2026_Apr09_TEC

TheEast LACROSSE TO HOST

Carolinian

A step back in time

Residents and students of Greenville will have the chance to step back in time at the annual Historic Walking Tour of Greenville, offering a closer look at the city’s roots and the stories that shaped it on Sunday April 12, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 500 Evans Street.

This tour is organized with the support of the Pitt County Historical Society and is designed to teach participants about the often-overlooked history in the area.

“The main goal is to familiarize people with some of the history of downtown Greenville,” said Charlotte Fitz, member of the Pitt County Historical Society. “We don’t really have a whole lot of old buildings, so it’s a way to tell stories about the community and just let people have a good time and go for an educational walk.”

The tour will be led by local historian and artist Roger Kammerer, director of the May Museum. Fitz describes him as the driving force behind all that goes on during the tour.

“He is very passionate about the history of Pitt County,” said Fitz. “He is a really good storyteller who brings the people who lived here alive for participants.”

The walking tour will begin at Five Points Plaza parking lot and will guide participants through key areas of downtown. Some stops include historic streets like Pitt and Cotanche, as well as some of the oldest structures in the city. Participants will also get the opportunity to visit the Sycamore Hill Memorial, a historical African American community present for several years. The tour will then pass through some historic graveyards and lesser-known landmarks, covering around a mile through the downtown area.

Fitz said the experience offers more than just historical facts but a deeper understanding of Eastern North Carolina's identity.

“Hopefully people will leave with a better sense of the character of Greenville and the history here,” said Fitz. “Eastern North Carolina was one of the first areas to really be inhabited, and a lot of people don’t know that. We have a long, long history of people living here.”

For those looking to learn more about Greenville’s past this tour offers a unique opportunity to see the city and those who inhabit it through a different lens.

Pirates to travel to New Orleans

The East Carolina University Baseball team (20-12-1, 6-3 American Athletic Conference) will be traveling to New Orleans, Louisiana to take on Tulane University (17-16, 4-5 AAC). The Pirates are currently sitting one game back of first place, making this series a good opportunity to leapfrog up into the top spot.

ECU is coming off a phenomenal week where they picked up the season sweep against the University of North Carolina WIlmington (19-12, 8-4 Coastal Athletic Association) last Tuesday. They also got their first weekend series sweep of the season against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (18-13, 3-6 AAC).

The Pirates were able to score more than ten runs in every game, and secured two run-rules against UNCC. Freshman

center-fielder Grady Lenehan picked up AAC player of the week honors after going 9-for-15 (.600) and driving in eight runs across the four games last week.

Tulane is coming into this weekend on a high after winning a series against Wichita State University (21-12, 5-4 AAC). The Green Wave have gotten off to a slow start, with a combination of their pitching and hitting holding them back. Their offense is led by sophomore outfielder Jason Wachs, who is batting .331 and leads the team in RBI’s and home runs. He is one of only two players batting over .290 for the Green Wave.

The key for ECU to come out on top in this series is pitching. With freshman Colby Weber and senior Gavin Van Kempen still sidelined, the Pirates will need good pitching performances from those filling in. Junior Luke Payne got the start last Thursday and gave up two runs in four innings. Senior Joe Webb

Donald Trump's approval drops

President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are facing a steep decline. According to The Associated Press, 60% of Americans say that Trump’s immigration crackdown is unacceptable. Recent polls show that rising inflation, ongoing tension with Iran, and the handling of furloughed airport security are factors for an average approval rating of 18%. ECU College Democrats President Thomas Remington says the findings are not surprising. “The President has dragged us into

a war that nobody wanted and continues to extend his deadlines,” Remington said.

A recent New York Times poll has detailed approval ratings for Trump’s first and second terms, with disapproval up 3 points. ECU Young Democratic Socialists of America President Lana Shafiq says the failed promise of a robust economy and job losses prompted collective dissatisfaction from Americans. “Everything he’s been doing isn’t to improve the lives of all people, or even to his voters, but to only put more and more power and wealth in his and his friends’ hands,” Shafiq said.

With Trump’s recent statement sending shockwaves through social media platforms, more Americans are concerned about the increased tensions between the U.S. and Iran. “It is only natural that his ratings will plummet,” Shafiq said.

