Nationally-Ranked Pirates Host High Point Tonight
March 15, 2005 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C.--East Carolina faces High Point Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium in the first of four games in the next six days for ECU. The Pirates cracked the polls this week with rankings in three of the four major polls. ECU is currently No. 25 in Baseball America, No. 29 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 34 in NCBWA's poll.
ABOUT EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina (11-4) finished 4-0 this past week with one versus N.C. A&T and three against Navy over the weekend. ECU out-scored their opponents this past week by a margin of 53-14 in four games. With the sweep of Navy this past weekend, the Pirates have now won 10 of their last 11 games.
On the season, the Pirates are averaging 9.3 runs per game with a team batting average of .329. The pitching staff holds an ERA of 4.38, including all three regular starters with earned run averages of 3.30 and lower. Pirate pitchers are holding their opponents to a .257 batting average thus far.
Billy Richardson continues to lead ECU offensively, holding a .429 batting average with three home runs, 19 RBI, 25 runs scored and six stolen bases. Richardson finished the week 9-for-19 (.474) with nine hits in four games. He became the first Pirate since John Williamson in 1999 to hit for the cycle with a 4-for-6 performance Sunday versus Navy with three RBI and a run scored. Richardson led all Pirates with nine runs scored this past week. He also collected six RBI, including his third leadoff home run of the year in the win Sunday. In three games against Navy over the weekend, Richardson batted .600 (9-for-15). The senior shortstop also pitched the ninth inning versus Navy, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one.
Mark Minicozzi (.353, 3 HR, 19 RBI) and Drew Costanzo (.293, 6 HR, 19 RBI) are tied with Richardson for the team-lead in RBI. Costanzo's six homers are also a team-best. The senior leftfielder has collected a home run in four of his last five games. Spitting time in the outfield, senior Brian Cavanaugh is batting .406 (13-32) and is second on the team with three steals. Freshman Ryan Peisel (11-for-23) and Harrison Eldridge (14-for-33) have made solid contributions sharing time at their respective positions. Eldridge is one of five Pirates with double-digit RBI after collecting seven RBI this past week. The freshman outfielder now has 11 on the season.
Jeff Ostrander earned the win versus Navy on Sunday thowing five shutout innings. The junior left-hander allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking two. He also held Midshipmen batters to a .118 batting average against him. Ostrander has now held his opponent scoreless in his last two starts this season.
Mike Flye earned his fourth win of the season in a 17-4 rout over Navy Saturday. Flye allowed one run on six hits in five innings of work. The sophomore right-hander struck out five and walked two Navy batters. Redshirt freshman Brett Braxton made his first career start against N.C. A&T, tossing three innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one, earning the win.
Cody Leggett made two appearances this past week, tossing 3 1/3 shutout innings in relief. On the season, Leggett holds a 1.69 ERA in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Freshman T.J. Hose continues to pitch well in relief, logging 11 2/3 innings this season, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 and walking three. Redshirt sophomore Jason Neitz made his first appearance on the mound since having Tommy John surgery last season. Neitz tossed two innings versus N.C. A&T, allowing one run on two hits while striking out one and walking one.
ABOUT HIGH POINT
After sweeping Ball State over the weekend, High Point currently has a record of 9-11 on the season. Chris Ramirez and Josh Cotten currently lead the Panther offense, each with averages over .350. Ramirez leads High Point with a .357 average this season. The senior outfielder also leads the team with 19 runs and nine doubles on the season. Cotton is hitting at a .351 clip, leading High Point with four home runs and 17 RBI. In all, six Panther hitters have collected double-digit RBI totals while the team is averaging just over six runs a game.
High Point has taken advantage their speed with 43 stolen bases this season in 55 chances. Josh Doane leads all Panthers with 10 steals while Ramirez is second on the team with eight.
Eammon Portice leads Panther staff with a 3-0 record and six starts this season. Portice currently has an ERA of 3.10 in 40 2/3 innings pitched. Matt Kniginyzky is second on the club with a 2.29 ERA in 19 2/3 innings pitched. The senior right-hander leads the club with eight appearances, while collecting two saves on the year. Rob Bland, the probable starter versus ECU, has a record of 0-3 the season and an ERA of 6.86.
ECU ALL-TIME vs. HIGH POINT
The Pirates hold an all-time record of 2-1 over High Point. The last time the two schools met was in 1971 when High Point edged out the Pirates 9-8.
UP NEXT FOR ECU
The Pirates will open Conference USA action when they travel to New Orleans to face No.3 Tulane this weekend in a three game series March 18-20. Friday night's contest is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
