Spring Break
ECU baseball to host first NCAA Regional on campus
Michael Perry
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Sports
Despite being knocked out of the C-USA tournament last weekend after just three games, the ECU baseball team is hoping to turn the page and start fresh as they pursue a much bigger goal: Omaha.
The city of Greenville and Clark-LeClair Stadium, will make its NCAA Tournament debut as the No.1 seed Pirates play host to No. 2 seed South Carolina, No. 3 seed George Mason and No.4 seed Binghamton starting Friday in Regional play.
While this weekend will mark the first time ECU has hosted a regional on campus, the Pirates have hosted regional action twice before. In 2001, the Diamond Bucs took home regional honors after producing a 3-0 mark at Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
For Super Regional play, as well as 2004 regional action, Grainger Stadium in Kinston was occupied as the Pirates home turf.
ECU head coach Billy Godwin knows how much a little home cooking can mean, as the only times the Pirates have reached the next round is when they hosted Regional action in 2001 and 2004.
"It's important to play at home, it's something we've talked about in our program for two or three years" said Head Coach Billy Godwin. "We needed to get a host here, that's the reason that stadium was built."
The Pirates were chosen as one of the nations 16 regional hosts. Each site features four teams and will utilize a double elimination format.
Slotted as the number one seed, ECU (42-17) will begin its trek as they face off against Binghamton (29-20) Friday at 7 p.m. South Carolina (38-21) will square off with George Mason (42-12) Friday at 3 p.m.
Friday's matchup will be ECU's first encounter with Binghamton. In contrast, the Pirates are quite familiar with both South Carolina and George Mason. ECU holds a 43-30 overall record against the Patriots, but trails the Gamecocks 4-15.
But when you make it to the tournament, Godwin knows his squad will go up against the best of the best.
"When you get to this point, you're going to play good teams," said Godwin. "It's going to be a good challenge, but we like that we're at home."
The city of Greenville and Clark-LeClair Stadium, will make its NCAA Tournament debut as the No.1 seed Pirates play host to No. 2 seed South Carolina, No. 3 seed George Mason and No.4 seed Binghamton starting Friday in Regional play.
While this weekend will mark the first time ECU has hosted a regional on campus, the Pirates have hosted regional action twice before. In 2001, the Diamond Bucs took home regional honors after producing a 3-0 mark at Fleming Stadium in Wilson.
For Super Regional play, as well as 2004 regional action, Grainger Stadium in Kinston was occupied as the Pirates home turf.
ECU head coach Billy Godwin knows how much a little home cooking can mean, as the only times the Pirates have reached the next round is when they hosted Regional action in 2001 and 2004.
"It's important to play at home, it's something we've talked about in our program for two or three years" said Head Coach Billy Godwin. "We needed to get a host here, that's the reason that stadium was built."
The Pirates were chosen as one of the nations 16 regional hosts. Each site features four teams and will utilize a double elimination format.
Slotted as the number one seed, ECU (42-17) will begin its trek as they face off against Binghamton (29-20) Friday at 7 p.m. South Carolina (38-21) will square off with George Mason (42-12) Friday at 3 p.m.
Friday's matchup will be ECU's first encounter with Binghamton. In contrast, the Pirates are quite familiar with both South Carolina and George Mason. ECU holds a 43-30 overall record against the Patriots, but trails the Gamecocks 4-15.
But when you make it to the tournament, Godwin knows his squad will go up against the best of the best.
"When you get to this point, you're going to play good teams," said Godwin. "It's going to be a good challenge, but we like that we're at home."
Be the first to comment on this story