Matt Bridges

Height:
5-11
Weight:
182
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Shelby
High School:
Crest
Major:
MBA

Career: Appeared in 78 games (all in relief) over four seasons … Currently stands sixth all-time in program history in relief appearances and tied for ninth in total appearances … Has allowed just 85 hits over 108.0 innings standing third in fewest hits allowed at ECU … His 48 runs allowed is currently tied for fifth all-time … Owns a 4-4 record with six saves while sporting a 3.83 ERA … Struck out 110 batters while walking 51 … Combined on five shutouts during his tenure at ECU … Fanned career-high six batters at No. 5 National Seed Texas Tech during ECU’s 2016 Super Regional win … Helped ECU to 137 wins over his three-plus years … Won a pair of American Athletic Conference Championships (2018 tournament, 2019 regular season) … Part of a club that won an AAC-best 20 league games in 2019 … The Pirates hosted back-to-back NCAA Regionals in Greenville earning national seeds (No. 12 in 2018, No. 10 in 2019) … Member of the 2019 Regional Championship club that advanced to the Louisville Super Regional.

2020: Returned to action after sitting out the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery … Appeared in seven games (all in relief) during the shortened COVID-19 pandemic season … Member of a squad that posted a 13-4 record and finished ranked nationally in a pair of polls … Posted a 2.70 ERA with a pair of saves … Allowed three runs (all earned) on seven hits in 10.0 innings … Struck out 11 while walking four … Combined on one shutout (Georgia Southern, Feb. 22) working a scoreless inning of relief allowing a hit and walking one … Made his first appearance in over a year in the season opener against William & Mary (Feb. 14) striking out four in 1.2 innings … Notched saves against Georgia Southern (Feb. 22) and at Charlotte (March 8) … Worked at least one inning of relief in six of seven outings … Did not allow a run in four contests … Fanned at least one batter in a game six times (multiple on three occasions) … Tossed two shutout innings against No. 13 Ole Miss (Feb. 29) in the Keith LeClair Classic … Followed that with another 2.2 scoreless frames at Charlotte (March 8) … Surrendered single runs against William & Mary (Feb. 16), Georgia Southern (Feb. 23) and UNCW (March 11) … Did not issue a walk in three of seven outings (one or less in all seven games) … Held opposing hitters to a .194 composite batting average … Induced five fly ball and 12 ground outs … Opponents hit at a .150 clip with runners on base … ECU outscored opponents 22-15 in games which he pitched.

2019: Redshirted during senior season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

2018: Appeared in nine games in relief before suffering arm injury … Posted a 1-0 record with a 4.00 ERA … Allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 9.0 innings … Struck out six and walked five … Held opposing hitters to a .172 composite batting average … Allowed five of nine inherited runners to score (55.6 percent) … Notched lone win of the season at No. 20 UCF (March 25) where he worked 1.1 innings giving one run (home run) and striking out two … Worked at least one inning of relief on six occasions with a season-high 2.1 vs. Elon … Fanned two batters in an outing twice (Elon/March 14, UCF/March 25) … Did not allow a run in six of nine appearances … In first four outings of the season, didn’t allow a run (3.0 innings) while issuing two hits, one walk and striking out one … Officially shutdown after his final outing against Houston (April 29) with an arm injury … In league play, made three appearances posting a 1-0 record with a 4.91 ERA … Surrendered two runs (both earned) on three hits … Fanned three and walked three in 3.2 innings.

2017: Appeared in 34 games all out of the bullpen to lead the staff … Posted a 1-3 record with two saves … Allowed 25 runs (all earned) on 44 hits in 46.2 innings … Struck out 48 and walked 24 … Recorded saves at College of Charleston (March 8) and at Connecticut (May 20) … Lone win came against No. 25 USF at The American Championships … Worked at least one inning of relief in 28 of 34 contests with a season-high 4.0 frames at College of Charleston (March 8) … Two-plus innings nine times … Did not allow an earned run in 20 outings … Gave up one of fewer hits 19 times … Struck out at least one batter in 26 games (multiple 15 times) … Fanned a season-high four batters at College of Charleston (March 8) and at North Carolina (April 4) … Did not issue a walk in 22 contests … Tied for fourth with former reliever Sam Lanier on ECU’s single-season charts in appearances and relief appearances (34) … Led The American in appearances and games in relief, while ranking seventh in games finished … Appeared in 13 games going 0-2 with one save in league play … Combined on two shutouts (Connecticut/May 20 and UCF/May 25) … Appeared in three postseason games where he allowed just one run (earned) over 3.1 innings with three strikeouts.

2016: Appeared in 28 games out of the bullpen – third most on the staff … Posted a 2-1 record with a 2.98 ERA … Allowed 15 runs (14 earned) on 29 hits in 42.1 innings … Struck out 45 while walking just 18 … Notched two saves (Memphis, Texas Tech) … Registered wins at Connecticut (May 6) and against USF (May 13) … First collegiate win came at Connecticut with a scoreless inning of relief … Less than a week later notched second win vs. USF with another scoreless outing (two-thirds) … Worked at least one inning of relief in 25 of 28 appearances … Two-plus innings 10 times with a career-long 3.0 at Memphis (April 16) where he had four strikeouts and earned his first career save … Fanned a career-best six batters at No. 5 National Seed Texas Tech in game one of the Lubbock Super Regional helping ECU to its first-ever Super Regional win … Did not allow a run in 17 of 28 appearances (no earned runs in 18 outings) … Registered multiple strikeouts 13 times … Allowed one or less hit in 23 outings (no hits eight times) … Suffered first career loss vs. USF (May 25) in the AAC Championships … Did not allow a run in Super Regional action scattering two hits over 6.0 innings with 11 strikeouts to just two walks in three appearances … Surrendered one run (earned) in Charlottesville Regional with a pair of walks in 3.2 frames sporting a 2.45 ERA in two outings … Allowed 8 of 25 inherited runners to score (32.0 percent) … Sported a 2.87 ERA with a 2-0 record and one save in 12 league games … Opposing batters hit at a .200 clip against him.

Crest High School: Three-year letterwinner and senior co-captain for coach Steven Hodge … Helped the Chargers to a 53-24 three-year record … Member of the 2013 Shelby FCA Easter Tournament Championship squad (no stats available) … Guided Chargers to a NCHSAA Western Regional Final Runner-Up finish … Member of the Freshman JV squad in 2012 … As a sophomore earned First-Team All-Big South 3A Conference honors as an infielder … Batted .360 with a home run and 12 RBI … Scored 15 runs and sported a .484 on-base percentage … During junior campaign took home team pitcher-of-the-year accolades after posting a 7-3 record on the bump with one save … Sported a 2.88 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 68 innings, while holding opposing hitters to a composite .198 batting average … At the plate batted .265 with three home runs, 11 RBI and scored 17 runs … Finished prep career garnering South Mountain Athletic All-Conference honors … Named Chargers Closer-of-the-Year after recording four saves to go with a 2-3 ledger … Sported a 2.35 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 44 innings holding hitters to a .188 average on his way to North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association (NCBCA) All-State accolades … Had most productive season at the plate belting four home runs with 11 doubles and a triple … Batted .370 with 23 RBI and 28 runs to go along with a .492 on-base percentage … Played travel ball for the Dirtbags under the direction of coach Andy Partin … Earned 2015 Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-America honors … Second-Team All-Atlantic Region by Perfect Game selection … Named 2014 Underclass High Honorable Mention All-America … Rated as the 12th-best RHP prospect in North Carolina (No. 272 nationally) by Perfect Game … Garnered a No. 26 North Carolina ranking by MaxPreps.com … Participated in several showcase events including 2013-14 PG WWBA World Championship (Jupiter, Fla.), 2013 PG WWBA Underclass World Championship (Fort Myers, Fla.), 2013 16U Perfect Game World Series (Fort Myers, Fla.), 2013-14 16U Perfect Game World Series (Fort Myers, Fla.), 2014 PG WWBA 16U National Championship (Emerson, Ga.) and 2014 PG WWBA 17U National Championship (Emerson, Ga.) … Beta Club member … National Honor Society member who maintained a 4.4 cumulative GPA … National Technical Honor Society … Skills USA (Electronics) … Crest High School Scholar Athlete … Junior Marshal and Cleveland County Schools Senior Scholar.

Personal: Full name is Matthew Kendall Bridges, but prefers to go by Matt … Son of Kelly and Brett Bridges … Born in Shelby, N.C. … Father was a four-year lettermen in baseball at Gardner-Webb University (1984-87) … Grandfather (Bobby Bridges) earned one letter in baseball at the University of South Carolina (1959) … Earned undergraduate degree in public health studies (May 2020) … Currently pursuing his MBA ... Nine-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll (Fall 2015 to present) … Five-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (2016-20).