Tuesday, February 28
Durham, N.C.
4:00 p.m.
East Carolina University
at
Duke
No. 9 East Carolina Visits Duke Tuesday Afternoon
February 27, 2023 | Baseball
| Game 7: No. 9 East Carolina at Duke | |
| Coverage | February 28: 4:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Stream: ACC Network Extra Radio: 94.3 The Game (Scooter Rogers and Gary Overton) |
| Location: | Durham, N.C. | Durham Bulls Athletic Park (10,000) |
| Official Web Sites: | East Carolina | Duke |
| Game Notes: | East Carolina | Duke | The American |
| Statistics: | East Carolina | Duke |
| Baseball Central: | Roster | Schedule/Results | NCAA Baseball | College Scoreboard | Weekly Rankings | National Stat Leaders |
| Social Media: | ECUBaseball | The American |
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Looking to keep the momentum rolling after winning pair of instant classics over then No. 12 North Carolina, No. 9 East Carolina treks to Durham for a Tuesday afternoon appointment with Duke. The game will stream live via ACC Network Extra.
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The Pirates knocked off the Tar Heels before a Clark-LeClair Stadium record crowd of 6,003 Friday evening, scoring six runs in the eighth inning before holding on for a 6-5 victory. ECU then completed the weekend sweep with another 6-5 win in Chapel Hill, tallying four runs in the seventh to overcome another three-run deficit.
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Freshman LHP Zach Root earned his first collegiate save in Friday's contest while American Athletic Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year Carter Spivey inherited a sizable jam but worked out of it to nail down the first save of his campaign. Jacob Starling provided the game-winning RBI in each bout via a pair of two-run doubles.
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East Carolina has acquitted itself well both offensively and on the mound early in the campaign, pacing the AAC in earned run average (4.47) while ranking third in batting average (.294). The Pirates also slot second in fielding percentage (.978), having committed just four errors. Nationally, ECU is 25th in runs per game (10.0) and 31st in doubles per game (2.67). On an individual basis, Lane Hoover paces the American Conference in runs scored (12) while sitting 23rd in the country in the statistic.
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Projected Pitching Matchup
East Carolina: LHP Zach Root (1-0, 1.93 ERA)
Duke: RHP Alex Gow (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
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About The Blue Devils
Duke (5-2) outscored Baylor 52-7 in a home series sweep over the weekend. The Blue Devils are hitting .325 as a team while the pitching staff sports a 2.11 earned run average with 96 strikeouts against 21 walks in 64.0 innings of work. MJ Metz tops the club with a .450 batting average and has drawn 10 walks.
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The Duke Series
East Carolina leads the series with Duke 42-13-1 and has won 22 of the last 23 meetings. The Pirates swept the season home and home set a season ago, defeating the Blue Devils 5-4 in Greenville and 12-2 in Durham. ECU has won four of the five meetings played at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
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Streaks Extended
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart has recorded a hit in all six games this season and currently rides a 10-game hitting streak dating back to the 2022 NCAA Greenville Regional championship game victory over Coastal Carolina. He has also reached base in 11-straight outings.
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They Had Us In The First Half
ECU has seen its opponent score the first run in five of six games this season, but the Pirates have come from behind to win four of those contests - including both last weekend against then No. 12 North Carolina.
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Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Enters the week just eight wins away from matching Billy Godwin for second place on the ECU all-time head coaches wins list ... Has been part of 13 NCAA Regional and two College World Series teams at the Division I level as an assistant coach and head coach … Guided ECU to six NCAA Regional berths (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 Greenville Regional host), four Super Regional appearances, three-straight American Athletic Conference regular season titles and three AAC Tournament crowns while posting a 304-151-1 (.665) overall record … Under Godwin's direction, 20 players have earned All-America status, 23 have been NCAA All-Regional selections, 33 have been named all-conference (26 first teamers) and 14 have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams … A four-time AAC Coach-of-the-Year selection (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022), Godwin was inducted into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame in January of 2016 … In 2018, he completed a summer stint on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team staff that posted a 12-3 record that included series wins over Chinese Taipei, Japan and Cuba … 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 (46-16 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. 7 national seed in 2001 where they advanced to the Super Regional round before being eliminated by Tennessee.
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Danny Beal: Was credited with the win in East Carolina's 23-5 triumph over George Washington (Feb. 19), throwing 2.0 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit.
Merritt Beeker: Collected his first career victory on the mound in game two of the doubleheader with George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Fired across 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out three.
Joey Berini: Has started five games at shortstop ... Tallied two hits and a run scored in East Carolina's 23-5 triumph over George Washington (Feb. 19) ... Added another hit and run scored at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Rapped out an RBI double in the 6-5 home victory over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24).
Tyler Bradt: VMI transfer who made his first appearance in the Purple and Gold in game one of Saturday's doubleheader (Feb. 18) ... Has struck out nine batters in 5.2 innings of work ... Was credited with the save in the season opener against George Washington (Feb. 18) after tossing 1.1 scoreless frames and striking out three ... Fanned three batters in 1.2 innings at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Turned in big two innings late at then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 26), allowing just one hit and striking out a pair.
