No. 8 East Carolina Begins AAC Slate At Houston

Games 26-28: No. 8 East Carolina at Houston
Coverage	March 31: 7:30 p.m. \| Live Stats \| Watch April 1: 7:30 p.m. \| Live Stats \| Watch April 2: 2:00 p.m. \| Live Stats \| Watch Stream: ESPN+ (Matt Pedersen and Kyle Rogers) Radio: 94.3 The Game (Scooter Rogers)
Location:	Houston, Texas \| Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park (3,500)
Official Web Sites:	East Carolina \| Houston
Game Notes:	East Carolina \| Houston
Statistics:	East Carolina \| Houston
Baseball Central:	Roster \| Schedule/Results \| NCAA Baseball \| College Scoreboard \| Weekly Rankings \| National Stat Leaders
Social Media:	ECUBaseball \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. – No. 8 East Carolina kicks off defense of its American Athletic Conference regular season title March 31-April 2 when it visits Houston for a three-game series at Schroeder Park. The Pirates and Cougars meet Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before wrapping up the set Sunday at 2 p.m.

Matt Pederson and Kyle Rogers will have the call for all three games via ESPN+ while Scooter Rogers will handle the radio broadcast on 94.3 The Game.

ECU was selected the favorite to finish atop the league standings in the preseason coaches' poll and has captured the regular season championship three years running. The Pirates completed the double in 2022, sweeping through the AAC Baseball Championship on the way to winning the NCAA Greenville Regional and hosting Texas in a Super Regional.

The Pirates (19-6) boast a 16-1 record in weekend contests, most recently sweeping aside George Mason at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium March 24-26. East Carolina has captured six-straight weekend series to begin the campaign and sport a quartet of sweeps (George Washington, Liberty, Missouri State and George Mason).

ECU begins conference play with the top pitching staff in the American as its 3.24 team earned run average is ninth nationally. Weekend starters Josh Grosz and Trey Yesavage, who have won the last two AAC Pitcher of the Week awards, are the top two pitchers in the conference in terms of ERA at 1.82 and 1.93 respectively. The duo has also combined for 93 strikeouts against 28 walks in 72.0 innings. As a staff, Pirate pitchers have fanned 264 batters and walked 88.

Offensively, East Carolina is hitting a collective .299 with 50 doubles, four triples and 28 home runs. Justin Wilcoxen paces those efforts with a team-best .349 batting average and is one of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better. Jacob Jenkins-Cowart, a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-AAC Team, has collected a squad-high 31 hits to go along with 20 runs batted in.

Houston (12-13), picked to finish second in the league's preseason poll, has won seven of its last nine games despite dropping a 9-3 decision to Sam Houston State Tuesday night in Huntsville, Texas. Malachi Lott tops the club in batting average at .392 while Cameron Nickens is hitting .309 with a team-best seven doubles, five home runs and 19 RBI. The Cougars are batting .269 as a team. Houston's pitching unit checks in with a 6.32 ERA and 222 strikeouts against 130 walks in 219.1 innings.

Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday: RHP Trey Yesavage (4-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Ekness (1-2, 5.18 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Carter Spivey (2-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. RHP Paul Schmitz (1-1, 3.80 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Josh Grosz (4-0, 1.82 ERA) vs. TBA

The Houston Series
East Carolina leads the series with Houston by a 34-33-1 margin. The Pirates have won the last seven meetings and took two of three the last time they visited Schroeder Park in 2019.

Grosz Tabbed AAC Pitcher of the Week
Grosz was named the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week Monday. The honor is the first for Grosz in his Pirate career and marks the second-straight week ECU has earned the award (Trey Yesavage/March 20). Grosz tossed the first complete-game shutout for East Carolina since 2021 in Sunday's 5-0 victory over George Mason that clinched the Pirates' fourth weekend series sweep of the season. He logged a career long eight-inning outing with five strikeouts, setting down the Patriot side in order in the fourth through seventh frames. Grosz is the first ECU pitcher to record a complete-game shutout since Gavin Williams blanked Memphis 12-0 in seven innings back on May 28, 2021, at the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship. Through his efforts Sunday, Grosz lowered his season ERA to an American Athletic Conference-best 1.82 and is holding opposing hitters to a .149 batting average. He has notched 39 strikeouts in 34.2 innings of work.

