Friday, March 3
Greenville, N.C.
4:30 p.m.
East Carolina University
vs
Indiana
No. 9 ECU Hosts 20th Annual Keith LeClair Classic
March 02, 2023 | Baseball
| Games 8-10: 20th Annual Keith LeClair Classic | |
| Coverage | March 3: vs. Indiana \\\ 4:30 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch March 4: vs. Long Beach State \\\ 4:30 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch March 5: vs. Georgetown \\\ 3:30 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Stream: ESPN+ Radio: 94.3 The Game (Scooter Rogers and Gary Overton) |
| Location: | Greenville, N.C. | Clark-LeClair Stadium (5,000) |
| Official Web Sites: | East Carolina | Georgetown | Indiana | Long Beach State |
| Game Notes: | East Carolina | Georgetown | Indiana | Long Beach State |
| Statistics: | East Carolina | Georgetown | Indiana | Long Beach State |
| Baseball Central: | Roster | Schedule/Results | NCAA Baseball | College Scoreboard | Weekly Rankings | National Stat Leaders |
| Social Media: | ECUBaseball | The American |
GREENVILLE, N.C. – No. 9 East Carolina returns home this weekend for the 20th annual Keith LeClair Classic, welcoming Georgetown, Indiana and Long Beach State to Greenville. The Pirates are set to face the Hoosiers Friday (March 3) at 4:30 p.m., the Dirtbags Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and the Hoyas Sunday at 3:30 p.m. All three of ECU's games will stream live via ESPN+.
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East Carolina (5-2) fell to Duke 9-0 Tuesday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Jacob Starling, Cam Murphy and Cam Clonch were responsible for the Pirates' three hits while freshman LHP Zach Root tossed three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in his first collegiate start.
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ECU is hitting .273 as a team with 17 doubles, two triples and eight home runs while the pitching staff sports a 5.20 earned run average with 69 strikeouts against 32 walks in 62.1 innings of work. Justin Wilcoxen paces the club with 11 hits and is batting .367. Jacob Starling checks in with a .400 batting average (10-for-40) as one of three Pirates with double digits in the hit column.
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The friendly confines of Clark-LeClair Stadium have been just that so far as East Carolina boasts a 4-0 home record that includes a season-opening sweep of George Washington and a thrilling 6-5 victory over then No. 12 North Carolina.
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Indiana (4-4) defeated Butler 13-2 on Tuesday, also owning wins over Auburn, Miami (Ohio) and Texas. Meanwhile, Long Beach State (4-3) most recently took two of three from Seattle at home while Georgetown (6-2) traveled to Wilmington last weekend and picked up three wins over Iona (twice) and UNCW.
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Trey Yesavage (0-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. LHP Ben Seiler (0-1, 3.68 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Carter Spivey (0-0, 9.82 ERA) vs. LHP Graham Osman (1-0, 1.59 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Josh Grosz (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. RHP Cody Bowker (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
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East Carolina in the LeClair Classic
ECU owns 12 LeClair Classic titles and claimed the 2022 crown by defeating Indiana State, Michigan and Maryland. The Pirates sport a 43-14 all-time record in the event, including an 0-1 mark against 2023 foe Indiana.Â
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Against The Field
The Pirates lead the all-time series with Indiana 2-1 while ECU is 1-1 against Georgetown. East Carolina and Long Beach State have never met on the diamond.
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Mustache March
With the dawn of a new month, the East Carolina baseball team (players, coaching staff and support staff) will once again participate 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.
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Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Enters the weekend 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 ... Turned in 0.2 scoreless frames at Duke (Feb. 28).
Joey Berini: Has started six 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: Has made two starts this season, one at first base and one at designated hitter ... 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) ... Notched the Pirates' first hit of the contest at Duke (Feb. 28).
Carter Cunningham: Has started five of the squad's seven 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 seven 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 seven games in the outfield (6/CF, 1/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) ... 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 seven 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 seven 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 six of the Pirates' seven 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 seven games (6/DH, 1/RF) ... 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 the George Washington 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) ... Made his first collegiate start at Duke (Feb. 28), tossing three scoreless innings 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).
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 seven 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 seven 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 the George Washington doubleheader (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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