ECU Continues Homestand With Pirate Invitational

Games 11-15: 2022 Pirate Invitational
Coverage	February 25: 3:00 p.m.. \\\ vs. Villanova \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch February 25: 5:30 p.m. \\\ vs. Fairleigh Dickinson \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch February 26: 3:00 p.m. \\\ vs. Gardner-Webb \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch February 26: 5:30 p.m. \\\ vs. Fairleigh Dickinson \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch February 27: 12:30 p.m. \\\ vs. Gardner-Webb \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch
Venue	Max R. Joyner Family Stadium (1,000) \| Greenville, N.C.
Tournament Central	2022 Pirate Invitational
Statistics	East Carolina \| Fairleigh Dickinson \| Gardner-Webb \| Villanova
Social Media	@ECUSoftball (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ #OnePirateNation

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina remains within the friendly confines of Max R. Joyner Family Stadium this weekend, welcoming Fairleigh Dickinson, Gardner-Webb and Villanova to Greenville for the 2022 Pirate Invitational.

The three-day event will encompass 10 games in total. All five of ECU's contests will be streamed live via Pirate All-Access.

Playing at home for the first time last weekend, ECU (4-6) grabbed three wins out of five at the Pirate Clash. East Carolina picked up victories over Colgate and Wagner (twice) while falling to the Raiders in the rematch as well as to Rutgers in a one-run contest.

Sophomore infielder Bailee Wilson was tabbed to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll after batting .500 (8-for-16) with three doubles, five runs scored and five RBI during the Pirate Clash. As a team, ECU hit .331 with 10 doubles and nine stolen bases as well as twirling a 2.33 team earned run average with 18 strikeouts in 33 inning and holding opposing batters to a .236 average.

After two weekends of play, East Carolina leads the American Conference in doubles (20) and stolen bases (21) while ranking second in batting average (.297), slugging percentage (.406), RBI (42) and total bases (108). Wilson tops the league in doubles (five) and is fourth in on base percentage (526).

The Competition
Fairleigh Dickinson: The Knights began the 2022 campaign last weekend at the North Carolina A&T Aggie Invitational and lost four five to A&T and George Mason. Fairleigh Dickinson's lone win occurred in run-rule fashion as the Knights defeated the Patriots 12-4 in five innings Feb. 19. Jess DeWitt was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week after batting .471 with eight hits in 17 at bats. She hit her first collegiate home run against George Mason.

ECU and Fairleigh Dickinson have never met on the softball diamond.

Gardner-Webb: The Runnin' Bulldogs have started out at 5-5 under first-year head coach Bailey Wigness. Gardner-Webb fell to No. 15 Georgia 6-0 Wednesday in Athens, but the Runnin' Bulldogs own wins over Youngstown State, Rhode Island, Morehead State and East Tennessee State.

East Carolina holds a 2-0 series advantage over Gardner-Webb, but the teams have not squared off since Feb. 9, 2007 when the Pirates recorded an 8-0 victory at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill.
Villanova: The Wildcats enter the weekend with a 3-7 overall record and have faced a tough schedule that has included two games against top-25 opponents. Villanova has defeated Marshall, Saint Joseph's and Florida A&M while suffering setbacks to Georgia Tech (twice), Marshall, Louisville (twice), No. 14 Duke and No. 4 Florida.

The Pirates are 0-1 against the Wildcats with the only meeting occurring March 4, 2016, at the Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. Villanova won a 7-3 decision that day.

Looking Ahead
East Carolina makes a trip across the state next weekend to Elon for the Cardinal Invitational. The Pirates will take on Michigan State, Detroit-Mercy and the host Phoenix March 4-6 at Hunt Softball Park.

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Players Mentioned

Bailee Wilson

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