2026_Mar19_TEC

Carolinian

Luck is on campus for St. Patty's

Although the day of celebration for St. Patrick's Day has passed, it hasn’t stopped East Carolina University students from preparing for a weekend full of festivities to prolong the celebration of the Irish holiday.

Clay Manasrh, a freshman majoring in business management, is eager for the parties and fun to continue throughout the weekend. In preparation for the holiday he bought a festive bottle that said “I’m not Irish but I can still get lucky.”

Manasrh and his friends celebrated in downtown Greenville on the actual holiday, but he was looking forward to the block party this Saturday. He saidw he was so excited for all the events to come.

“For the weekend, the Still Life party of course and then frat parties,” said Manasrh, “It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

With this being his first St. Patrick’s Day at ECU, he said everyone's energy has made the holiday more enticing and heightened his anticipation. Manasrh said he’s enjoyed holidays more here on campus because the celebrations are bigger.

“Because I'm a freshman, it’s so awesome being here and just seeing how much fun you can have,” said Manasrh, “You can do whatever you want and have fun all the time, and still balance like studying.”

Lyla Braswell and Peyton Cleveland, two ECU freshmen, felt the same in how ECU offers a plethora of activities to participate in the celebratory fun. Cleveland, an interior design major, said how she likes that there are

opportunities offered outside of just downtown Greenville.

“I would say ECU promotes it very well,” she said, “And even if you're not the person to go downtown there's so many other ways that you can celebrate the holiday.”

Braswell and Cleveland went to the Baseball game together on the lucky day, and were excited to see what the weekend would bring. Braswell, an entrepreneurship major, planned for his sister to visit and join in on the revelry.

“I think it's really fun here, like we do a whole lot, especially downtown,” said Braswell, “I think we celebrate it really well, especially with the party type thing.”

Cleveland had no weekend plans confirmed, but was excited about “wearing green and not getting pinched.” She anticipates the celebration because ECU goes all out for the holiday since it's one of the more celebrated ones on campus.

“They put a lot of emphasis on Halloween and St. Patty's Day,” said Cleveland, “So I feel like those are the top two here.”

Likewise, Torrin Brownell, a freshman majoring in entrepreneurship, wishes to make the celebration even bigger. He has friends at the University of Virginia who offer even further festive entertainment.

“I think we should do a run of the gingers,” said Brownell, “I have a buddy at UVA and they do that, so I think if we did that here that’d be really cool.”

Brownell looks forward to attending his fraternities party where they will have live music. He also anticipates the positive shift on campus that accompanies the shamrock energy in the air.

“It brings everyone’s mood up, you know everyone’s just kind of excited,” he said, "Everybody's having a good time so I’m excited.”

Elizabeth Garbark, a junior majoring in marketing, said the reason she even celebrates the holiday now is due to being at ECU. She looks forward to celebrating more with her friends over the weekend after they went downtown in Greenville on Tuesday.

“I just feel like it's underrated because normally there's not much to do, but I feel like in college I celebrate it now and I never really did before,” Garbark said.

Garbark said she's excited to spend the

ECU to open AAC Play

With conference play approaching, East Carolina (12-8-1, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) returns home to face the University of Alabama at Birmingham (12-8, 0-0 AAC) in a matchup that could help set the tone for both teams moving forward. Records are subject to change as both teams are scheduled to play midweek games.

The Pirates are still working to find their rhythm as the season progresses, but there have been encouraging signs at the plate. East Carolina is hitting over .290 as a team early in the season, showing it can generate offense in different ways with multiple hitters stepping up.

Junior infielder Matthew Lashley has been one of the team’s most reliable and consistent bats so far, hitting over .420 while consistently getting on base and helping spark the offense. At the top of the lineup, sophomore infielder and outfielder Braden Burress has also made an impact, using his ability to reach base and score runs to put pressure on opposing pitching staffs.

Players like senior outfielder Jack Herring and junior catcher Walker Barron have added depth to the lineup as well. Herring is hitting around .350 with extra-base hits, providing some power in the middle of the order, while Barron is also batting above .340. Together, the Pirates have shown they can produce offensively when things are clicking.

On the mound, East Carolina is still looking to settle into a consistent groove. Early in the season, it’s common for teams to shuffle pitchers and figure out roles, and the Pirates are no different as they continue to evaluate their staff heading into conference play.

UAB comes into the weekend with almost the same exact record as East Carolina and presents a similar challenge. The Blazers have shown they can put runs on the board quickly, especially when they string hits together and take advantage of scoring opportunities.

Recent matchups between the two teams have produced plenty of offense. In one meeting last season, the teams combined for 25 runs in a game that saw UAB rally for a 16–9 win. It’s the kind

of matchup where momentum can shift quickly, and both teams are capable of putting together big innings.

