Godwin Welcomes 23 Newcomers to Baseball Program
September 04, 2026 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Head baseball coach Cliff Godwin formally announced 23 newcomers to the now two-time reigning American Conference Tournament Championship team. Greenville's incoming class features 14 first-year players and nine transfers, creating a diverse mix of talent.  Â
"We're excited to welcome this group of student-athletes to ECU, not only because of their ability on the baseball field, but because of who they are," Godwin said. "We're intentional about bringing in players who fit the culture of East Carolina baseball and understand what it means to be a Pirate. They're going to have an opportunity to learn from a great group of returning players, and we're excited for this group to come in, embrace that standard and help us continue to build on what we've accomplished."Â
Joining the 2026 American Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions are 23 newcomers: eight infielders (Shane Monaghan, Josh Mozingo, Westin Boyle, Braeden Martin, William Benson, Janeson Steele, Brayden Davis, Kellen Smith), one outfielder (Jack Rees), three catchers (Braeden Lippoff, Jack Woda, Jack Enrico), eight right-handed pitchers (Carter Perdue, Saxon Roberts, Danny Chihocki, Jason Sproull, Nicholas Lorenz, Jason Kruczek, Sawyer Wickstrom, Jack Stoner), two left-handed pitchers (Drew Tolfree, Landon Turman) and one two-way player (Brady Thompson).  Â
Godwin, entering his 13th season at the helm, led ECU to ten NCAA Regionals (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024 Regional host), four Super Regional appearances (2022 Super Regional host), six American Conference regular seasons and five American Conference Tournament Championship teams. He also posted a 470-238-2 (.664) record and is the winningest coach in ECU program history. Most recently, the Pirates became American Conference season shared champions and took the crown for the second consecutive year at the 2026 American Conference Tournament.Â
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Under his direction, 18 players have earned All-America status, 30 have been named to NCAA All-Regional Teams, 53 student-athletes have garnered all-conference status and Major League Baseball teams have drafted 32 players. Â
ECU has also earned 11 straight American Conference and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Awards, boasting a compiled 3.72 cumulative GPA for the 2025-26 season, tying the program-best set by the 2024-25 crew.Â
Under Godwin, a two-time Academic All-America selection as a player at ECU, the Pirates have had upwards of 400 student-athletes on the East Carolina Director of Athletics Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or higher). In his 12 seasons, the East Carolina baseball program has averaged over a 3.40 cumulative GPA since the fall of 2017, with the past four seasons averaging over a 3.50 cumulative GPA. Â
Since 2016, eight players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors (Travis Watkins/2016 first team, Charlie Yorgen/2016 third team, Jake Agnos/2019 first team, Alec Burleson/2019 third team and 2020 first team, Matt Bridges/2021 third team, Carter Cunningham/2024 first team, Trey Yesavage/2024 first team, and most recently, Jack Herring/2026 third team). Burleson became the third player in program history to be named a two-time Academic All-America selection, joining Godwin and Sam Narron. Â
ECU, two-time consecutive American Conference Tournament Title Champions, advanced to the Chapel Hill Regional finals in 2026, making seven consecutive Regional Finals for the Pirates. It also welcomes back 22 players, including Chapel Hill All-Tournament selection Braden Burress, as well as Freshman All-Conference Selections Grady Lenahan and Ethan Rose.  Â
"We're excited to welcome this group of student-athletes to ECU, not only because of their ability on the baseball field, but because of who they are," Godwin said. "We're intentional about bringing in players who fit the culture of East Carolina baseball and understand what it means to be a Pirate. They're going to have an opportunity to learn from a great group of returning players, and we're excited for this group to come in, embrace that standard and help us continue to build on what we've accomplished."Â
Joining the 2026 American Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions are 23 newcomers: eight infielders (Shane Monaghan, Josh Mozingo, Westin Boyle, Braeden Martin, William Benson, Janeson Steele, Brayden Davis, Kellen Smith), one outfielder (Jack Rees), three catchers (Braeden Lippoff, Jack Woda, Jack Enrico), eight right-handed pitchers (Carter Perdue, Saxon Roberts, Danny Chihocki, Jason Sproull, Nicholas Lorenz, Jason Kruczek, Sawyer Wickstrom, Jack Stoner), two left-handed pitchers (Drew Tolfree, Landon Turman) and one two-way player (Brady Thompson).  Â
Godwin, entering his 13th season at the helm, led ECU to ten NCAA Regionals (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024 Regional host), four Super Regional appearances (2022 Super Regional host), six American Conference regular seasons and five American Conference Tournament Championship teams. He also posted a 470-238-2 (.664) record and is the winningest coach in ECU program history. Most recently, the Pirates became American Conference season shared champions and took the crown for the second consecutive year at the 2026 American Conference Tournament.Â
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Under his direction, 18 players have earned All-America status, 30 have been named to NCAA All-Regional Teams, 53 student-athletes have garnered all-conference status and Major League Baseball teams have drafted 32 players. Â
ECU has also earned 11 straight American Conference and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Awards, boasting a compiled 3.72 cumulative GPA for the 2025-26 season, tying the program-best set by the 2024-25 crew.Â
Under Godwin, a two-time Academic All-America selection as a player at ECU, the Pirates have had upwards of 400 student-athletes on the East Carolina Director of Athletics Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or higher). In his 12 seasons, the East Carolina baseball program has averaged over a 3.40 cumulative GPA since the fall of 2017, with the past four seasons averaging over a 3.50 cumulative GPA. Â
Since 2016, eight players have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors (Travis Watkins/2016 first team, Charlie Yorgen/2016 third team, Jake Agnos/2019 first team, Alec Burleson/2019 third team and 2020 first team, Matt Bridges/2021 third team, Carter Cunningham/2024 first team, Trey Yesavage/2024 first team, and most recently, Jack Herring/2026 third team). Burleson became the third player in program history to be named a two-time Academic All-America selection, joining Godwin and Sam Narron. Â
ECU, two-time consecutive American Conference Tournament Title Champions, advanced to the Chapel Hill Regional finals in 2026, making seven consecutive Regional Finals for the Pirates. It also welcomes back 22 players, including Chapel Hill All-Tournament selection Braden Burress, as well as Freshman All-Conference Selections Grady Lenahan and Ethan Rose.  Â
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