ECU continues homestand with series against FAU

by | Apr 4, 2025

The East Carolina baseball team will look to continue its recent success starting Friday at Clark-LeClair Stadium against Florida Atlantic.

ECU (20-10, 6-0 AAC) has wins over UNC Wilmington and Elon this week. Those wins followed a sweep of AAC foe Rice.

Below is a preview from ECU Sports Information. Videos are from Pirate Radio.

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Photo credit: ECU baseball (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

East Carolina remains inside the friendly confines of Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium April 4-6, welcoming Florida Atlantic to Greenville for a three-game American Athletic Conference set. Friday’s series opener is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.

All three games will stream live via ESPN+ with Evan Budrovich, Patrick Johnson and Mike Mullis on the call. Pirate Radio will be at all three games providing updates on its social media accounts.

The Pirates (20-10, 6-0 AAC), who have won 13 of their last 15 contests, swept both Memphis and Rice during the first two rounds of league play and sit alone atop the conference table – one game ahead of South Florida and UTSA. The Owls (20-9, 2-4 AAC) were swept at UTSA last weekend and head to the Tar Heel State tied with Tulane and UAB for sixth place. The top eight teams in the league standings qualify for the AAC Baseball Championship May 20-25 in Clearwater, Fla.

The matchup features the two best statistical pitching staffs in the league as ECU paces the circuit with a 3.92 earned run average while the Owls check in at 4.16. East Carolina has won seven-straight home games (13-5 overall in Greenville).

Braden Burress has served as a spark plug at the top of the Pirate lineup, pacing the club and slotting second in the American Conference in batting average (.402). In fact, three freshmen lead ECU in that statistic as Braxton Tramel (.394) and Kenan Bowman (.313) are also hitting above the .300 mark. The Pirates are hitting .274 as a team with 44 doubles, two triples, 37 home runs, 152 walks drawn and 39 stolen bases.

The East Carolina bullpen has been especially stout this season, sporting a very respectable 3.69 ERA with 184 strikeouts in 156.0 innings of work. Nick Moran, Brad Pruett, Ethan Young and Jake Hunter have molded into the core of that group as they have combined to go 7-3 with a 2.46 ERA and 123 strikeouts against 49 walks in relief appearances.

In what is a recurring theme during head coach Cliff Godwin‘s tenure with the Pirates, ECU ranks among the NCAA Division I statistical leaders in several categories – slotting ninth in sacrifice bunts (26), 19th in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.35), 21st in ERA, 41st in both fielding percentage (.977) and WHIP (1.35) and 43rd in pitching strikeouts per nine innings (9.8). Individually, scheduled Friday starter Ethan Norby is 10th in total strikeouts (60), 20th in WHIP (0.90), 21st in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.67) and 32nd in strikeouts per nine innings (12.46).

Projected Series Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Ethan Norby (4-2, 2.49 ERA, 43.1 IP) vs. LHP Trey Beard (4-0, 2.82 ERA, 38.1 IP)
Saturday: TBA vs. RHP Tyler Murphy (2-2, 4.71 ERA, 36.1 IP)
Sunday: TBA vs. RHP James Litman (2-0, 3.06 ERA, 32.1 IP)

About Florida Atlantic
The Owls, in addition to boasting prolific pitching numbers, are also second in the conference in batting average at .308 with 59 doubles, two triples and 33 home runs. Jake Duer is hitting a league-leading .420 and is sixth in on base percentage (.493). Trey Beard, who will oppose Norby Friday night, is fifth in the conference in ERA (2.82) while pacing the circuit in opposing batting average (.165) and strikeouts (66). Florida Atlantic is 3-6 away from Boca Raton with wins over UCF, Florida International and Florida Gulf Coast. John McCormack is in his 17th season with the Owls and holds a 560-360-2 record at the institution.

The Florida Atlantic Series
East Carolina leads the all-time series with Florida Atlantic by a 4-3 margin, taking two of three from the Owls last season in Boca Raton. This weekend’s games mark the first-ever appearance by Florida Atlantic in Greenville.

Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Owns 417 career victories and is second on the East Carolina career coaching wins list … Has been part of 15 NCAA Regional and two College World Series teams at the Division I level as an assistant coach and head coach … Guided ECU to eight NCAA Regional berths (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024 Greenville Regional host), four Super Regional appearances, five-straight American Athletic Conference regular season titles and three AAC Tournament crowns while posting a 399-188-1 (.679) overall record … Under Godwin’s direction, 14 players have earned All-America status while 25 have been named to NCAA All-Regional Teams. Additionally, 46 student-athletes have garnered all-conference status (27 first-team selections) and 28 players have been drafted by Major League Baseball teams. … A five-time AAC Coach-of-the-Year selection (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024), 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 versus Tennessee.

Walker Barron: Has started 29 games at catcher … Clubbed his first home run of the campaign in Chapel Hill … Registered a hit in every game of the North Carolina series … Went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a home run versus Gardner-Webb … Logged three hits in the Coastal Carolina series finale … Drove in three runs in the 19-6 run rule win over William & Mary … Recorded two hits and scored two runs in the Rice series finale.
Alex Bouche: Has started all 30 games at shortstop … Clubbed a walk off home run in the George Mason series rubber game … Went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double and a home run in Chapel Hill … Logged two hits and a pair of RBI in the win over Virginia Tech … Scored two runs in the win over Gardner-Webb … Collected three hits and two RBI in the series opener at VCU … Notched three hits in the William & Mary series finale … Hit a grand slam in the 10th inning to lift the Pirates to a 10-6 win at UNCW.
Kenan Bowman: Has made 11 starts – six in right field and five in left field … Ranks third on the club in batting average (.313) … Collected a career-high four hits (including two doubles) and added a walk in the win at UNCW … Added two more hits in the victory over Elon.
Braden Burress: Leads the club in batting average (.402) and multiple-hit efforts (12) … Has reached base safely in 18-straight games … Owns nine starts in left field and eight in right field … Went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in the season opener … Was 5-for-7 with three runs scored in the Coastal Carolina series … Went 2-for-5 with three runs scored in the 11-1 victory at VCU … Logged three hits and four RBI in the 19-6 run rule victory over William & Mary, clubbing a grand slam that marked his first collegiate home run … Recorded four hits, two runs scored and two RBI at Duke … Went 2-for-4 with two doubles in the series opener at Rice.
John Collins: Named to the AAC Weekly Honorable Mention List March 17 … Has started 16 games at designated hitter … Went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI in the VCU series opener … Drove in four runs in the 12-0 run rule victory over William & Mary.

Jack Herring: Has started eight games – five at right field and three at designated hitter … Recorded a hit in both games he played during the George Mason series … Collected a hit and RBI in the Coastal Carolina series finale … Clubbed his first home run in a Pirate uniform in the 19-6 run rule victory over William & Mary … Came through with a clutch RBI single late in the middle game of the Rice series to send the contest to extra innings.
Jake Hunter: Made his first appearance on the mound Opening Weekend after recovery from UCL internal brace surgery stemming from an injury he suffered at Memphis last season … Earned his first win of the campaign with five strong innings in the win over Gardner-Webb, striking out seven batters and allowing just two earned runs … Collected his first save of the season by covering the final two innings of the Pirates’ 3-1 win over Memphis … Picked up the win on the mound as well as registering his first career at bat, hit and run scored in the middle game of the Rice series.
Austin Irby: Has started all 30 games – three at designated hitter and 27 at first base … Registered his first collegiate RBI in the season opener before logging a hit in both subsequent games … Clubbed his first career home run versus Old Dominion … Provided the game ending three-run home run in the run rule victory over Indiana State … Hit home runs in consecutive at bats to account for four RBI in the win over Gardner-Webb … Drove in three runs in the Memphis series finale … Recorded two hits and two RBI in the Rice series finale.
Sean Jenkins: Made his collegiate start on the mound in the George Mason series finale, allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts over 5.2 strong innings of work … Was excellent in the win over Indiana State, tossing six innings while giving up just one earned run with six strikeouts and no walks … Threw six innings in relief with four strikeouts to pick up the win in the Memphis series finale … Nabbed his third win with a 4.1-inning effort and five strikeouts against Elon.
Nick Moran: Has been solid over his last seven appearances, surrendering just one total unearned run in games against North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, VCU, UNCW (twice), Duke and Rice … Logged five scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn his first win of the season at VCU.

