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Date: Tuesday, May 15

Time: 7:00 p.m. (EST)

Location: Greenville, NC; Clark-LeClair Stadium (3,000)

All-Time Series Record: East Carolina leads 14-8-1

East Carolina strengthened its grip on second place in Conference USA over the weekend by collecting a clutch sweep against visiting UCF.

ECU (35-17, 13-7) has now won seven consecutive league games and it can sew up the second seed for next week’s CUSA Tournament by wining its series at UAB this weekend.

However, the Pirates still have some business to tend to before turning their focus to the Blazers. Prior to heading to Birmingham, they will host in-state foe Elon on Tuesday night in their final home contest of the regular season.

The Pirates and Phoenix were not originally scheduled to play this season, but that changed when Billy Godwin sought to add a game to replace the one his team had rained out versus Michigan in mid-March.

East Carolina and Elon have, however, met 23 times over the years with the Pirates holding a 14-8-1 edge in the all-time series.

The last time the programs squared off was during the 2003 campaign. The Pirates, who were in their first season under new coach Randy Mazey, won the first meeting 8-3 in Greenville. The return trip to Elon resulted in a 12-inning contest that finished in a 5-5 tie due to darkness.

The Phoenix (27-24, 14-10), who won a school record 45 games a season ago, have struggled a bit this year. However, they have notched some impressive wins. Their biggest quality victory was a 13-12 win at No. 17 Clemson. Elon also took one out of three at No. 11 Miami early in the season, defeating the Hurricanes 10-7 in the series opener.

The Pirates and Phoenix have shared five common opponents—North Carolina, UNCW, North Carolina A&T, High Point, The Citadel and Western Carolina. ECU is 5-3 against those foes while Elon is 4-11.

Offensively, Elon has been pretty good. The Phoenix is hitting .295 and has hit 45 home runs. They will strike out a lot though, as they’ve “k’d” 346 times this season.

Mike Kennedy’s club is also very good at swiping bases, as Elon has stolen 86 bases in 113 attempts this year.

However, the Phoenix has often struggled to get people out. The team ERA sits at a lofty 5.77, while the team fielding percentage is .962.

Jeff Ostrander will get the start against Elon on Tuesday night. PHOTO: Bob Powell

Catcher Drew Davis, who has started 45 out of the 47 games he has played in, leads the team with his .351 mark at plate. Davis, who is also tied for the team lead in doubles with 12, had a 16-game hitting streak earlier in the season.

Speedy center fielder Chris Dove, who has stolen 25 bases in 33 attempts, is hitting .337 (2 nd) and has a team-high seven triples.

Chris Vasami, who is batting .330, has registered 17 multi-hit games—including three four-hit games. Elon’s first baseman has driven in a team-best 41 runs and is also tied for the team lead in doubles (12).

A lot of Elon’s pop comes from LF Pat Irvine and RF Ryan Addison. Irvine, who is batting .329, ranks second in home runs (8) and RBI (37). Addison, who has also stolen 18 bases in 21 tries, has a team-best nine round trippers and is third on the squad with 36 RBI.

SS Jordy Snyder is another base-stealing threat that ECU must be aware of, as he has registered 17 steals on the year.

The Pirates are likely to see either J.D. Reichenbach (6’1”, LHP; 3-3, 7.28 ERA), Zach Booker (5’10”, RHP; 4-4, 5.10 ERA) or Jesse Lewter (5’10”, RHP; 3-3, 6.39 ERA). Reichenbach, who has a mid-week start against Clemson, has given up seven home runs and opponents are hitting .331 off of him. Lewter has made four starts in his 20 appearances and the opposition is hitting a blistering .358. Booker, who the Pirates saw during his career at UNCW, has started 12 contests and has been the best of the three. He has struggled with his control, though. The former Seahawk has issued 46 walks and 12 HBP while only striking out 34 batters.

East Carolina , which scored 29 runs in three games against UCF, is hitting .290 with nearly 60 bombs on the season.

Designated hitter Kyle Roller and first baseman Stephen Batts have been swinging hot bats for the Pirates. Roller is second on the team with 7 home runs and has driven in 25 runs despite only 66 official AB’s. Batts, who is hitting .318 with 46 RBIs, takes an 18-game hit streak into the contest.

The Pirates can also run, as they’ve stolen 77 bases on the season. Ryan Wood, who is hit .327, leads the team with 13.

Wood, the Pirates’ shortstop, has played errorless baseball in the last eight games since taking over for the injured Dale Mollenhauer at shortstop.

Defensively, ECU is one of the nation’s best (.976).

Jeff Ostrander will get his third start of the year for the Pirates. The senior lefty has a 2-1 record and 6.75 ERA. In his last start against No. 4 North Carolina, he surrendered three home runs.

 

ECU vs. Elon Prediction

East Carolina slipped up and lost to Southern Conference foe Citadel (8-6) last week. The Pirates will be ready to build on the momentum gained through UCF sweep and will likely win a high-scoring affair in this one.

 

Pirates 10 - Phoenix 7