Remington says that, while concerns about an unstable economy and a looming war are real, there is something each student at ECU can do. “Vote in the midterms in November and send him a message,” Remington said. College Republicans were contacted, but no response was received.

stepped into the starting role Saturday and went three innings and gave up one run.

Manager Cliff Godwin may look to keep the same rotation of those two alongside the junior ace Ethan Norby.

The Pirate bats have been outstanding as of late with seven of nine starters batting over .300. If they continue to stay hot, ECU will be in great shape to take a series win back to Greenville. Game one

Greenville Church to hold Spring Fling fundraiser

Greenville’s St. James United Methodist Church is set to host a fundraiser to support organizations across the community. The event will take place on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to various organizations, including the Council on Aging, ECU School of Dental Medicine’s Give Kids a Smile programs, Riley’s Army, and others.

The event will include barbecue chicken dinners, a bake sale featuring homemade items, and a free “swap meet” for non-food items. Event goers must call ahead to buy the chicken for $15 at (252) 752-6154. Orders can be picked up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

NC Governor visits Greenville Hospital

NC Gov. Josh Stein visited East Carolina University Behavioral Health Hospital on April 2, where he hosted a news conference. At the conference, Stein spoke about his proposal to seek over $ 300 million in Medicaid funds.

A part of his proposal is a 10% raise for nurses and behavioral health technicians at North Carolina hospitals. Stein's overall proposal is about a $1.4 billion critical needs budget released last month, which he says is meant to focus on the state's most critical needs.

The budget will be reviewed by the General Assembly this summer.

New hotel in development in Greenville

A new hotel is now in development in Uptown Greenville. The new hotel is located where a restaurant was previously.

Pitt County records show two properties sold for $1.45 million last month.

Students express great discontent with SGA

Students' reactions to recent Student Government Association announcements reveal a mix of indifference and disconnection among the student body.

Sebastian Perez, an East Carolina University student who is majoring in Industrial engineering technology said he briefly reviewed the email but did not engage in the announcement.

“Stuff is being done… maybe for good, maybe for bad, but stuff is happening,” he said. Perez made emphasis on being disconnected to SGA and said he only occasionally sees updates through social media or campus emails.

Another student who asked to remain anonymous, expressed a stronger criticism. While they said the message was “well written” they felt it came across as somewhat insincere.The student

There hasn’t been a single SGA decision that has impacted my life in the past three years.

also added that they do not actively follow SGA and said they “have not voted in any SGA elections.”

Both students emphasized a lack of awareness surrounding SGA initiatives.

Perez acknowledged

that he knew very little about current leadership efforts while the anonymous student said they were not at all aware of any changes made this year.

The anonymous student also questioned the organization's overall impact and said, “There hasn’t been a single SGA decision that has impacted my life in the past three years.” The student also added that SGA lacks visibility on campus.

As a result, both students suggested that increased outreach and more direct engagement with students could help bridge the gap between SGA leadership and the student body. Both believe transparency and consistent communication could improve student trust and overall campus engagement levels significantly.

CRIME LOGS

Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals. Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.

April, 1st

ECU Police arrested someone in the Dowdy Student Store inside the ECU Student Center on main campus. The incident took place last Wednesday at 2:40 p.m.

April, 1st

ECU Police are investigating a Hit and Run and failure to stop at R2 Pavillion on East Carolina’s campus. The incident took place Sunday March, 29 at 7 a.m. but was reported last Wednesday.

April, 1st

ECU Police are investigating a case of injury to real property at Clement Residence Hall. The incident took place last Wednesday between 12 a.m. and 8:05 p.m.

April, 2nd

ECU Police issued a citation due to the molestation of a fire extinguishing system in Tyler Residence Hall. The incident took place at 3:47 p.m. last Thursday.

April, 6th

ECU Police are investigating reported larceny at Garrett Residence Hall. The Incident occurred sometime between 4:00 p.m. Sunday night and 10:00 a.m. Monday morning.

Memo about electric mobility devices

Staff Report

East Carolina University sent out a memo on Wednesday detailing policy regarding micromobility devices. According to Jeremy Seemann, Workplace Safety Specialist at ECU, these regulations ensure that the campus remains safe and accessible for all students, staff, and visitors.