Ethan Norby: Named the AAC Co-Pitcher of the Week and National Pitcher of the Week March 10 after striking out 19 in the Pirates’ 7-0 win over No. 24 Coastal Carolina … Threw 4.2 innings in the series opener against North Carolina, scattering four hits while striking out six and walking just one … Struck out nine over 6.2 innings against Kent State … Fanned the first nine Coastal Carolina batters in the series opener and did not allow a base runner until the seventh inning … Notched his third consecutive quality start by throwing a seven-inning shutout against William & Mary … Turned in his fourth-straight quality start by allowing just two earned runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts at Rice.
Alex Peltier: Has started 25 games in center field … Collected his first collegiate hit and run scored in game two of the George Mason doubleheader before going 2-for-3 with the game-tying solo home run in the series finale … Went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two doubles in the Monday contest against North Carolina … Went 3-for-4 with two runs scored versus Kent State … Notched two hits, two runs scored and three RBI in the 19-6 run rule victory over William & Mary.
Brad Pruett: Named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honorable Mention list (Feb. 17 and March 31) … Made his Pirate debut in game two of the Friday doubleheader versus George Mason, striking out nine over 3.1 innings while allowing just two hits … Logged five strikeouts in two innings at Campbell … Picked up his first save in the win over Virginia Tech, notching six strikeouts in 3.1 frames … Tossed 2.2 scoreless frames with three strikeouts in the 19-6 run rule victory over William & Mary … Threw 2.0 scoreless innings with a strikeout against UNCW … Notched his first career win in the Pirates’ 3-1 win over Memphis with a career long 4.2-inning effort, allowing no runs and striking out three … Collected a win and a save in the series at Rice.

Braxton Tramel: Named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honorable Mention list (March 24) … Has started 10 games – nine in left field and one at third base … Leads the team in batting average (.435) … Logged two hits in every game of the Memphis series including his first career home run … Notched a pair of hits and drove in a run at Duke.
Colby Wallace: Has started all 30 games – three at first base and the other 27 at third base … Leads the team in multi-RBI (six) efforts … Drilled his first collegiate home run in the third inning of game two of the George Mason doubleheader … Registered two hits and a pair of RBI versus Kent State … Went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and six RBI in the Pirates’ 7-0 win over No. 24 Coastal Carolina and clubbed East Carolina’s first grand slam since the 2023 season … Was 4-for-8 with four runs scored and nine RBI in the William & Mary doubleheader sweep, including a grand slam in the nightcap … Collected his first career save in the series finale with the Tribe, throwing a scoreless inning with a strikeout … Scored three runs and drove in two in the Memphis series finale … Closed out the Rice series by picking up his second save of the campaign, leaving the bases loaded in the 8-5 victory.
Dixon Williams: Has reached base safely in 26-straight games … Has started all 30 contests – 28 at second base and two at third base … Logged two home runs and five RBI during Opening Weekend … Hit his third home run of the year against Old Dominion – a monster 420-foot tank in the eighth inning … Went 7-for-10 with six runs scored and two RBI during the LeClair Classic … Clubbed his fourth home run of the campaign in the 11-1 win at VCU … Was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI in the William & Mary series opener … Scored four runs in the 19-6 run rule victory over the Tribe … Went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the win over Elon.
Lance Williams: Made his collegiate pitching debut in the season opener … Surrendered just one hit and earned run while striking out four over 3.0 innings of work … Tallied two more strikeouts in one inning pitched at Campbell … Turned in his first career start against Virginia Tech, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames … Put together a solid start in the Coastal Carolina series finale, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts against one walk.
Ethan Young: Named to the AAC Weekly Honorable Mention List on March 3rd … Made his Pirate pitching debut in the season opener, tossing 0.2 innings while allowing three runs on two hits … Turned in a strong effort at Campbell, allowing just one hit while striking out four and walking none in three innings … Was excellent in the North Carolina series opener, limiting the Tar Heels to just one hit while striking out five in 3.1 frames … Logged his first save in a Pirate uniform in the win over Old Dominion, striking out three and allowing just one hit over 3.1 innings … Credited with the win in ECU’s victory over Virginia Tech, allowing just one run with six strikeouts in 3.1 frames … Closed out the Pirates’ 7-0 win over No. 24 Coastal Carolina with three strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings … Picked up the win in the William & Mary series finale, surrendering just one run over 4.1 innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts … Nabbed his second save of the year with 3.2 scoreless frames and five strikeouts against no walks in the Memphis series opener … Covered the final four innings and struck out four in the win at UNCW.

Looking Ahead: Following its series with Florida Atlantic, East Carolina hosts NC State Tuesday, April 8, at 6 p.m.

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