshall's Brian Anderson was intercepted early in the fourth by Emanuel Davis and again late by Jeremy Chambliss to help seal the win.