East Carolina has had the edge in the series all time, and have previously relied on strong pitching performances to control games against UAB.

The focus for the Pirates will be on keeping the offense rolling while limiting those big innings from the Blazers. When East Carolina is able to consistently get runners on base and apply pressure, it has shown it can take control of games early.

Meanwhile UAB will be looking to capitalize on any mistakes the pirates self inflict and ash in on runners in scoring position whenever possible. With both teams capable of producing runs, execution on the mound and in key moments could ultimately decide the outcome.

The two squads will play a three game series, the first game is on Friday March, 20 at 6:00 p.m. the second on Saturday March, 21 at 4:00 p.m. and the final game will be Sunday March, 22 at 12:30 p.m. All games will be broadcast live on ESPN+, radio coverage will be available on 94.3 F.M. The Game.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

holiday weekend with her friends and hangout. She also enjoys how the celebrations increased after coming to college because of the larger attendance to all the festivities.

“I feel like everyone celebrates it in one way or another, so it's a lot more fun with a lot of people,” she said. With luck in the air, four leaf clovers to be found, and preparations of celebratory Irish festivities ECU students are eagerly awaiting for the fun to continue.

Student wins

Mr. Beast hosted a surprise event near the Main Campus Student Center, where a lucky student walked away with $1,000.

Even though Jimmy Donaldson was not at the event, his associate, Chandler Hallow, was there getting pictures with students.

The event included a gumball filled to the brim with gumballs for students to guess the number of. Students’ guesses ranged from over 3,000 to someone even guessing there were 76 gumballs in the machine.

Hundreds of students gathered near the student center, trying to guess the number of gumballs in the gumball machine correctly. It did not matter if someone went over, as long as they were close to the amount, they won the grand prize.

Caleb Toliver, a freshman majoring in information technology and cybersecurity, guessed 3,800.

“My guess was 3,800 because I feel like gumballs are usually perfect spheres, but since these are not perfect spheres, they could probably fit a little more in there,” he said.

He said that if he won the prize, he would spend it on a brand-new car.

“I really need a car, that is the plan,” he said.

Marissa Bautista, a sophomore who is an intended nursing major, guess 3,333. They said the guess was the first thing that came to their mind. If they had guessed correctly, they would have spent the money on new car tires.

The winner of the $1,000 was sophomore chemistry and biology major Varsha Peddi.

She guess the number 4,444 because 4 is her lucky number. Peddi said that when she first saw the event, she did not think she would win. She did not think she would win so much; she left before her name was called. She said she left to take a quiz in her dorm room. Thankfully, for Peddi, her friends were there and called her to let her know she won. She raced back to accept her prize.

Peddi said she wants to give her money to her parents or put it in a savings account for her future.

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.

BRIEFS

New ECU Medical Education building has been named

East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine recently received a $10 million gift from Hyman, Stacy, David, and Laura Brody. This donation will support and expand the Brody Scholars program.

“The gift directly strengthens the Brody Scholar Program and the Brody School of Medicine’s mission to train physicians to serve North Carolin, especially in rural and underserved communities,” ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers said in a press release.

Chancellor Rogers announced that the Brody family will be honored when the new 195,000 square foot Brody Center for Medical Education opens during the 202727 academic year. The naming of the was approved during an ECU Board of Trustees meeting on Feb. 13.

ECU to host event that will help future graduate teaching assistants

East Carolina University will be hosting a Grad PIRATE Talks season titled “What Makes a Great Teaching Assistant?” The event will take place in the Mendenhall Conference Room G21A on March 26 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This event will provide strategies for university teaching assistants to successfully navigate the classroom.

The event will also feature a panel with this year’s nominees and nominators for the 2026 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award. The panelists will share their experiences and offer tips for future teaching assistants.

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.

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.

March, 15

ECU Police are investigating an incident of “secret peeping” in Fleming Hall. The incident was reported Sunday but reportedly took place Dec, 7 2025.

March, 6

ECU Police are investigating a second instance of “secret peeping” in Cotten Residence Hall. The incident took place Friday March, 6.

March, 5

ECU Police are investigating a hit and run at Scott Hall Pavillion. The incident took place Thursday March, 5 at 1:47 p.m.

March, 15

ECU Police are investigating an instance of first degree trespassing on educational property with a firearm. The instance took place at the North Recreational Complex at 8:09 p.m. Sunday night.

March, 13

ECU Police performed an arrest on 5th and Ash street for driving while impaired. The incident took place last Friday at 12:52 a.m.

Gas prices see big rise

Jordan Adams TEC STAFF

Gas prices across the nation are on the rise following U.S-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Greenville among the highest in the state.

