No. 10 East Carolina Plays Host To Missouri State

Games 18-20: Missouri State at No. 10 East Carolina
Coverage	March 17: 6:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch March 18: 4:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch March 19: 1:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Stream: ESPN+ Radio: 94.3 The Game
Location:	Greenville, N.C. \| Clark-LeClair Stadium (5,000)
Official Web Sites:	East Carolina \| Missouri State
Game Notes:	East Carolina \| Missouri State
Statistics:	East Carolina \| Missouri State
Baseball Central:	Roster \| Schedule/Results \| NCAA Baseball \| College Scoreboard \| Weekly Rankings \| National Stat Leaders
Social Media:	ECUBaseball \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. – In search of its fifth series win of the season, No. 10 East Carolina welcomes Missouri Valley Conference outfit Missouri State to Greenville for a non-conference encounter at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. All three games will stream live via ESPN+.

The Pirates, who have won seven of their last eight, split a pair of midweek contests earlier this week, falling to UNCW 8-5 in Wilmington Tuesday before bouncing back with a 6-5 home victory over William & Mary Wednesday. Garrett Saylor backstopped ECU to the win over the Tribe, enjoying a career-long outing of 5.1 innings during which he struck out seven against no walks. Jaden Winter notched his first collegiate save, fanning a career-high five batters in two scoreless frames.

The East Carolina offense, which is hitting .301 collectively, features seven players batting over .300 while the pitching staff sports a 3.72 earned run average with 183 strikeouts in 152.1 innings. The Pirates have collected double-digit hits in four-straight games and have struck out double figures in three consecutive contests. ECU tops the American Athletic Conference in ERA and fielding percentage (.980) and slots second in batting average.

Missouri State (11-5) owns the best record among Missouri Valley Conference squads and has won four straight entering the weekend – including a home and home midweek sweep of Southeast Missouri State. The Bears are hitting .285 with 43 doubles and 30 home runs to go along with a 4.35 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 147.0 innings.

Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Trey Yesavage (2-0, 1.96 ERA) vs. RHP Brandt Thompson (2-1, 2.55 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Carter Spivey (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Hayden Minton (1-0, 4.29 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Josh Grosz (2-0, 3.32 ERA) vs. TBA

The Missouri State Series
The series between East Carolina and Missouri State is a short one. The Bears won the only meeting between the programs at the Keith LeClair Classic March 3, 2018, downing the Pirates 7-4 in Greenville.

Mustache March
With the month of March in full swing, the East Carolina baseball team (players, coaching staff and support staff) is once again participating in Mustache March to raise money and awareness for ALS Research and the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter. This year, the Pirates will team up with the Pitt Community College and Clemson baseball programs to help fight and strikeout ALS with a goal of raising $10,000. As most of Pirate Nation is aware, the baseball program has been greatly affected by ALS as former head coach and ECU Hall of Fame member Keith LeClair was diagnosed with the disease while coaching in 2001. The Pirates continue to follow the mission, vision and characteristics that made Coach LeClair such a tremendous leader, father, friend and coach. Current PCC Head Coach Tommy Eason coached under LeClair from 1998-2005, Clemson Head Coach Erik Bakich and Assistant Head Coach Nick Schnabel both played for LeClair and were teammates of ECU skipper Cliff Godwin from 1999-2000. Starting Wednesday, March 1 and running through the end of the month, the Pirates will grow mustaches to continue raising money for ALS research. Over the last four years, the team has raised over $48,000. With the additional support from ECU Dowdy Student Stores, the sum has eclipsed $71,000 in total donations.

Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Owns 317 career wins and is tied with Billy Godwin for second on the East Carolina career coaching 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.