Nathan Chrismon: Earned his first collegiate start in game two of the doubleheader against George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Has scored two runs and notched his first RBI via a sacrifice fly in the series finale versus the Colonials (Feb. 19) ... Scored a run in the home victory over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24).
Cam Clonch: Started at first base in game two of the doubleheader against George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Went 2-for-2 with a run scored, three RBI, a double and a home run in the series finale versus the Colonials (Feb. 19).
Carter Cunningham: Has started five of six games in right field ... Went 1-for-3 with a double and RBI in game two of the doubleheader against George Washington (Feb. 18).
Josh Grosz: Started the series finale against George Washington (Feb. 19), tossing four innings with three strikeouts ... Fanned five batters in 4.0 innings in the 6-5 win at then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 26).
Charlie Hodges: Made his season debut at Campbell (Feb. 21), earning the first start of his career in an East Carolina uniform.
Lane Hoover: Has started all four games in left field ... Scored eight runs and drew two walks in the George Washington series ... Collected two walks and scored a pair of runs at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Helped ECU to a home and home sweep of then No. 12 North Carolina, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI in the 6-5 win in Chapel Hill (Feb. 26).
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart: Has started all four games in center field ... Went 5-for-15 with three runs scored and five RBI in the George Washington series ... Clubbed his first career grand slam in the second game of the doubleheader against the Colonials (Feb. 18) ... Tallied a run scored and a double at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Recorded a hit and run scored in both wins over then No. 12 North Carolina.
Ryley Johnson: Made his first start of the season in right field against then No. 12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill (Feb. 26) ... Has appeared in all six games, scoring four runs ... Clubbed his first home run of the season (two-run HR) in the George Washington series finale (Feb. 19).
Willie Lumpkin: Made his East Carolina debut against George Washington (Feb. 18), striking out one batter in 0.2 innings of work ... Provided a big boost out of the bullpen at Campbell (Feb. 21), throwing 2.2 solid innings and recording another strikeout ... Struck out two batters in 1.2 innings in the two wins over then No. 12 North Carolina.
Alec Makarewicz: Has started all six games at third base ... Went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI in the George Washington series finale (Feb. 19) ... Recorded his second home run of the season in the 6-5 win over then No. 12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill (Feb. 26).
Josh Moylan: Has started five games at first base ... Went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI in the George Washington series finale (Feb. 19) ... Drew a walk and scored a run at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Tallied a double and drove in a run in the 6-5 win over then No. 12 North Carolina in Greenville (Feb. 24).
Luke Nowak: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has started all six games at designated hitter ... One of two Pirates (Jenkins-Cowart) to record a hit in each game thus far ... Tallied three RBI in game two of the doubleheader against George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Exploded statistically at Campbell (Feb. 21), going 3-for-5 with a RBI and three stolen bases ... Has swiped a squad-best five bags ... Recorded a hit and RBI in both wins over then No. 12 North Carolina.
Zach Root: Tabbed to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 20 ... Picked up his first collegiate victory in game one of Saturday's doubleheader (Feb. 18), tossing 3.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts against just one walk ... Scattered two hits while holding opposing batters to a .154 average ... Did not allow an extra-base hit ... Retired the first seven batters he faced ... Notched his first collegiate save in the 6-5 home victory over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24).
Garrett Saylor: Named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List ... Made his season debut in game one of the George Washington doubleheader (Feb. 18), tossing 1.1 scoreless innings ... Turned in 0.2 scoreless frames with a strikeout at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Recorded a strikeout in the 6-5 home win over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24).
Carter Spivey: Made his season debut in the opener against George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Threw 2.2 innings and struck out a pair ... Notched his first save of the campaign at then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 26), working out of a sizable jam in the ninth inning.
Jacob Starling: Has started all six games at second base ... Hit .500 (5-for-10) with two runs scored and three RBI in the George Washington series ... Clubbed a three-run home run in the first game of the doubleheader against the Colonials (Feb. 18) and scored a pair of runs for good measure ... Chipped in with three RBI in the series finale (Feb. 19) ... Notched a hit and RBI at Campbell (Feb. 21) ... Delivered both game-winning RBI in the victories over then No. 12 North Carolina via a pair of two-run doubles in the late innings.
Justin Wilcoxen: Named the AAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Feb. 20 ... Has started all six games at catcher ... Hit a whopping .714 (10-for-14) with nine runs scored, three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in the George Washington series... Tallied at least three hits in every contest against the Colonials ... Helped lead the Pirates to a 23-5 victory in series finale (Feb. 19), going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, four RBI, two doubles and a home run .
Dixon Williams: Made two pinch hit appearances in the series with George Washington, ripping a double down the right field line in game two of Saturday's doubleheader (Feb. 18) before recording a single and a run scored in the series finale (Feb. 19).
Trey Yesavage: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Made his first start of the campaign in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against George Washington (Feb. 18) ... Fanned seven batters against just one walk in five solid innings of work ... Was stellar in a quality start against then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24), allowing just one run on three hits with a career-high eight strikeouts in the 6-5 victory.
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