Mustache March
With the month of March in full swing, the East Carolina baseball team (players, coaching staff and support staff) are participating in Mustache March to raise money and awareness for ALS Research and the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter. This year, the Pirates are teaming 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 323 career wins and is 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.

Joey Berini: Has started 19 games at shortstop ... 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 a home run and drove in two runs against George Mason (March 26).
Tyler Bradt: Has struck out 15 batters in 11.0 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: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Has started three games at shortstop ... Has scored seven 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) ... Notched a hit and run scored in the series finale against Missouri State (March 19).
Cam Clonch: Has made five starts at designated hitter and three at first base ... 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: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Has started 14 games in the outfield (6/RF, 6/LF, 2/CF) ... 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 ... Drove in a pair of runs in the Missouri State series finale (March 19) via a two-run home run ... Notched a pair of two-hit efforts in the George Mason series.
Josh Grosz: Tabbed the AAC Pitcher of the Week March 27 ... 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 ... Logged a career-long outing against Missouri State (March 19), going 7.2 scoreless innings and striking out five ... Threw the first complete-game shutout for ECU since 2021 in the George Mason series finale.
Lane Hoover: Has started 19 of 25 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) ... Notched two hits and an RBI versus William & Mary (March 15) ... Turned a pair of multi-hit efforts in the Missouri State series ... Clubbed his second career home run in the 11-3 victory over George Mason (March 24).
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 ... Grabbed his first win of the season in the 4-3 win over Missouri State (March 18) with three strikeouts in 2.2 scoreless frames.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Has started all 25 games in the outfield (14/RF, 11/CF) ... 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) ... 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) ... Tallied two hits and drove in a pair of runs in the 11-3 win over George Mason (March 24).
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 24 games with 12 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 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings while yielding just 10 hits and striking out 19 ... Fanned a career-high five batters at UNCW (March 14) ... Tallied a save in the series opener against Missouri State (March 17).
Alec Makarewicz: Has started all 25 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) ... 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: Tabbed to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 27 ... One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... 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) ... Logged three hits and three RBI in the 5-0 win over George Mason (March 24).
Josh Moylan: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Tabbed the AAC Player of the Week March 13 ... Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 6 ... Has started 22 of the Pirates' 25 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 ... Logged his second career four-hit effort in the Missouri State series finale (March 19).
Luke Nowak: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has started 21 of ECU's 24 games (16/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 12 bases ... 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 2-1 record and 19 strikeouts in 19.1 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 ... Collected seven strikeouts versus Campbell (March 22).
Carter Spivey: 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 nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Has started all 25 games at second base ... Hit .500 (5-for-10) with two runs scored and three RBI in the George Washington series ... 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 ... Provided the walkoff single in ECU's 4-3 victory over Missouri State (March 18) that clinched the series ... Notched a pair of two-hit performances in the George Mason series.
Justin Wilcoxen: One of nine Pirates hitting .306 or better ... Owns a current 12-game hitting streak ... Named the AAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Feb. 20 ... Has started 21 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 ... Drove in three runs in the 17-4 win over Indiana (March 3) ... Went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the series finale versus George Mason (March 26).
Trey Yesavage: Tabbed the AAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career on March 20 ... Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has struck out 43 batters against six walks in 30.1 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 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 ... Put together his fourth consecutive quality start in the 3-0 victory over Missouri State (March 17), going a career-long 7.1 innings and striking out a career high-matching 11 hitters ... Fanned 11 batters for the third time this season in the 11-3 win over George Mason (March 24) - his fifth-straight quality start (7.0 IP, 3 ER).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

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

Trey Yesavage

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