Data from the American Automobile Association showed that the average gas price in North Carolina was around $2.74 in mid-February. Since then, there has been an increase of around $0.80 to $3.60.

Greenville has especially been hit hard. Data from GasBuddy on Feb. 12 showed that prices in the Greenville-Winterville area ranged from $2.95 to $3.30. Now, many prices are above $3.50 for regular gas.

Gas at the Sheetz on E 10th St. was priced at $3.69 on Tuesday afternoon. Other gas stations, like at Citigo and Walmart, also have similar prices.

“Why is gas almost four dollars?” said Aicha Seyni, a sophomore studying predental. She regularly uses her car to buy groceries and

sometimes to visit family.

Toby Mullins, also a sophomore, echoed her sentiment. He lives off-campus and frequently commutes to school. “I deliver groceries with my car. How am I supposed to be able to do work and get gas?”

On Feb. 28, Israel and America launched a series of airstrikes on Iran, assassinating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated by launching attacks on multiple Middle Eastern countries and closing the Strait of Hormuz.

This came after a brutal crackdown on Iranian protesters in January, with human rights groups estimating tens of thousands of deaths, and a failed series of nuclear talks between the US and Iran.

The price of gas in other North Carolina cities has been largely similar to that in Greenville. In places like Asheville, the average is slightly lower at $3.40, while it is slightly higher in Durham and Charlotte.

Students react to new Chick-fil-a

restaurants.

A new Chick-fil-A is planned for Greenville, with an approved site. While some Residents welcome the addition, others question whether another location is necessary. Community members have begun expressing excitement about the new restaurant, especially about its convenience.

Caitlin Frizelle, a lifetime resident of Greenville, shared her excitement and said, “It’s definitely good to get another. She continued, “It’ll help cut down on delivery times as well as lines through the drive-thru.”

Frizelle also emphasized the economic growth this can bring. “It would be good for the city because it would bring more jobs to people,” she said.

The city's confirmation supports the development. Chantae Gooby, assistant director of planning, confirmed: “There is an approved site plan for Chick-fil-A at 318 SW Greenville Boulevard.” This approval represents an important step in the project's process.

While some residents are excited for this new addition, not all responses were positive.

Dayanara Gomez, a senior in graphic design, noted that the location would not make much difference given the city's existing Chick-fil-A

Gomez raised questions about traffic and said, “Chick-fil-A is always packed with traffic… it would affect the traffic,” suggesting that a new location could impact traffic patterns.

Gomez also raised concerns about small businesses in the new location. “Those would probably get ignored over recognizable fast food chains,” she said. Despite these concerns, the plan is approved. No official opening date has been announced for the new Chick-fil-A location.

Pirate Nation Gives breaks record

On Mar. 6, Pirate Nation Gives hosted its 10th annual event and hit a record-breaking $12.2M in donations in a single day. The theme was “Building on a Decade of Impact."

Nicole Stokes, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Advancement Operations, called Pirate Nation Gives East Carolina University’s “annual day of giving.” Over 2,800 donors came out in support of Pirate Nation Gives’ decadelong philanthropic mission to support campus programs, initiatives, scholarships, and more.

Stokes said the $12.2M will be distributed to the entire ECU community. Donors are allowed to donate as they choose, thereby increasing impact across campus.

“Contributions help create and support student scholarships, faculty professorships, academic programs, research initiatives, and student-centered services — College-level initiatives and campus-wide programs that benefit students and the surrounding region,” she said.

ECU appreciates fundraising events like these because of its urge to advocate for eastern North Carolina within 24 hours. It creates a trusting connection between donors and their beneficiaries.

“The time constraints create a sense of urgency that inspires Pirate Nation to come together quickly to support students and strengthen the university’s impact,” Stokes said.

This year, Stokes said there was a big focus on scholarships, specifically the Chancellor’s Scholars program.

According to Stokes, the event reached historic results:

More than $12.2 million raised

More than 2,800

Twenty-five percent of the donors were students.

Nearly 800 donors made their first-ever gift during Pirate Nation Gives

More than 90 donors made champion-level commitments of at least $5,000, many of which were used in donor challenges and matches to help gamify the day.

Students also participated through campus activities, thank-you notes, and philanthropy initiatives.

More than 150 individual and mass-send videos were distributed to donors to thank them for their investment in ECU.

OUR VIEW

Trump sours allies amid conflict with Iran

We at the East Carolinian believe that the war in Iran is shady. It’s causing a lot of stress on the American people as well as walking back promises of no more wars. This promise is what made many vote for Trump during his second term. Not only months ago did Trump say that Iran’s nuclear arsenal was defeated, but now we are in a war that is constantly changing its base.

A lot has happened. