GREENVILLE — Opening day for East Carolina baseball will get underway on Friday and for the Pirates, it’s a chance to matchup with national-power Virginia.

Entering the season ranked second in the nation, the Cavaliers field a team chalk full of talent. In fact, Virginia returned 14 letter winners from last season’s squad, one that made it all the way to the College World Series final before falling to Vanderbilt.

But ECU is familiar with the Cavaliers, having been swept in three games last season. The Pirates were outscored 10-4 and had trouble stringing hits together and producing runs.

“There’s always some kind of factor against any team that’s beat us,” said pitcher David Lucroy, who was apart of last season’s loss to Virginia, allowing four runs without making it out of the third inning. “I know we want to beat everybody, but it’s going to be awesome whenever we beat Virginia opening weekend.”

In addition to the players having faced some of Virginia’s best, new ECU head coach Cliff Godwin also knows what the Cavaliers bring to the table.

As an assistant coach with Ole Miss last season, Godwin’s Rebels faced off with the Cavaliers in the College World Series semi-final and ultimately lost.

“They beat us at Ole Miss twice last year, so I feel familiar with them,” said Godwin. “They’re well coached every year and they play the game the right way.”

Friday’s opening day matchup will feature sophomore Evan Kruczynski taking the mound for the Pirates. The 6-foot-4 lefty appeared in only three games last season, but with Reid Love’s hand injury, he has become a front-end-of-the-rotation player. He will be matched up against one of the nation’s best pitchers and arguably the best left-hander in the country, Nathan Kirby.

Kirby was named a First Team All-American during his sophomore campaign last season. Against the Pirates, he pitched six and one-thirds inning allowing just four hits and two runs.

“We faced him at Omaha [at Ole Miss],” said Godwin. “We’re familiar with him. He’s one of the best left handers in the country.”

Originally slated to just be a one game matchup, Saturday has been altered into a double-header due to projected inclement weather for Sunday. Godwin has chosen to go with another sophomore lefty, giving Jacob Wolfe the nod for Saturday’s Game 1. Wolfe spent a majority of last season out of the bullpen and sported a 2.35 ERA.

The starter for game two of the double header is yet to be announced, but Lucroy could potentially make the start despite Godwin moving him to the bullpen.

“Early on he didn’t pitch well this fall,” said Godwin of Lucroy. “And he knew that and he’s pitched really well since, and we’re just not deep in the bullpen and David’s got phenomenal stuff, he can come in and strike them out.”

In the field, Luke Lowery will more than likely get the nod at first base in the absence of Bryce Harman. Harman was suspended due to off the field issues and will miss the entire series.