Unproven Pirate hurlers performing well early

East Carolina pitching has been solid despite lack of experience

Head Coach Billy Godwin and pitching coach Dan Roszel knew what they were getting in senior southpaw Kevin Brandt.

However, aside from the veteran lefty, the Pirates’ pitching staff was largely unproven—particularly in terms of starting pitching—after losing several key contributors such as Seth Maness and Mike Wright off last year’s staff that was one of the best in the nation.

The staff knew its group of arms was talented, but how would they perform when the lights were on.

Through seven games, all Pirate pitchers have done is post a 1.57 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a meager .196 at the plate. They have struck out nearly four times as many batters (54 to 14) as they have walked while surrendering just 44 hits in 63 innings.

The proven force Brandt has produced a 1-1 mark through two Friday starts. He has allowed six runs—just three earned—in 13.2 innings. The senior lefty has given up ten hits while striking out 13 as opposed to just two walks.

Junior lefthander Tyler Joyner, who came to East Carolina with lofty expectations after a standout high school career at nearby Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, pitched in just one game during his first two years with the program following an off the field incident.

However, after failing to have the opportunity to live up to the hype, the hard-throwing southpaw has excelled in his first two outings of the season.

Joyner, who stands 5’11” and 193 pounds, surrendered just one hit in 4.2 innings in his first appearance of the year—a relief outing against Milwaukee. Then, in the first start of his career, the much-ballyhooed lefty needed just 75 pitches to work seven sensational innings in East Carolina’s 3-1 victory over Western Carolina. He limited the Catamounts to one run—it was earned—on three hits.

Junior College transfer Jharel Cotton (1-0, 1.74) has allowed just two runs on eight hits in 10.1 innings in two weekend starts. Cotton, who is originally from the Virgin Islands, is limiting opposing hitters to a .211 mark.

The bullpen has also performed very well.

Over the weekend against Purdue, Western Carolina, and Maryland, ECU relievers allowed but a single unearned run in 8.2 shutout innings.

After performing well in his initial Pirate appearance against ODU, Andy Smithmeyer logged 3.1 scoreless innings against Maryland on Sunday.

Perhaps the biggest surprise to date has been the production from Tanner Merritt and Drew Reynolds.

Merritt has surrendered just one hit in five innings of action while Reynolds has been steady in his closer role. The sophomore has notched three saves in four relief appearances to date. He has struck out five while walking just one.

Freshman Jeff Hoffman has also turned in a pair of encouraging outings against Milwaukee and Purdue. He allowed just two hits in his three innings of work.

While its still very early and the Pirates are obviously yet to reach the meat of their schedule, Godwin and Roszel have to be encouraged by how their staff has performed through the first two weekends.

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