Gameday: East Carolina Hosts In-State Foe North Carolina Wednesday Evening

Game 15: North Carolina
Date \\\ Time	March 1, 2017 \\\ 5:00 p.m.
Coverage	Live Stats \\\ Live Video
Location	Greenville, N.C. (ECU Softball Stadium)
Official Web Sites	East Carolina \| North Carolina
2017 Statistics	East Carolina \| North Carolina
Social Media	@ECUSoftball \| East Carolina Softball (Instagram) \| @ECUScoreboard (in-game updates) \| #ECUndaunted

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina plays its first midweek contest of the campaign Wednesday, hosting North Carolina for a single non-conference contest at the ECU Softball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Promotions
Paint it Purple: Fans are encouraged to wear purple to the game
Giveaway: The first 150 fans will receive a free ECU luggage tag

The Pirates (8-6) are riding a wave of momentum, having put together a 7-2 record on their current 10-game homestand that includes wins over Fordham as well as ACC members Virginia and Virginia Tech. During the stretch, ECU is batting .291 as a team and has out-scored its opponents 49-19. The pitching staff has been on lockdown mode, producing a 2.02 earned run average with 36 strikeouts and a .232 opposing batting average.

Individually, redshirt freshman Tate McClellan is on a tear having hit .440 in the last nine games with a .720 slugging percentage, two home runs and five RBI. Senior outfielders Ali Ramirez and Ciara Ervin are batting .429 and .417 on the homestand while junior infielder Meredith Burroughs has contributed two doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI. In the circle, senior RHP Lydia Ritchie has compiled a 0.83 earned run average and a 5-1 record in her last six appearances as well as three complete games, two combined shutouts, 25 strikeouts and a .192 opposing batting average.

In taking a look at the American Athletic Conference statistics, East Carolina ranks first in slugging percentage (.464), on base percentage (.383), doubles (23) and walks drawn (57) as well as second in runs scored (77), RBI (66), and home runs (13).

On an individual basis, McClellan shows up among the top five in numerous categories. She is first in slugging percentage (.778), second in home runs (3), third in on base percentage (.535), fourth in batting average (.444), RBI (11) and total bases (28) and fifth in hits (16) and walks drawn (7). Additionally, Ervin and senior outfielder Kacie Oshiro are first and second in the league in both runs scored (15 and 14) and walks (13 and 9) while Oshiro is first in doubles (6), Burroughs is second in RBI (17) and third in doubles (3) and junior infielder Karlie Smith is second in doubles (4).

Scouting North Carolina
The Tar Heels (11-4) enter the contest having swept their home tournament, the Carolina Classic) last weekend. North Carolina defeated Towson, Miami (Ohio), Marshall and Hampton and has won six-straight games. Katie Baliff leads the offense with a .471 batting average as well as seven doubles and a team second-best four home runs and 16 RBI. Kendra Lynch follows close behind with a .426 batting average, six home runs and 21 RBI. In the circle, Lynch and Sydney Matzko sport identical 2.74 ERAs and have combined for 26 strikeouts in 53.2 innings pitched. The Tar Heels are coached by Donna J. Papa who is in her 32nd season leading the program.

Up Next
East Carolina heads to the other coast this weekend for the Louisville Slugger Invitational hosted by the University of the Pacific. The Pirates will take on Seton Hall, Portland State and the host Tigers over three days March 3-5.

Gameday: East Carolina Hosts In-State Foe North Carolina Wednesday Evening

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Players Mentioned

Meredith Burroughs

Ciara Ervin

Tate McClellan

Kacie Oshiro

Ali Ramirez

Lydia Ritchie

Karlie Smith

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