No. 12 ECU Battles UCF In American Conference Series

Games 30-32: UCF at No. 12 East Carolina
Coverage	April 6: 2:00 p.m. \| Live Stats \| Watch April 6: TBA \| Live Stats \| Watch April 7: 12 Noon \| Live Stats \| Watch Stream: ESPN+ (Patrick Johnson, Jay Sonnhalter and Daron Vaught) Radio: 94.3 The Game (Scooter Rogers and Dr. Gary Overton)
Location:	Greenville, N.C. \| Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium (5,000)
Official Web Sites:	East Carolina \| UCF
Game Notes:	East Carolina \| UCF
Statistics:	East Carolina \| UCF
Baseball Central:	Roster \| Schedule/Results \| NCAA Baseball \| College Scoreboard \| Weekly Rankings \| National Stat Leaders
Social Media:	ECUBaseball \| The American

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Following a solid midweek victory over NC State, No. 12 East Carolina looks to keep the momentum rolling as it welcomes UCF to Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium for its first home American Athletic Conference series of the season.

The teams begin the set Thursday afternoon with a 2 p.m. doubleheader before wrapping it up Friday at a time to be determined. All three contests will stream live via ESPN+ with Patrick Johnson, Jay Sonnhalter and Daron Vaught on the call. Fans also have the option of tuning in to 94.3 The Game as Scooter Rogers and Dr. Gary Overton will handle the radio broadcast.

The Pirates (21-8, 1-2 AAC) opened league play dropping two of three at Houston last weekend but kicked off an eight-game homestand Tuesday with a 13-9 win over the Wolfpack. ECU clubbed six home runs in the contest, marking the most for the Pirates in a single game since 2009. Jacob Jenkins-Cowart was responsible for three of the long balls as he became the first East Carolina player to hit a trio of home runs in a contest since Corey Kemp in 2008.

In addition to Jenkins-Cowart, Josh Moylan, Jacob Starling and Joey Berini all left the yard as Jenkins-Cowart and Berini combined for eight RBI. Jake Hunter (2-1) earned the win in relief, turning in a campaign-high 4.1 innings while allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

The ECU pitching staff leads all American Conference teams in earned run average (3.53) while ranking second in batting average (.292). Josh Grosz and Trey Yesavage pace the circuit in ERA at 1.82 and 2.08 respectively as Yesavage tops the league and is second nationally with 67 total strikeouts.

East Carolina hopes to utilize the services of catcher Justin Wilcoxen this weekend. He has missed the last four games but leads the club in batting average (.348) and owns a current 12-game hitting streak. Wilcoxen is one of six Pirates hitting .304 or better. Collectively, the Pirates have rapped out 59 doubles, five triples and 36 home runs to go along with 141 walks and 39 stolen bases.

UCF (17-12, 1-2 AAC) lost its opening conference series to in-state rival South Florida last weekend in Orlando, falling 2-0 and 3-2 in the first two games before salvaging the finale by a 12-9 score. Ben McCabe, the top hitter in the AAC by batting average, boasts a team-best .389 mark and 11 home runs for a Knights offense that is hitting .292 with 51 home runs. The pitchers sport a 5.15 team earned run average with 269 strikeouts and 110 walks in 256.2 innings. Opponents are hitting .260 off the unit.

ECU is 17-2 at home this season with its only losses occurring to Long Beach State and UNCW.

Projected Pitching Matchups
Game One: RHP Trey Yesavage (4-0, 2.08 ERA, 43.1 IP) vs. RHP Ruddy Gomez (4-1, 2.84 ERA, 44.1 IP)
Game Two: RHP Carter Spivey (2-1, 3.81 ERA, 28.1 IP) vs. LHP Jacob Marlowe (3-3, 4.01 ERA, 33.2 IP)
Game Three: TBA vs. RHP Dom Stagliano (4-1, 5.50 ERA, 36.0 IP)

The UCF Series
East Carolina leads the series with UCF 43-17 and has won 12 of the last 15 meetings. The Pirates traveled down to Orlando last season and swept the three-game series, outscoring the Knights 32-8 at John Euliano Park. ECU and UCF split a four-game set in 2021 during the Knights' last appearance in Greenville.

Yesavage Tabbed To Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List
Yesavage is one of 45 players nationally to earn a spot on the midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list. He is the sixth Pirate in program history to be named to the midseason list following Jeff Hoffman (2013), Evan Kruczynski (2016), Chris Holba (2018), Jake Agnos (2019) and Connor Norby (2021). ECU has had four players named to the preseason watch list in Kyle Roller (2010), Jeff Hoffman (2014), Bryant Packard (2019) and Alec Burleson (2020), while Corey Kemp is the lone Pirate to be named a semifinalist in 2008. The Boyertown, Pa., native has been nothing short of spectacular in the Friday night role this season, rolling up a 2.08 earned run average with 67 strikeouts against 10 walks in 43.1 innings of work. He is holding opposing hitters to a .188 batting average and has yielded just 10 earned runs on 29 hits. Yesavage has turned in six-straight quality starts – the latest a 13-strikeout performance over six frames at Houston March 31. Yesavage currently slots among the nation's leaders in strikeouts (second), strikeouts per nine innings (13.92/16th), 29th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.70/29th) and earned run average (37th). He was named the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week March 20 after producing a career-long outing of 7.1 scoreless innings in the Pirates' 3-0 win over Missouri State. Yesavage fanned 11 batters against no walks in the contest while scattering four hits.

Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Owns 325 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 24 games at shortstop ... One of six Pirates hitting .304 or better ... 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) ... Clubbed his third home run of the season in the 13-9 win over NC State (April 4)
Tyler Bradt: Has struck out 16 batters in 11.1 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 five games at shortstop ... 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 ... Rapped out doubles against Indiana (March 3) and Georgetown (March 5)
Carter Cunningham: One of six Pirates hitting .304 or better ... Has started 18 games in the outfield (9/LF, 6/RF, 3/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 20 of the Pirates' 29 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 ... Tossed a season-long 4.1 innings against NC State (April 4) and secured his second victory of the campaign, striking out five batters against no walks.
Jacob Jenkins-Cowart: One of six Pirates hitting .304 or better ... Has started all 29 games in the outfield (18/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) ... Was 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) ... Became the first Pirate since Corey Kemp in 2008 to hit three home runs in a contest as he also drove in five runs in East Carolina's victory over NC State (April 4).
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 28 games with 15 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) ... 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 29 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 ... 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 six Pirates hitting .304 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: Named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll Feb. 27 ... Has started 25 of ECU's 29 games (20/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 20 strikeouts in 22.1 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 six Pirates hitting .304 or better ... Has started all 29 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 ... Celebrated his birthday April 4 by hitting a home run in ECU's 13-9 win over NC State.
Justin Wilcoxen: Leads the squad with a .349 batting average ... One of six Pirates hitting .300 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: Selected to the midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List ... 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 67 batters against 10 walks in 43.1 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) ... Collected a career-high 13 strikeouts at Houston (March 31).

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

Footer