By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — East Carolina coach Billy Godwin wanted to put his team through some tough early battles. The No. 13 Pirates, who went 1-2 against now top-ranked Virginia last weekend, face another stern test when they battle the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend.
“We have been able to put together another great schedule for the 2010 season that consists of some of the top teams across the country,” Godwin said. “When we recruit student-athletes to East Carolina, we talk about putting them on a national stage. The conference schedule allows us to do that and I also think it’s important to go out in non-conference and play some of the top teams nationally during those five weeks away from league play.
“We have a highly regarded and respected South Carolina club coming in.”
The Pirates defeated the Gamecocks in last year’s regional championship series to advance to the Super Regionals. Devin Harris hit a game-tying three-run homer in the ninth inning, then smacked the winning RBI-single in the 10th in a 10-9 victory in the decisive third game.
ECU had earned an 8-6 victory after falling 12-2 in the first game of the regional series.
The Pirates (2-2) and Gamecocks (3-0) will open the series with today’s 3 p.m. game at Clark-LeClair Stadium. Seth Maness (0-1, 6.35 ERA) will get the nod from Godwin, while Gamecock coach Ray Tanner will counter with senior right-hander Blake Cooper (1-0, 3.60).
In Saturday’s 2 p.m. matchup, Kevin Brandt (1-0, 1.35 ERA) will start for the Pirates and junior right-hander Sam Dyson (1-0, 0.00) will throw for South Carolina.
Starting in Sunday’s 1 p.m. series finale will be Brad Mincey (0-1, 20.25 ERA) for the Pirates and sophomore southpaw Steven Neff (0-0, 0.00) for the Gamecocks.
The Pirates are hitting .331 as a team with six home runs.
Freshman John Wooten leads the way with three homers, six RBIs and a .417 batting average.
Junior centerfielder and leadoff batter Trent Whitehead, a former standout at Washington High School, is hitting .385 with four RBIs.
Other top hitters for the Pirates are Dustin Harrington (.375), Austin Homan (.357), Kyle Roller (.357), Cameron Freeman (.357) and Corey Thompson (.333).
The Gamecocks are hitting .330 as a club.
Christian Walker leads the way with a sizzling .571 average to go with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs. Jeffery Jones has clubbed three homers, driven in 10 and is hitting .333.
Other top hitters for South Carolina are Kyle Enders (.500), Brady Thomas (.400), Scott Wingo (.400), Robert Beary (.364) and Whit Merrifield (.364).
South Carolina leads the all-time series 16-7.