Cliff Godwin becomes winningest coach at ECU as Pirates top UNCC at AAC tourney

by | May 23, 2025

Cliff Godwin became the winningest baseball coach in East Carolina University history with Thursday’s 6-5 win over UNC Charlotte at the AAC Tournament on Thursday.

The 6-5 victory over No. 2 seed Charlotte puts the Pirates (31-25), the No. 6 seed, into Saturday’s play.. ECU will play either No. 3 South Florida or Charlotte on Saturday. A win there will put the Pirates in the AAC Tournament final, slated to be played on Sunday.

Godwin was tied with Dr. Gary Overton with 427 career wins. Thursday’s victory puts him alone at the top for career wins with 428.

Below is more on Thursday’s game from ECU’s Sports Information.

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Photo credit: ECU baseball coach Cliff Godwin (Glenn Griffin, Pirate Radio photo illustration)

By ECUPirates.com

CLEARWATER, Fla. — No. 6 seed East Carolina kept its unbeaten run going at the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship, defeating No. 2 seed Charlotte 6-5 Thursday evening to advance to Semifinal Saturday.


The Pirates (31-25) have reached the semifinal round of the league tournament without a loss for the first time since they swept through the field in 2022. The 49ers (36-21) now face an elimination game opposite No. 3 seed South Florida Friday afternoon. ECU also snapped Charlotte’s 10-game winning streak and avenged a series loss to the 49ers that occurred back in April.

With the triumph, Cliff Godwin officially became the winningest head coach in program history – now standing with 428 career victories.

John Collins produced another huge day at the dish, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Dixon Williams and Colby Wallace also registered two-hit efforts while Austin Irby and Walker Barron drove in a pair of runs apiece. Spencer Nolan was the only Charlotte batter to record multiple hits, finishing with two.

Brad Pruett (5-5) was absolutely nails in relief, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to eat up some important frames in the middle of the contest. Jake Hunter then locked down his third save of the campaign, striking out three over the last two innings. Chase Carson (4-1) took his first loss of the season, surrendering four runs on six hits in 4.2 frames with two walks and five strikeouts.

After both teams utilized double plays to erase potential scoring threats in the first inning, the Pirates broke through first in the top of the second. Collins, Wallace and Ryley Johnson all singled consecutively to lead off the frame before Austin Irby and Alex Peltier plated the initial two runs of the contest via two-straight groundouts. The 49ers responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two out three-run home run to propel in front 3-2.

ECU created a little two-out magic of its own in the top of the fifth as Williams ripped a double to the gap in right center and Collins deposited 2-2 pitch into right field to score him from second and tie the game. Following a shutdown inning from Pruett, the Pirates threatened to regain the lead. Wallace was hit by the first pitch of his at bat and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before Barron stepped up with two outs and launched an 0-1 offering into the East Carolina bullpen out in left center – a two-run shot that put the Pirates ahead 5-3.

Charlotte sought an immediate response in the bottom of the sixth when Connor Maryniak drew a leadoff walk, but Pruett worked around the free pass to strand a pair of 49er runners. ECU then extended its upper hand to three in the top of the seventh as Irby drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-3. That would prove an important insurance run entering the bottom of the ninth.

Nolan began the half inning with a single before Noah Furcht doubled to right center to put Charlotte in prime position. A groundout scored one run and Juan Rivera followed with a two-out RBI single to reduce the Pirate advantage to one. Another base hit put runners at the corners, but Hunter froze Maryniak on a 2-2 pitch to send the 49ers away for the final time.

East Carolina’s semifinal game against either South Florida or Charlotte will begin 47 minutes following Saturday’s first game between Tulane and either Florida Atlantic or UTSA which is scheduled for 9 a.m.

2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central

Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 | Box Score | Highlights

Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane 10, No. 1 UTSA 6 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina 6, No. 2 Charlotte 5 | Box Score | Highlights

Friday, May 23
Game 9: No. 4 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 1 UTSA | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: No. 3 South Florida vs. No. 2 Charlotte | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+

Saturday, May 24
Game 11: No. 5 Tulane vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: No. 6 East Carolina vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+

Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS and ESPN+

All times listed are Eastern.

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