The regulations state that all e-scooters, e-bikes, and similar devices are not permitted in campus buildings. This includes dining halls, on-campus restaurants, and residence halls. Charging these devices inside such buildings is especially prohibited. This briefing also noted that these regulations comply with the North Carolina Fire Code.

Specifically, Chapter 12 states that only devices and chargers listed by a nationally recognized testing lab (such as UL) are permitted on university grounds. Additionally, charging such devices while unattended is not recommended. Lastly, devices must be plugged directly into wall outlets, not into extension cords or power strips. The fire code states that these micromobility devices are not to be stored

near emergency exits, hallways, or stairwells. They are also not to obstruct emergency escape routes or ADA-accessible pathways. There are designated spots outside most dormitories and university classroom buildings for parking and storing these devices.

dedicated bicycle racks or stations. This briefing also warns that beginning Dec. 1, 2026, it will be illegal to dispose of lithium-ion batteries in regular trash or landfills in NC. They must be recycled or sent to a hazardous waste center.

NC joins mail-in voting lawsuit

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina

Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined over 20 other states in suing the Trump administration over its new executive order that seeks to restrict mail-in voting nationwide.

The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts federal court on Friday, contends that the new restrictions unconstitutionally strip power from states and could lead to eligible voters being disenfranchised.

“The (executive order) disregards states’ inherent sovereignty and attempts to arrogate to the President the states’ and Congress’s constitutional power to regulate federal elections,” the lawsuit says.

Trump’s order, which was filed last week, would mandate the creation of a nationwide list of approved absentee voters no less than 60 days before an election. The U.S. Postal Service would then be banned from accepting any mail-in ballots from voters not on that list.

In a press release, Jackson said these restrictions could affect North Carolina’s

military members, who may be deployed on short notice.

“Under this executive order, our absentee ballots would run a very high risk of being rejected by the post office – essentially thrown in the trash – if we deploy within 60 days of the election,” he said. “That is unacceptable. Whoever wrote this executive order must not understand military voting. I do, and I’ll defend the rights of our service members to cast their lawful – and well-earned – ballots in our elections.”

Defending the order ahead of its signing last week, Trump said that “the cheating on mail-in voting is legendary.”

The president and his allies have repeatedly made false claims about election fraud and have alleged, without evidence, that mail-in voting is rife with cheating.

Jackson’s lawsuit is one of several that have been filed challenging Trump’s order.

Two Republican election officials told ABC News over the weekend that they believed the new restrictions would be overturned.

Separately from the new executive order, North Carolina has already begun working with the Trump administration to use federal databases to find alleged noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls.

In a 3-2 vote last year, the State Board of Elections’ Republican majority agreed to enter into a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security to run millions of voters at a time through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or “SAVE” program.

SAVE, a program originally intended to check eligibility for government benefits, has drawn criticism — both nationally and in North Carolina — for using unreliable or outdated information that could incorrectly identify people as noncitizens.

While the board agreed to partner with DHS to use SAVE, the two agencies are still negotiating the details of that agreement.

OUR VIEW

Is hope of today DOA?

We at the East Carolinian editorial staff are dumbfounded at how expensive things are getting right now. It’s harder to live, harder to eat, and harder to support oneself. In times like this you have to look at the positive sides of things, but the negatives outway the positives in this case.

We’re in a war that has everyone up in arms about the necessity of it. It doesn’t help that what comes from the White House has been a mess. Conflicting reports, a jarring Easter Sunday post, and more. It feels like we’ve lost our minds. In these times though are when people come together and we see some of the most human expressions of kindness and heart. Neighbor helping neighbor and strangers lending a helping hand.

You almost never hear about that in the mass of headlines and focus on dividing instead of bringing together. That’s what we as reporters must remember in hard times. It’s important to highlight moments of joy and snapshots of humanity that people need to keep on going. Hope takes time and it starts by making sure that the moments that may be overlooked, the ones that people desperately need right now to build hope for the better.

