Pirates open Conference USA play with convincing sweep of UCF

While the Diamond Pirates have completed only one-eighth of the Conference USA baseball marathon and there are certainly things that Billy Godwin’s club must improve in order to achieve its goals—winning a conference title, hosting a regional, and advancing to Omaha—for this season, East Carolina has to feel good about where it is after opening weekend in league play.

After dropping two close games and losing the series to UCLA last weekend, the Pirates rebounded to post a perfect 5-0 mark last week and now sit at 16-4 on the year.

That success resulted in them climbing back into two of the three polls in which they weren’t ranked a week ago. East Carolina’s highest ranking is in the NCBWA poll where it comes in at 19 th—up four spots from last week’s 23 rd mark. The Pirates debut at 22 nd in the Baseball America Top 25 and are once again in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 at number 23.

Offensively, the Pirates are establishing themselves as one of the nation’s most potent line-ups. They are hitting an eye-opening .388 as a team and the lowest average in the line-up is the usual number nine hitter Devin Harris, who is batting but .365. The Pirates plate an average of 11.4 runs per game. They are also slugging .623, as they’ve displayed tremendous power with 34 home runs and 68 doubles.

While last week’s 5-0 mark wasn’t all that surprising, the fashion that East Carolina dominated their opponents was attention getting. It outscored the opposition 90-17 and was but two hits shy of the century mark. The Pirates scored 26 runs in consecutive games versus Norfolk State and UCF. They also eclipsed the 20-hit plateau in three straight contests, as they tallied 27 against Norfolk State before hitting safely 26 and 21 times in the first two games against the Golden Knights. The team has collected at least ten hits in all but two games and the fewest hits recorded has been seven.

The most used starting line-up and each player’s offensive stats are seen below:

• Trent Whitehead (CF) - .432 0 HR 14 RBI 8 2B
• Ryan Wood (2B) - .444 3 HR 18 RBI 10 2B
• Stephen Batts (LF) - .435 5 HR 22 RBI 10 2B
• Kyle Roller (DH) - .390 7 HR 30 RBI
• Brandon Henderson (1B) - .412 4 HR 26 RBI 7 2B
• Drew Schieber (3B) - .388 4 HR 25 RBI 6 2B
• Dustin Harrington (SS) - .375 1 HR 13 RBI 11 2B
• Jared Avchen (C) - .396 2 HR 17 RBI
• Devin Harris (RF) - .365 3 HR 12 RBI

While there are very few concerns offensively, the Pirates must continue to address some pitching issues. These primarily revolve around finding effective third and fourth starters. Against UCF, Godwin opted to start usual Saturday starter Chris Heston on Friday and Seth Maness on Saturday. While the run production received doesn’t really allow for as good of an assessment of the move, both Heston and Maness delivered fine starts against the Golden Knights. Heston went seven innings and only one run on seven hits. He struck out five and walked only one. Maness started slow, as two walks cost him two runs in the second, but he didn’t allow another run the rest of the way and had his best start since Monmouth. He scattered five hits and struck out three.

However, the Sunday position has been more up for grabs. Mike Anderson, who made his first Sunday start since opening weekend versus Monmouth, was unable to get out of the third against UCF and allowed three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.

Fortunately, southpaw Kevin Brandt (4-0, 2.53)—who has since been named the new Sunday starter—came through with another stellar performance in long relief. After getting out of a bases loaded jam in the third, he didn’t allow a run in the next five and only surrendered one hit. He struck out four and did not issue a walk. Opponents are only hitting .149 off the first year Pirate from Fuquay Varina.

For the time being, Anderson (0-0, 4.79) and Sthil Sowers (1-2, 11.68)—who will start today against Campbell—will help handle mid-week starts and possibly see more relief action as a result of the Brandt move.

Bailey Daniels and Seth Simmons have pitched fairly well in short relief and closing roles. Daniels and Simmons have two saves each while opponents are hitting .225 and .111, respectively, off the duo. However, each has experienced some command issues at times and has combined to walk 12 batters in 20.2 innings of work. For now, senior second baseman Ryan Wood—who hit 94 on the gun at Georgia Southern a little over two weeks ago—doesn’t seem to factor into this equation due to control problems. In four innings, he has walked six batters and hit one.

Young arms such as Patrick Somers, Mike Wright, Lance Honeycutt and Joe O’Malley must continue to develop and provide needed relief pitching depth.

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Diamond Bucs to Buies Creek to face Campbell…..

No. 19 East Carolina (16-4, 3-0) will travel to Campbell on Tuesday night where it will meet the Camels (11-9, 2-6 Atlantic Sun) at 6:30 p.m.

The Camels lost two of three over the weekend at East Tennessee State.

Offensively, the CU has shown some potency. The Camels are hitting .347 as a team and have five regulars batting over .400. They have also swiped 55 bases. Matt Keen, the lead-off man, has stolen 11 in 13 attempts.

First baseman/centerfielder Ryan Hamme leads the club with his .455 average and 28 RBI. Meanwhile, right fielder Zach Johnson is also hitting .450 with a team-high five home runs. Hamme and Johnson are also tied for the team lead with 13 doubles.

Campbell has struggled on the mound. Opponents are hitting .377 and the team ERA is 7.70.

The Diamond Pirates lead the all-time series with the Camels, 51-18.