Photo by: Rob Goldberg
Softball Begins Preparations For 2018 Season
January 16, 2018 | Softball
2018 Season Prospectus | 2018 Schedule
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Despite the recent winter weather in Pitt County, the ECU softball team has kicked off its spring practice period in anticipation of opening the 2018 campaign Feb. 9 against St. John's and South Carolina at the Felsberg Invitational in Miami, Fla.
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The Pirates enter the season under the watch of third-year head coach Courtney Oliver who directed the team to a 26-30 overall record and 5-13 mark in the American Athletic Conference in 2017. Under Oliver's watch, ECU continued its resurgence as the Pirates improved their win total by three from the previous season and picked up their first-ever American Athletic Conference tournament victory. ECU also notched its first-ever AAC all-conference selection when senior pitcher Lydia Ritchie was named to the Second Team.
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The Pirates developed into one of the most powerful offensive teams in the nation, belting a school and American Conference single-season record 64 home runs to go along with 64 doubles. ECU also topped the AAC in slugging percentage and walks drawn while ranking second in runs scored, RBI, doubles and total bases.
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In terms of notable victories, the Pirates picked up wins over Fordham (NCAA Regional participant), Longwood (NCAA Regional participant), Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech. Additionally, ECU tallied its first-ever sweep of an AAC foe when it swept Connecticut in Greenville.
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The Pirates return three of their top five hitters from a season ago in seniors Meredith Burroughs and Alex Mycek as well as redshirt sophomore Tate McClellan. Burroughs and Mycek hit 16 home runs apiece to lead the American Conference and rank 22nd nationally. Mycek led the league in home runs and walks, was second in slugging percentage, third in RBI, fifth in total bases and ninth in on base percentage while Burroughs paced the conference in slugging percentage, home runs, total bases and sacrifice flies while ranking second in RBI and third in walks drawn. As a freshman, McClellan started all 56 games as the Pirates' every day third baseman and tied for fourth among American Athletic Conference players in RBI as well as ranking fifth in home runs, tied for sixth in doubles and tied for ninth in total bases.
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In the circle, ECU welcomes back sophomore Mary Williams as well as redshirt junior Ashley Cruise. Williams tallied 78 strikeouts in 102 innings while Cruise took the year to rehab from injury. Whitney Sanford and Erin Poepping, two members of the incoming freshman class ranked No. 22 in the nation by FloSoftball, will also compete for significant innings. Sanford was named a MaxPreps Medium School First Team All-American after finishing her prep career with a 54-8 overall record, 1.12 earned run average and 651 strikeouts in 361.2 innings pitched. Poepping compiled a 14-1 record, 1.18 earned run average and 101 strikeouts over 101 innings pitched during the regular season of her senior campaign.
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Other members of that highly-touted recruiting haul include infielder Ashleigh Inae, outfield Tyler King, outfielder Courtney Layton and catcher Anna Epling.
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The Pirates will play host to 25 home games in 2018 at the ECU Softball Stadium, which includes contests against Duke, NC State and UNC Wilmington, a pair of tournaments (Pirate Clash and Pirate Invitational) and four American Athletic Conference series (Houston, Memphis, USF and Wichita State).
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Season tickets for softball are priced as followed and can be ordered by clicking here:
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  - Chair Back Upgrade – $80
  - Reserved Chair Back w/ Seat Rights – $40
  - General Admission – $40
  - Faculty/Staff GA – $35
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Despite the recent winter weather in Pitt County, the ECU softball team has kicked off its spring practice period in anticipation of opening the 2018 campaign Feb. 9 against St. John's and South Carolina at the Felsberg Invitational in Miami, Fla.
Â
The Pirates enter the season under the watch of third-year head coach Courtney Oliver who directed the team to a 26-30 overall record and 5-13 mark in the American Athletic Conference in 2017. Under Oliver's watch, ECU continued its resurgence as the Pirates improved their win total by three from the previous season and picked up their first-ever American Athletic Conference tournament victory. ECU also notched its first-ever AAC all-conference selection when senior pitcher Lydia Ritchie was named to the Second Team.
Â
The Pirates developed into one of the most powerful offensive teams in the nation, belting a school and American Conference single-season record 64 home runs to go along with 64 doubles. ECU also topped the AAC in slugging percentage and walks drawn while ranking second in runs scored, RBI, doubles and total bases.
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In terms of notable victories, the Pirates picked up wins over Fordham (NCAA Regional participant), Longwood (NCAA Regional participant), Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech. Additionally, ECU tallied its first-ever sweep of an AAC foe when it swept Connecticut in Greenville.
Â
The Pirates return three of their top five hitters from a season ago in seniors Meredith Burroughs and Alex Mycek as well as redshirt sophomore Tate McClellan. Burroughs and Mycek hit 16 home runs apiece to lead the American Conference and rank 22nd nationally. Mycek led the league in home runs and walks, was second in slugging percentage, third in RBI, fifth in total bases and ninth in on base percentage while Burroughs paced the conference in slugging percentage, home runs, total bases and sacrifice flies while ranking second in RBI and third in walks drawn. As a freshman, McClellan started all 56 games as the Pirates' every day third baseman and tied for fourth among American Athletic Conference players in RBI as well as ranking fifth in home runs, tied for sixth in doubles and tied for ninth in total bases.
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In the circle, ECU welcomes back sophomore Mary Williams as well as redshirt junior Ashley Cruise. Williams tallied 78 strikeouts in 102 innings while Cruise took the year to rehab from injury. Whitney Sanford and Erin Poepping, two members of the incoming freshman class ranked No. 22 in the nation by FloSoftball, will also compete for significant innings. Sanford was named a MaxPreps Medium School First Team All-American after finishing her prep career with a 54-8 overall record, 1.12 earned run average and 651 strikeouts in 361.2 innings pitched. Poepping compiled a 14-1 record, 1.18 earned run average and 101 strikeouts over 101 innings pitched during the regular season of her senior campaign.
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Other members of that highly-touted recruiting haul include infielder Ashleigh Inae, outfield Tyler King, outfielder Courtney Layton and catcher Anna Epling.
Â
The Pirates will play host to 25 home games in 2018 at the ECU Softball Stadium, which includes contests against Duke, NC State and UNC Wilmington, a pair of tournaments (Pirate Clash and Pirate Invitational) and four American Athletic Conference series (Houston, Memphis, USF and Wichita State).
Â
Season tickets for softball are priced as followed and can be ordered by clicking here:
Â
  - Chair Back Upgrade – $80
  - Reserved Chair Back w/ Seat Rights – $40
  - General Admission – $40
  - Faculty/Staff GA – $35
Players Mentioned
INF/RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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INF
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OF
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OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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RHP
/ SoftballTuesday, May 05
Saturday, April 04
Thursday, March 26
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