PIRATE RANTS

Many animation students have expressed their dislike of having one designated animation room. As one of the largest concentrations, many of us have felt that the lack of a senior studio or space specifically for animation students striving for a degree in the discipline is unfair. I understand that most of what we do is online and can be done remote, given the right equipment, but a lot of us cannot afford the software and technology needed to complete these data heavy projects from home. Additionally, the computer lab that we do have is open to anyone in any of the classes, whether it be an intro survey course or upper level foundational courses. This means that sometimes there are students who are simply there with their friends or taking up many computers to play games and goof off. While it wouldn’t normally bother me that people are in the studio, rude encounters and people being unnecessarily loud in a space that is supposed to serve as a quiet computer lab is displeasing.

ECU has been really unaccessable to people that need accomedations.

Someone hung a speaker from one of the fire alarm sprinkler systems and it ended up flooding four floors!

Artemis II historical launch

Candon Johnson TEC STAFF

The jury’s still out on what ripple effects Artemis II’s launch and subsequent trip to the moon will have on our space program going forward. One things for certain though, This has got people excited about space again.

Four astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen have taken flight. Their goal is to perform tests on their Orion spacecraft while also doing a flyby of the moon.

This is monumental as we haven’t been to the moon since 1972. Now, people are tuning in live as the astronauts live for the ten days that it will take them to make it to the moon for their flyby.

According to updates from the live feed, the astronauts are taking photos of space on their phones, quoting movies, and performing necessary tasks. The real question is, what comes next? With a new vested interest in space and specifically lunar exploration i think that we’re about

to reach a new era.

An era that has the capability to be beautiful and frightening in equal measure.

We’ve heard for years about

colonizing a different planet within our solar system from billionaires, and I don’t believe in that as much as I believe that given the opportunity, humanity will take space travel and commercialize it but in smaller ways if given the chance. We as a people tend to take what is given to us for granted.

In the other hand, this can and will inspire generations of scientific minds to dream. It will allow them to see the great potential of our planet through the eyes of these brave astronauts. People will be able to see what is possible as a scientist and astronaut.

Hopefully, generations will learn about this launch and it will fill them with a great pride as they see what human beings can make when they put their minds to it. Because the mission isn’t just the astronauts, it’s also the engineers, mission control, and more. Each person playing a role in the overall success of the mission itself no matter how small their role is.

Chief appointed as State President

Vietnam’s National Assembly today unanimously elected To Lam, the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), to serve as the country’s state president for the next five years.

During a session today, Vietnamese state media reported, all 495 delegates present chose to confirm the 68-year-old to the post, endorsing a nomination that was reportedly finalized at a meeting in late March.

The decision, which has been widely anticipated since Lam’s reappointment as party chief at the CPV’s 14th National Congress in January, marks a break with the previous system of collective leadership in which Vietnam’s “four pillars” – its four main leadership roles – were held by different officials. It also frames Lam’s status as the most powerful Vietnamese leader in many years.

Lam previously held both positions simultaneously for a few months after the death of Nguyen Phu Trong, his predecessor as party chief, in July 2024.

After the vote, Lam gave a televised address to the National Assembly in which he said that it was an honor to hold both posts and pledged “a new growth model with science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the primary driving forces,” Reuters reported. He also said he would “prioritize self-reliance in defense,” the news agency added.

To a certain extent, today’s vote formalizes a system that has already existed in practice since Lam took over the leadership of the CPV in August 2024. Despite handing the state presidency to

Luong Cuong, a general in the People’s Army of Vietnam, Lam has acted as a de facto head of state, traveling abroad frequently and leading a historic expansion of the circle of Hanoi’s “strategic” and “comprehensive strategic” partners.

The appointment of Lam to the presidency and the leadership of the party aligns Vietnam with fellow communist nations, including China, where Xi Jinping serves as both head of the party and the head of state, and Laos, where the corresponding posts are currently held by Thongloun Sisoulith.

However, such double-ups have been rare in Vietnam’s history. Nguyen Phu Trong, Lam’s predecessor as CPV general secretary, held both positions after the death of President Tran Dai Quang in 2018, but relinquished the presidency in 2021. Prior to that, the only leaders to hold both positions were Ho Chi Minh, who held both between 1951 and 1969, and Truong Chinh, who served as party chief for five months after the death of Le Duan in July 1986.

