Friday, February 6
Atlanta, Ga.
11:00 a.m.
East Carolina University
vs
Villanova
Pirates Open 2026 Season At Buzz Classic
February 05, 2026 | Softball
| Games 1-5: Buzz Classic | |
| Coverage | Feb. 6 vs. Villanova (11 a.m.) /// Live Stats Feb. 6 vs. No. 16 Alabama (1:30 p.m.) /// Live Stats Feb. 7 vs. Villanova (11:00 a.m.) /// Live Stats Feb. 8 at Georgia Tech (Noon) /// Watch | Live Stats Feb. 8 at Georgia Tech (2 p.m.) /// Watch | Live Stats |
| Venue | Shirley Clements Mewborn Field | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Statistics | East Carolina | Georgia Tech | Alabama | Villanova |
| Social Media |  @ecu_softball (Twitter) \\\ Instagram \\\ #WeBelieve |
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Atlanta, Ga. – East Carolina opens up the 2026 season and fifth year of the Shane Winkler era on Friday morning as the Pirates will battle Villanova and No. 16 Alabama in the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field.
The Pirates face Villanova at 11 a.m. followed by taking on No. 16 Alabama at 1:30 p.m. The Pirates and Wildcats will battle again on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and ECU will close out the tournament with a doubleheader against Georgia Tech on Sunday. The doubleheader against Georgia Tech will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
East Carolina is coming off a 31-26 campaign that included a run to the American Conference semifinals, a program-record 14 American Conference wins and a program-record 76 home runs. ECU also achieved back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 2010 and 2011, the last time the Pirates appeared in an NCAA Regional.
Despite losing four all-conference players in the offseason, the Pirates return a solid veteran core in outfielders Anna Sawyer (.363) and Kanisha Anderson (.378), pitcher Taylor Apple (128 Ks), and infielders Chloe Geijer (.267) and Mary-Kathryn Scott (.948 fielding percentage). Â ECU reloaded its roster in the offseason, adding eight transfers and four freshmen. Sarah Stone headlines the eight transfers, coming to the Pirates after spending her career at Indiana where she was an All-Big Ten member. Stone was named to D1Softball's Preseason Mid-Major D100 List, which highlights the best players outside the Power Four conferences. Abby Huhn (Iowa State), Lillian Martineau (Georgia Tech), Alexis Morgan (UCF), Hailey Deter (Utah), Erin Parker (North Carolina), Julia Apostolakos (South Florida) and Addison Lund (Charlotte) make up the rest of the Pirates' incoming transfers. ECU's freshman class is comprised of Sydney Rainford (North Newton), Ella Tracy (Marvin Ridge), Macey Ciamillo (Hoggard) and Kendall Manos (Hilliard Davidson).
Series History Against Villanova
ECU will face Villanova for the third time in program history as the Wildcats have taken the first two meetings including a 7-3 decision in Greenville on Feb. 25, 2022.
Series History Against Alabama
The Pirates and Crimson Tide will face off for the first time since 2012 as Alabama holds a 3-1 edge in the series and has won the last three contests.
Series History Against Georgia Tech
East Carolina and Georgia Tech will renew their history for the first time since 2010 as the Pirates hold a 9-8 edge in the series but have lost three of the last four played against the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts the Purple-Gold Classic at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium Feb. 13-15 when the Pirates will face Buffalo, Maryland and Notre Dame.
Atlanta, Ga. – East Carolina opens up the 2026 season and fifth year of the Shane Winkler era on Friday morning as the Pirates will battle Villanova and No. 16 Alabama in the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field.
The Pirates face Villanova at 11 a.m. followed by taking on No. 16 Alabama at 1:30 p.m. The Pirates and Wildcats will battle again on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and ECU will close out the tournament with a doubleheader against Georgia Tech on Sunday. The doubleheader against Georgia Tech will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
East Carolina is coming off a 31-26 campaign that included a run to the American Conference semifinals, a program-record 14 American Conference wins and a program-record 76 home runs. ECU also achieved back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 2010 and 2011, the last time the Pirates appeared in an NCAA Regional.
Despite losing four all-conference players in the offseason, the Pirates return a solid veteran core in outfielders Anna Sawyer (.363) and Kanisha Anderson (.378), pitcher Taylor Apple (128 Ks), and infielders Chloe Geijer (.267) and Mary-Kathryn Scott (.948 fielding percentage). Â ECU reloaded its roster in the offseason, adding eight transfers and four freshmen. Sarah Stone headlines the eight transfers, coming to the Pirates after spending her career at Indiana where she was an All-Big Ten member. Stone was named to D1Softball's Preseason Mid-Major D100 List, which highlights the best players outside the Power Four conferences. Abby Huhn (Iowa State), Lillian Martineau (Georgia Tech), Alexis Morgan (UCF), Hailey Deter (Utah), Erin Parker (North Carolina), Julia Apostolakos (South Florida) and Addison Lund (Charlotte) make up the rest of the Pirates' incoming transfers. ECU's freshman class is comprised of Sydney Rainford (North Newton), Ella Tracy (Marvin Ridge), Macey Ciamillo (Hoggard) and Kendall Manos (Hilliard Davidson).
Series History Against Villanova
ECU will face Villanova for the third time in program history as the Wildcats have taken the first two meetings including a 7-3 decision in Greenville on Feb. 25, 2022.
Series History Against Alabama
The Pirates and Crimson Tide will face off for the first time since 2012 as Alabama holds a 3-1 edge in the series and has won the last three contests.
Series History Against Georgia Tech
East Carolina and Georgia Tech will renew their history for the first time since 2010 as the Pirates hold a 9-8 edge in the series but have lost three of the last four played against the Yellow Jackets.
Up Next
East Carolina hosts the Purple-Gold Classic at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium Feb. 13-15 when the Pirates will face Buffalo, Maryland and Notre Dame.
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Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF/UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
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