ECU entertains Memphis to kick off AAC slate

by | Mar 21, 2025

The ECU baseball team starts AAC play on Friday against Memphis in a three-game set.

The Pirates and Tigers begin play at 6 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s game is set for 4 p.m. with Sunday’s game slated for noon.

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

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Braden Burress (ECU Sports Information photo)

By ECUPirates.com

East Carolina officially begins the hunt for an unprecedented sixth-straight American Athletic Conference regular season title when it welcomes Memphis to Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium for a three-game series March 21-23.

The opener is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Saturday’s contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. while the series finale is slated for 12 p.m.

All three games will stream live through ESPN+ with Patrick Johnson and Mike Mullis on the call.

Despite falling to UNCW in the midweek, the Pirates have won nine of their last 12 games, including a series sweep of William & Mary and victories over then No. 24 Coastal Carolina, Indiana State and Virginia Tech. Entering league play, ECU ranks third on the circuit in both earned run average (4.28) and fielding percentage (.978) as well as fourth in batting average (.274).

Two-time reigning AAC Pitcher of the Week Ethan Norby has carved out a name for himself thus far in 2025. Tabbed National Pitcher of the Week by Perfect Game and the NCBWA March 10, Norby slots second in the conference in strikeouts (46) and third in ERA (2.32). He also ranks seventh nationally in strikeouts, 14th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (11.50), 22nd in WHIP (0.81), 26th in strikeouts per nine innings (13.35) and 28th in walks allowed per nine innings (1.16).

About Memphis
The Tigers (11-9) lost at Lipscomb 4-3 in 10 innings Tuesday after winning two of three from Lindenwood last weekend. Memphis also boasts series wins over Southeast Missouri State, Valparaiso and Louisiana Tech. James Smith IV paces the lineup with a .296 batting average, 16 runs scored, 15 RBI and four home runs. As a team, the Tigers are batting .238 with 39 doubles, four triples and 20 round trippers to complement a pitching staff that leads the AAC in earned run average (3.88). The unit also sports 165 strikeouts against 82 walks in 176.1 innings. Memphis is 2-4 away from home this season.

The Memphis Series
East Carolina leads the all-time series with Memphis by an 49-19 margin and has won 10 consecutive games against the Tigers. The Pirates picked up a sweep in the Bluff City last season, outscoring Memphis 36-6 over the weekend.

Mustache March Underway
The East Carolina baseball team (players, coaching staff and support staff) has once again taken part in Mustache March to raise money and awareness for ALS Research and the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter. For the third-straight year, the Pirates will join with the Pitt Community College and Clemson baseball teams to help fight and strikeout ALS with a goal of raising $15,000. Starting Saturday, March 1, and running through the end of the month, the Pirates will grow mustaches to continue raising money for ALS research. Since 2016, the team has raised over $75,000. With additional support from ECU Dowdy Student Stores, the sum has reached upwards of $100,000 in total donations. Click here to donate to this worthy cause.

Individual Notables
Head Coach Cliff Godwin: Owns 409 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 reached base safely in 19 of 21 games … Has started all 21 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 … Recorded a season-high two RBI in games against North Carolina and Indiana State … 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.
Alex Bouche: Has started all 21 games at shortstop … Hit .333 (3-for-12) during Opening Weekend with a run scored and an RBI … Clubbed a walk off home run in the 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 … Drove in two runs against UNCW.
Braden Burress: Owns nine starts in left field … Paces the club in batting average (.367) … Has driven in seven runs in his last three games … Went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in the season opener … Laced a two-run double to right center in the latter innings of the win over Virginia Tech … Was 5-for-7 with three runs scored in the Coastal Carolina series … Was 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 … Drilled a two-run double to the wall in left field against UNCW.

John Collins: Named to the AAC Weekly Honorable Mention List March 17 … Has started 10 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 six games – five at right field and one 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.
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 … Has twirled a 2.45 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 11.0 innings of work … 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.

Austin Irby: Has started all 21 games – three at designated hitter and 18 at first base … Registered his first collegiate RBI in the season opener before logging a hit in both subsequent games … Logged one of ECU’s two hits at Campbell … Has notched a hit in six of his last seven 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.
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.
Nick Moran: Has been solid over his last four appearances, surrendering just one unearned run in games against North Carolina, Coastal Carolina, VCU and UNCW … 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 … Made his first start of the season in the George Mason series opener, scattering five hits and allowing three earned runs with six strikeouts and no walks in a 5.1-inning effort … 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.
Alex Peltier: Has started all 21 games in center field … Currently on a five-game hitting streak … 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) … 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.
Colby Wallace: Has started all 21 games – three at first base and the other 18 at third base … Leads the team in both multi hit (eight) and multi-RBI (five) efforts … Drilled his first collegiate home run in the third inning of game two of the George Mason doubleheader … Went 2-for-3 in the win over Old Dominion … 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.

Dixon Williams: Owns an eight-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 17 straight … Has started all 21 contests – 19 at second base and two at third base … Tied for the club lead in multi-RBI efforts (five) … 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.
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.

Bradley Zayac: Made his first collegiate start and appearance in game two of the George Mason doubleheader … Allowed two runs on a lone hit with a strikeout and two walks in 3.1 innings of work against the Patriots.

Looking Ahead: East Carolina visits Duke Tuesday (March 25) at 7 p.m. The game will air live on the ACC Network.

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