East Carolina heads into this weekend's Keith LeClair Classic sporting a 4-0 record, its best start since the 2009 season.

This year's tournament features four teams (ECU, Western Carolina, Maryland and Purdue) with a combined 13-1 ledger. Maryland is the only team with a loss, but the Terrapins collected an impressive series win last weekend on the road against UCLA.

The Pirates square off against Purdue in today's second game. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.

Here's more insight into the contest... 

John Wooten belted a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning and East Carolina tacked on four insurance runs in the ninth as it defeated Old Dominion 10-4 in the 2012 road opener.

With the game knotted at four, Wooten delivered the decisive blow on an 0-1 offering from ODU's Erick Baker. The blast gave ECU a 6-4 advantage, a lead it would not relinquish.

The Pirates move to 4-0 for the first time since the 2009 campaign.

Here's more insight into Wednesday's victory...

East Carolina opened its 2012 season in impressive fashion with a three-game sweep of Milwaukee. The Pirates look to stay undefeated and move to 4-0 for the first time since 2009.

ECU will face a familar opponent, former Colonial Athletic Association foe Old Dominion. The Monarchs defeated the Pirates 7-4 at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium in last year's only meeting between the two schools.

Here's more insight into Wednesday's road opener in Norfolk...

 The 2012 East Carolina baseball team began the season with many question marks. Its most pressing concern was replacing a pitching staff which saw the departure of two weekend starters and a handful of big arms in the bullpen.

Seth Simmons was one of five hurlers selected in last summer's MLB Amateur Draft. The loss of the all-time leader in saves at ECU left the backend of the 'pen with a gaping hole.

Several names emerged in the offseason as to who would fill the void in Simmons' absence.

The Pirates may have found their stopper in a convincing sweep of Milwaukee.

East Carolina began the 2012 campaign in impressive fashion as it earned a series sweep over Milwaukee with two victories on Saturday. In the first game of the doubleheader, Jharel Cotton provided the Pirates with a quality start to go along with a trio of home runs as the offense exploded late on the way to a 16-1 victory. In the second game of the twin-billing, ECU overcame a three-run deficit by plating four runs in the bottom of the seventh on its way to a 6-3 victory.

Here's more insight into the pair of victories...

East Carolina seniors Kevin Brandt (LHP), Corey Thompson (INF) and Zach Wright (C) have been named preseason First-Team All-Conference USA, as chosen by the league's nine head coaches.

Former Pirate and two-time honorary No. 23 jersey recipient Austin Homan has been named Director of Baseball Operations at East Carolina University head coach Billy Godwin announced on Wednesday. Homan replaces Brian Cavanaugh who resigned in early January to take a teaching position within the university in the health and education department.

East Carolina University baseball fans will get their first chance to meet the 2012 Pirates up close and personal on Saturday, January 28, as ECU hosts its 12th Annual "Meet the Pirates" luncheon.