GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina softball team will open the 2004 season on Friday, Feb. 13 with a pair of games as part of the Triangle Classic at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh. The Pirates will take on Virginia at 3 p.m., then face Liberty at 5 p.m. Game times were changed from the orginal schedule due to weather conditions in the capital city.

The Pirates return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad, including four seniors: Lara Brickhouse, Dany'ele Hill, Lacassa Hill and Kristen Johnson. The group will be looking to improve upon a disappointing 2003 season that saw them finish with a 24-31 overall record.

Other key returnees for the Pirates include 2003 Conference USA Rookie of the Year and first-team all-conference player Christine Sheridan, who led ECU in hitting and RBIs last season. Junior Kate Manuse, the Pirates' top home run hitter a year ago, is also back along with all-conference freshman team player Krista Jessup.

The Triangle Classic is the first of six tournaments ECU will participate in this season. East Carolina will host two tournaments in Greenville this season beginning next weekend, Feb. 20-22, with the Pirate Classic.