Lam’s consolidation of the two roles has raised concerns about the erosion of a collective leadership model that has largely succeeded in preventing too much power from being concentrated in any one individual. While the Party has attempted to preserve collective leadership by informally anointing the permanent member of the CPV Secretariat as a fifth “pillar,” it is likely that Vietnam is entering an era that will come to be closely associated with the former public security minister.

Since taking over the Party leadership, Lam has left a deep impression. As The Diplomat explored in a recent video, Lam has spearheaded a series of bureaucratic reforms aimed at creating “a leaner, more

efficient” state and party administration. This administrative “revolution” has involved a merger of ministries, Party commissions, and National Assembly committees; it also eliminated an entire layer of state administration and reduced the number of provincial and city administrations from 63 to just 34. At the same time, the space for permissible dissent in Vietnam has further contracted under Lam’s watch.

Le Long Hiep of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore told Reuters that “concentrating greater power in To Lam’s hands could pose risks to Vietnam’s political system, such as increased authoritarianism.” But he added that such consolidation “could enable Vietnam to formulate and implement policies more quickly and effectively,” something that could benefit the country during the economic fallout from the Iran war.

Arts & Entertainment

EVENTS TODAY

Barbecue Chicken Fundraiser

The Red Oak Community Rural Fire Department, 925 West Star St, Greenville, NC 27858

2523558870

10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

TOMORROW

Doggie Jams

Five Points Plaza, 5th and Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858

2527527682, 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Spring Fine Arts Events at The Oakwood School

The Oakwood School, 4000 Macgregor Downs Road, Greenville, NC 27834 2529310760, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Spring Brushstokes and Friends Show and Sale

Unity FWB Church, 4301 Charles Blvd, Greenville, NC 27858 2527566485 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM SpringFest 2026

Pitt County Council on Aging Center - Greenville, 4551 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858 52752171713, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

SUNDAY

PiCASO April “Disco

Diva” Brunch

The Scullery, 431 Evans St, Greenville , NC 27858 2523211550

10:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Here are the Cary and western Wake restaurants that made The News & Observer’s Top 50 in the Triangle, which published in March. (We have a separate list for Raleigh.) Big Dom’s Bagels

A funny thing happens when a bagel scene sprouts up out of nothing: anything goes. So Amber and Zach Faulisi took over a small shack that used to be a Little Caesars and turned it into a bagel shop unlike any other, possibly, in the world. Big Dom’s bakes its bagels in the conveyor belt pizza oven left behind, each bagel slicked with Crisco, coming out dappled with shatteringly crispy bubbles. The bagel sandwiches remake the standards, ham and cheese layered like laminated dough and set off with zippy “Zazzy” sauce. In the summer, you’ll want a thick slice of tomato, melted slightly under cheese.

203 E. Chatham St., Cary | bigdomsbagelshop.com | $ Brewery Bhavana

Only part of Brewery Bhavana wants to be a restaurant. On one side, there’s the sleekest marble bar with hightop stools, seeming to answer the age-old question: Yes, there will be beer on the space station, and it will be Belgian-inspired. Then there’s the flower and book shops. But ultimately, it’s the dumplings that make Brewery Bhavana special, and the rich and dramatic xiao long bao is a must. There’s

Two Triangle businesses that lasted years are now closing for good.

One store is shutting down as part of wider financial challenges being faced by the company, but another locally owned store is “retiring.”

Here’s what to know about the stores and when shoppers can still visit.

Durham record store closing after 20 years Owner Charles “Chaz” Martenstein announced the “retirement” of the downtown Durham record store Bull City Records in late March. Located at 124 E. Main St., the shop is open through the end of April, and sales begin Wednesday, April 8.

Shoppers can visit 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s been a truly magical twenty years, but the time has come,” Martenstein wrote on the store’s website. “I feel like I have reached the finish line and I am extremely proud of what we have created here.”

Eddie Bauer closing Smithfield store Catalyst Brands, the operator of Eddie Bauer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is closing its brick-and-mortar Eddie Bauer stores in North Carolina.

The Smithfield location, at the Carolina Premium Outlets, was in its final liquidation phase as of Saturday, March 31. All physical stores are expected to be permanently closed by Thursday, April 30.

The Carolina Premium Outlets location is Eddie Bauer’s only remaining store in the Triangle. The brand previously had stores at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh and at Cary Towne Center.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full stories linked here were reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

also an important lesson: Bring enough friends to split the lacquered peking duck, because what a thing to miss out on.