Danny Beal: Has made five appearances ... 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) ... Has allowed just one hit in his last two innings pitched.
Joey Berini: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... Has started 14 games at shortstop ... Tallied two hits and a run scored in East Carolina's 23-5 triumph over George Washington (Feb. 19) ... Rapped out an RBI double in the 6-5 home victory over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24) ... Hit his first career home run in the Pirates' 10-2 win over Liberty (March 11) ... Notched two hits at UNCW (March 14).
Tyler Bradt: VMI transfer who made his first appearance in the Purple and Gold in game one of the George Washington doubleheader (Feb. 18) ... Has struck out 14 batters in 10.1 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 ... Turned in big two innings late at then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 26), allowing just one hit and striking out a pair ... Matched his season high with three strikeouts against Liberty (March 11).
Nathan Chrismon: Has started three games at shortstop ... Has scored six runs and notched his first RBI via a sacrifice fly in the series finale versus the Colonials (Feb. 19) ... Collected his first two collegiate base hits against Indiana (March 3) and Georgetown (March 5).
Cam Clonch: Has made five starts at designated hitter ... Went 2-for-2 with a run scored, three RBI, a double and a home run in the George Washington series finale ... Notched the Pirates' first hit of the contest at Duke (Feb. 28) ... Rapped out doubles against Indiana (March 3) and Georgetown (March 5) ... Collected a hit and two walks at UNCW (March 14).
Carter Cunningham: Has started 10 games in the outfield (6/RF, 4/LF) ... Tallied two hits and two runs scored in the series opener against Liberty (March 10) while also hitting his first home run of the season ... Drew a pair of walks in the Liberty series finale (March 11).
Josh Grosz: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 6 and 13 ... Fanned five batters in 4.0 innings in the 6-5 win at then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 26) ... Struck out 10 batters and did not allow in hit in five scoreless innings against Georgetown (March 5) ... Turned in his second-straight quality start in ECU's 13-1 over Liberty (March 11), tallying a career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings while allowing just one earned run.
Lane Hoover: Has started 13 of 17 games in left field ... Scored eight runs and drew two walks in the George Washington series ... 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) ... Recorded a hit and scored two runs in the 17-4 victory over Indiana (March 3) ... Tallied a hit and scored two runs in the Pirates' 13-1 win over Liberty (March 11) ... Notched two hits and an RBI versus William & Mary (March 15).
Jake Hunter: Turned in a strong start at Elon (March 8), striking out six hitters and allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart: One of seven Pirates hitting .300 or better ... Has started all 17 games in the outfield (11/CF, 6/RF) ... 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) ... Recorded a hit and run scored in both wins over then No. 12 North Carolina ... Went 3-for-6 with a run scored and three RBI in the 17-4 victory over Indiana (March 3) ... Notched two hits and a pair of RBI at Queens (March 7) ... Tallied a pair of hits in the Pirates' 10-2 win over Liberty (March 11) ... Went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and a two-run home run in the 6-5 victory over William & Mary (March 15).
Ryley Johnson: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... 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 17 games with six starts ... Clubbed his first home run of the season (two-run HR) in the George Washington series finale (Feb. 19) ... Posted a hit and scored a run against Georgetown (March 5) ... Notched a hit in all three games of the Liberty series.
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 ... Did not allow a run or hit in 1.1 innings at the LeClair Classic.
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman: Tallied wins on the mound against then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24) and at Queens (March 7) ... Notched his first career save in the 7-2 win over Liberty (March 10) ... Has thrown 10.1 consecutive scoreless innings while yielding just nine hits and striking out 11 ... Fanned a career-high five batters at UNCW (March 14).
Alec Makarewicz: Has started all 17 games at third base ... Recorded his second home run of the season in the 6-5 win over then No. 12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill (Feb. 26) ... Went yard in the 11-2 victory over Georgetown (March 5) ... Posted his first multi-hit effort of the season at Queens (March 7) ... Tallied his first career multi-home run contest and first career four-hit performance in the 10-2 win over Liberty (March 11) ...
Ryan McCrystal: Collected his first hit of the season in his first at bat in the 5-2 win over Queens (March 7) in Kannapolis ... Made his first start of the campaign in the 13-1 win over Liberty (March 11) ... Tallied two hits and drove in two runs against William & Mary (March 15).
Josh Moylan: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... Tabbed the AAC Player of the Week March 13 ... Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 6 ... Currently enjoys an 10-game hitting streak ... Has started 16 of the Pirates' 17 games at first base ... Tallied a double and drove in a run in the 6-5 win over then No. 12 North Carolina in Greenville (Feb. 24) ... Clubbed his first career grand slam in the 11-2 victory over Georgetown (March 5) ... Went 6-for-12 with five runs scored and seven RBI in the Liberty series ... Notched two hits and drove in two runs against William & Mary (March 15).
Luke Nowak: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has started all 17 games (12/DH, 5/RF) ... Exploded statistically at Campbell (Feb. 21), going 3-for-5 with a RBI and three stolen bases ... Has swiped a squad-best 10 bags ... Recorded a hit and RBI in both wins over then No. 12 North Carolina ... Tied a school record by drawing five walks in the 13-1 win over Liberty (March 11).
Zach Root: Tabbed to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 20 ... Owns a 2-0 record and 15 strikeouts in 16.1 innings ... Picked up his first collegiate victory in game one of the George Washington doubleheader (Feb. 18), tossing 3.2 scoreless with five strikeouts against just one walk ... Notched his first collegiate save in the 6-5 home victory over then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24) ... Made his first collegiate start at Duke (Feb. 28), tossing three scoreless frames with three strikeouts ... Earned the win at Elon (March 8) by throwing five scoreless with three strikeouts.
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) ... Delivered a strong start at Queens (March 7), striking out four batters in five innings ... Enjoyed a career-long outing in the win over William & Mary (March 15), going 5.1 innings and striking out seven.
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 ... Picked up his first win of the season in a 10-2 Pirate victory over Liberty (March 11), allowing just one earned run and striking out four in six innings.
Jacob Starling: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... Has started all 17 games at second base ... Has reached base in 25-straight games dating back to the 2022 campaign ... 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) ... 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 ... Exploded for six RBI in the 17-4 win over Indiana (March 3) ... Went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a home run at Elon (March 8) ... Drew six walks in the Liberty series.
Justin Wilcoxen: One of seven Pirates hitting over .300 ... Named the AAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Feb. 20 ... Has started 15 of 17 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 ... Drove in three runs in the 17-4 win over Indiana (March 3).
Trey Yesavage: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has struck out 32 batters against six walks in 23.0 innings of work ... Made his first start of the campaign in game two of the George Washington doubleheader (Feb. 18) ... Fanned seven batters against just one walk in five solid innings ... Was stellar in a quality start against then No. 12 North Carolina (Feb. 24), allowing just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in the 6-5 victory ... Produced another quality start against Indiana (March 3), surrendering one run on four hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts in the Pirates' 17-4 win ... Turned in his third-straight quality start in the 7-2 win over Liberty (March 10), fanning six batters in six innings while yielding just two earned runs.

Up Next: East Carolina continues its season series with Campbell March 22 with a neutral site matchup in Fayetteville, N.C. at Segra Stadium. First pitch for that encounter is slated for 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Danny Beal

Merritt Beeker

Joey Berini

Tyler Bradt

Nathan Chrismon

Cam Clonch

Carter Cunningham

Josh Grosz

Lane Hoover

Jake Hunter

Jacob Jenkins-Cowart

Ryley Johnson

Willie Lumpkin

Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman

Alec Makarewicz

Ryan McCrystal

Josh Moylan

Luke Nowak

Zach Root

Garrett Saylor

Carter Spivey

Jacob Starling

Justin Wilcoxen

Jaden Winter

Trey Yesavage

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