No. 12 East Carolina Set For Pair Of Midweek Tests

Games 11-12: vs. Queens/at Elon
Coverage	March 7: vs. Queens \\\ 6:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch March 8: at Elon \\\ 4:00 p.m. \\\ Live Stats \\\ Watch Stream: ESPN+ (Tuesday) \\\ FloBaseball (Wednesday) Radio: 94.3 The Game (Scooter Rogers and Gary Overton)
Location:	Kannapolis, N.C. (Atrium Health Ballpark) \\\ Elon, N.C. (Latham Park)
Official Web Sites:	East Carolina \| Queens \| Elon
Game Notes:	East Carolina \| Queens \| Elon
Statistics:	East Carolina \| Queens \| Elon
Baseball Central:	Roster \| Schedule/Results \| NCAA Baseball \| College Scoreboard \| Weekly Rankings \| National Stat Leaders
Social Media:	ECUBaseball \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. – No. 12 East Carolina embarks on a new week, heading west for two midweek games against Queens University of Charlotte and Elon. The Pirates and Royals meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis while ECU takes on the Phoenix Wednesday at 4 p.m. inside Latham Park.

East Carolina (7-3) won two of three contests at the 20th annual Keith LeClair Classic over the weekend, knocking off Indiana 17-4 and Georgetown 11-2 while dropping a tight 3-2 decision to Long Beach State. The Pirates outscored their three opponents 30-9 and hit .327 collectively. Josh Moylan hit .417 during the tourney and Jacob Starling drove in nine runs – including six against the Hoosiers. The ECU pitching staff locked down its foes to the tune of a 2.67 earned run average, 34 strikeouts and a .221 batting average against. Trey Yesavage and Josh Grosz combined to surrender just one earned run with 21 strikeouts in 11.0 innings.

The Pirates own the top team ERA in the conference at 4.43 while also pacing the circuit in opposing batting average (.240), runs allowed (47) and earned runs allowed (44). East Carolina is also second in fielding percentage (.975).

Individually, Starling tops the American in RBI (20) and is third in on base percentage (.522). Lane Hoover also slots second in runs scored (15). Yesavage has fanned a league-high 26 batters and ranks third in ERA (1.59) with Zach Root topping the conference in ERA (0.84) and checking in second in opposing batting average (.132).

Queens (3-8) hosted Tennessee Tech for a three-game series last weekend and dropped two of three while Elon (7-5) swept visiting Quinnipiac.

The Queens Series
East Carolina and Queens meet for the first time on the diamond Tuesday evening. The game is the second for the Pirates this season in a Minor League ballpark.

The Elon Series
ECU leads the series with Elon 57-34-1 and has won 10 of the last 12 encounters opposite the Phoenix. The Pirates swept the season series a year ago, picking up a 7-6 victory March 23 in Greenville before downing Elon 7-1 April 12 at Latham Park.

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.

Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Enters the week just six 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.

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 seven 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) ... Drove in a run in the Pirates' 11-2 win over Georgetown (March 5) at the LeClair Classic.
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 7.2 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: Has started three games at shortstop ... Has scored five 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 four starts 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) ... Rapped out doubles against Indiana (March 3) and Georgetown (March 5).
Josh Grosz: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 6 ... Struck out a career-high 10 batters and did not allow in hit in five scoreless innings against Georgetown (March 5) ... 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 10 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) ... Recorded a hit and scored two runs in the 17-4 victory over Indiana (March 3).
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart: Has started all 10 games in the outfield (9/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 ... Went 3-for-6 with a run scored and three RBI in the 17-4 victory over Indiana (March 3).
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) ... Posted a hit and scored a run against Georgetown (March 5).
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.
Alec Makarewicz: Has started all 10 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) ... Went yard in the 11-2 victory over Georgetown (March 5).
Josh Moylan: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll March 6 ... Has started nine of the Pirates' seven games at first base ... Went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI in the George Washignton 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) ... Clubbed his first career grand slam in the 11-2 victory over Georgetown (March 5).
Luke Nowak: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has started all 10 games (6/DH, 4/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 ... 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 10 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 ... Exploded for six RBI in the 17-4 win over Indiana (March 3).
Justin Wilcoxen: Named the AAC Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Feb. 20 ... Has started all 10 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 26 batters against five walks in 17 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.

Up Next: East Carolina returns home for a three-game series against Atlantic Sun Conference preseason favorite Liberty. The Pirates and Flames will match up at Clark-LeClair Stadium March 10-12.

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Players Mentioned

Danny Beal

Merritt Beeker

Joey Berini

Tyler Bradt

Nathan Chrismon

Cam Clonch

Josh Grosz

Charlie Hodges

Lane Hoover

Jacob Jenkins-Cowart

Ryley Johnson

Willie Lumpkin

Alec Makarewicz

Josh Moylan

Luke Nowak

Zach Root

Garrett Saylor

Carter Spivey

Jacob Starling

Justin Wilcoxen

Trey Yesavage

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