218 S. Blount St., Raleigh and 850 Lower Garden Lane, Cary | brewerybhavana.com | $ $ $ - $ $ $ $ Dampf Good BBQ

The Dampf brothers promise a brick and mortar is on the way one day, but no one seems to mind standing in line at this perennial pop-up — the only Michelin-rated food trailer in North Carolina. You don’t need walls when the brisket is the real Texas-style deal, unctuous and heavenly, or when the sausage game is the most creative in the Triangle. Maybe they’ll have a front door one day, but we don’t care.

6800 Good Hope Church Rd, Cary | dampfgoodbbq.com | $ - $ $ $ Herons

How exactly can slices of squash, folded together like a rose blossom, still just be a supporting character to a tender strip of dryaged duck breast? There are many wonders at Herons, where art on the walls will always pale to the brushstrokes of Chef Steven Devereaux Greene’s plates. The luxurious Umstead resort in Cary is among the Southern leaders in avant garde cooking, and while this tier of fine dining often seems to push boundaries simply because they are there, Herons seems to have another explanation for its motivations: because it’s beautiful.

100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary (in The Umstead Hotel & Spa) | theumstead.com | $ $ $ $ Lawrence Barbecue

Barbecue is a serious matter in North Carolina, but at Lawrence, it’s always serious fun. Nowhere else in the new-school barbecue world will you find the pairing of smoke and sea, with Jake Wood serving up fire-kissed roasted oysters and crab claw lollipops with herby chimichurri. But the barbecue bonafides are real, particularly with pork, where the smoked shoulders are among the Triangle’s very best, with notes of fruity sweetness. And maybe one day, Wood will win a Nobel Prize for beef fat caramel chicken wings, a dish that fulfills every promise of modern barbecue.

150 E. Cedar St., Cary | lawrencebarbecue. com | $ $ - $ $ $ M Sushi

The flagship of the Michael Lee restaurant empire, M Sushi established a new standard for sushi in the Triangle that no other restaurant has been able to match. Now a decade in, the hype continues to be real and deserved, with Lee still venturing to the airport to personally inspect the restaurant’s imported fish. A stool at the live edge bar at M Sushi is one of the most coveted perches in the Triangle, where astonishingly fresh cuts of fish appear as they’re ready, many seasoned with barely more than the sea itself, others with a punch of ponzu or a miraculously thin serrano pepper.

It’s been a truly magical twenty years, but the time has come.

- Charles Martenstein „ “

by Ricky Cruz

Sports

The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events

Tyler Buonocore TEC Staff

ECU VS. Tulane Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

The Pirates are coming off their best week of baseball that I have experienced as a student and I think they carry this momentum into this game. The only reason I’m not picking a sweep is because I picked us to lose against Charlotte so I’m now going to stay pessimistic. But if we hit and pitch like we did last weekend, don’t be surprised if the boys come home with their second sweep in a row.

Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager

ECU VS. Tulane Score Prediction?

ECU 3-0

Why?

I know I know I know, back to back sweeps is really tough but with how the bats looked against UNCC, I don’t see why they can’t look the same against Tulane, and Tulane hits the ball a lot worse statistically than UNC Concord does. If the pitching can come through again, I don’t see why a sweep isn’t achievable. Bold Prediction: Norby Bounces back with a 7 inning game with 13 or more strikeouts.

Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Editor

ECU VS. Tulane Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

Coming off of a dominant series sweep last weekend against UNCC I believe the Pirates are carrying some serious momentum into this weekend’s series. Despite missing both Colby Webber and Gavin Van Kempen for another week ECU has proved they are more than capable of winning a series without them. The important thing is that East Carolina continues to stay hot and hungry offensively. It will be an interesting challenge on the road but I believe that this team will handle business and fly out of New Orleans as series winners on Sunday night.

Softball to play North Texas

Logan Harlow TEC STAFF

East Carolina softball (24-17, 8-7 American Athletic Conference) will travel to Texas this weekend for a three game AAC series against the University of North Texas (22-17, 11-4 AAC). The series gives the Pirates an opportunity to build off of their series win against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (22-18, 7-8 AAC) last weekend. Statistics and records for both teams are subject to change due to both teams having mid-week games.

