GREENVILLE, N.C. --- East Carolina plays its final Conference USA series of the season when it visits Southern Miss on Saturday for the first two games of a three-game series. First pitch is schedule for 2 p.m. EDT. Sunday's single game is slated for a 1 p.m. EDT start.

ECU (54-15, 16-5) assured itself of at least a third place finish last weekend thanks in part to a three-game sweep of Charlotte and a three-game sweep of USF by DePaul.

Currently one-game behind Louisville for second place, the Pirates need to win the series at Southern Miss this weekend and have the Cardinals lose their series at DePaul in order to move ahead of UofL and earn a first round bye in the conference tournament next week.

The Pirates are just 1-9 against Southern Miss (26-29, 8-13) since joining C-USA with their lone victory coming in the conference tournament a year ago after being swept at home by Golden Eagles.

The series will feature both the reigning C-USA Pitcher and Hitter of the Week. Sophomore Keli Harrell earned the win in all three of ECU's wins over Charlotte last weekend. The Greenville native one-hit the 49ers in Sunday's series finale and finished the weekend with a 0.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 18.1 innings of work.

USM junior Ashley Davis earned hitter of the week honors by going 6-for-13 with a pair of home runs and eight RBI in the Golden Eagles' series win over UAB. ECU remains one of the league's top offensive teams, leading the conference in runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. Senior Kate Manuse leads the league in hits with 71, while teammates Leigh Savoy and Krista Jessup follow closely behind with 70.

Manuse also leads the league in doubles, RBI, walks and total bases with Savoy and Jessup ranking one and two in the league in runs scored.