Game Day Central: ECU Eyes Sweep Of Elon
March 12, 2015 | Baseball
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| East Carolina at Elon Mar. 15, 2015 | 1:30 p.m. (ET) Elon, N.C. RADIO: WNCT 1070 AM |
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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WEEKEND
? East Carolina hits the road for a three-game non-conference series at Elon ... The Pirates have won 4 of their last 5 games (8 of last 10) on the season and have won three-straight weekend series (LeClair Classic, UAlbany and Monmouth) ... ECU holds a 40-30-1 edge in the series and have won eight-straight dating back to 2010.
? Through games played on March 11, Elon's offense ranks among the best in the nation ... The Phoenix is rated eighth nationally in batting average (.321), 13th in scoring (7.9 runs per game), sixth in on-base percentage (.417) and 26th in slugging percentage (.448).
PIRATE QUICK HITS
? East Carolina enters this weekends action having won 8 of its last 10 games - 10 of 13 since starting the season 0-3.
? Evan Kruczynski picked up his 3rd win on the year tossing a CG, 2-Hit SHO vs. Monmouth earning AAC Honor accolades ... Sports a league-best 0.33 ERA among starters, while striking out 21 and walking 4.
? Jacob Wolfe tossed 6.0 SHO frames vs. Monmouth with 6Ks in first collegiate win ... Sports a 1-1 record with a 2.95 ERA.
? David Lucroy picked up lone win of the season vs. St. John's in the LeClair Classic ... In four starts boasts a 1.96 ERA with 15 Ks.
? Luke Lowery returned to the Pirates lineup against Campbell (Mar. 10) after missing the previous five games with an injury ... He currently leads the team in hitting (.457), home runs (5) and RBI (14) ... Lowery, a two-time AAC Honor Roll selection, has driven in at least one run in eight-straight games (9 of 11) and reached base in all 11 contests.
? Bryce Harman ranks second on the team with a .439 batting average ... The left-handed first baseman leads the club in doubles (7), runs (12) and hit by pitches (6) ... He has reached base in all 12 games this season.
? Charlie Yorgen is riding a career-best 10-game hit streak and has reached base safely in all 16 games this year, also a career-best.
? Travis Watkins was named to the initial Johnny Bench Award Watch List (Mar. 11) marking the third-straight season on the list ... AAC Honor Roll selection (Mar. 9) after batting a team-best .579 (11-for-19) during the Pirates 4-1 week ... The redshirt-sophomore is on a career-best 7-game hit streak where he has registered six multi-hit games ... Has two HRs on the year including a grand slam against UNC Greensboro (Mar. 11) ... on seven hits in six innings of work.
? ECU's starting pitching boasts a 2.43 ERA in 16 games ... They have allowed 39 runs (25 ERs) with 57 strikeouts to 17 walks in 92.2 innings.
? The bullpen has surrendered 19 runs (15 earned) in 50.1 innings posting a 2.68 ERA ... They have allowed just three of 24 inherited runners to score (17.4 percent).
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday: RHP Matt Harris (2-0, 4.40 ERA) vs. LHP Evan Kruczynski (3-1, 0.33 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Michael Elefante (1-0, 6.46 ERA) vs. LHP Jacob Wolfe (1-1, 2.95 ERA)
Sunday: TBA vs. RHP David Lucroy (1-0, 1.96 ERA)
ECU'S HISTORY ON THE DIAMOND
? In its storied history, the Pirates won the 1961 NAIA National Championship, have claimed 23 conference titles (13 regular season/ 10 tournament), made 26 NCAA Regionals and advanced to three Super Regionals (2001, 2004 and 2009).
THE PIRATES AT A GLANCE
? The Cliff Godwin Era officially got underway on Feb. 13 with a three-game series against No. 2 Virginia ... Godwin, who was named the 16th head coach in school history on June 25, 2014, was a four-year letterwinner for the Pirates from 1998-2001 ... He has been a part of seven NCAA Regional and two College World Series teams at the Division I level as an assistant coach most recently helping Ole Miss to its first CWS appearance since 1972 ... As a player, he helped former ECU skipper Keith LeClair's teams post a 169-76 four-year ledger, including 46-plus wins in each of his final three seasons (16-16 in '99, 46-18 in '00 and 47-13 in '01) ... ECU won a pair of CAA Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Regionals every season from 1999 to 2001 ... The Pirates were the top seed in their regional all three years, including a No. 6 national seed in 2001 where they advanced to the Super Regional round before being eliminated by Tennessee.
? ECU returns 15 letterwinners in 2015 including 2014 All-Conference USA Freshman Team selections Bryce Harman and Charlie Yorgen, as well as 2013 All C-USA performers David Lucroy and Travis Watkins.
? Also stepping onto the diamond are 11 newcomers, which consist of three junior college transfers in Jimmy Boyd (Brunswick CC), Parker Lamm (Pitt CC) and Jeff Nelson (Pierce College); eight true freshmen in Ryan Clinch, Ross Gardner, Joe Ingle, Mason Keen, Jackson Mims, Jack Owens, Bailey Sugg and Evan Voliva to go along with redshirt freshman Cameron Snow ... The pitching trio of Davis Kirkpatrick, T.J. McDonald and Brandon Saunders will miss the entire 2015 season due to injuries.