ECU has shown the ability to compete with strong opponents this season. One of the highlights of the Pirates’ year came in an upset victory over Duke University (28-11, 13-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). A performance that demonstrated the team’s ability to deliver offensively and execute in key moments.

The Pirates’ offense has been capable of producing timely hits throughout the year. When the lineup finds consistency, ECU can generate runs in multiple ways,

Lacrosse to host ODU

East Carolina Lacrosse (4-7, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) will host Old Dominion University (5-9, 0-4 AAC) this Saturday April, 11. at Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium here in Greenville. Statistics and records for these teams are subject to change due to mid-week games prior to this weekend’s matchup.

The Pirates are coming off of a four game road trip where so far they have went 0-3 with losses to number one ranked the University of North Carolina (11-1, 8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), Virginia Tech University (8-7, 2-6 ACC), and Vanderbilt University (7-5, 3-0 AAC). They will play the final game of the road trip Wednesday April, 8. against William and Mary University (7-5, 2-2 Coastal Athletic Association).

Both the Pirates and the Monarchs are sitting at the bottom of AAC standings. This matchup will be an opportunity for both teams to begin to make a push to the top of conference standings.

In their last matchup against Vanderbilt East Carolina gave sophomore goalkeeper Mave Meehan got her first career start. She made 11 saves in the game which is the third most saves in a first career start in program history.

Senior keeper Jamie Behar who had been the long term starter was expected to be the starter throughout this season but struggled early on. This will be an interesting position battle to keep an eye on. Offensively, ECU will lean on its leaders junior attack Sarah Goodison, senior midfield Kayla Wilkes, and senior attack Katelyn Sclafani. Goodison has posted 21 goals and 11 assists so far, Wilkes has 20 goals and eight assists, and Sclafani has notched 15 goals and 11 assists. Keeping ODU on their heels defensively could be huge in gaining momentum and pushing the Pirates over the edge for a conference win.

In their last three matchups, the Pirates have a winning 2-1 record which they will look to carry on. ECU currently has a 4-1 home record and a 0-6 away record. This matchup will play to their strengths as they have not been able to grab a victory yet on the road.

The Monarchs are currently in last place in the American. A loss in this one could put a serious damper on the Pirates season with just four games left to play including this Saturday’s matchup.

If you would like to come out and support the Lady Pirates the game will be played Saturday April, 11. at 12 p.m. here in Greenville at Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium.

including extra-base hits and aggressive baserunning. Junior outfielder Kanisha Anderson leads the team with a .387 batting average and 53 hits, while junior infielder Trinity Nichols is hitting .343 with 22 RBIs.

Senior outfielder Anna Sawyer adds power to the lineup with eight doubles and two home runs. Sophomore utility player Jenna Krol has driven in a team-high 24 RBIs. Maintaining that offensive rhythm will be important against a North Texas team that has several strong hitters.

North Texas enters the series with a balanced lineup that has produced solid numbers at the plate. Several Mean Green hitters have posted strong batting averages while also providing power, making the offense capable of putting pressure on opposing pitchers. If North Texas is able to get good at bats early and create scoring opportunities, it could force ECU to play from behind.

Pitching will play a major role in determining the outcome of the series.

ECU’s pitching staff will need to limit base runners and keep North Texas’ power

hitters from producing extra-base hits. At the same time, the Pirates will look to take advantage of scoring opportunities whenever they arise. Sophomore righty Julia Apostolakos leads the pitching staff with a 12–6 record and 73 strikeouts across 107.1 innings. Freshman righty Sydney Rainford has added six wins and two shutouts with a 3.42 ERA. Their ability to limit damage and work deep into games has helped anchor ECU’s pitching staff. The matchup also highlights two teams trying to improve their position within the conference standings. Winning a weekend series can provide a significant boost during this middle portion of the season. East Carolina and North Texas will play a three-game series at Lovelace Stadium in Denton, Texas. The series begins Friday April, 10. at 7 p.m. ET, continues Saturday April, 11. at 3 p.m. ET, and concludes Sunday April, 12. at 1 p.m. ET. All three games will be available to watch on ESPN+.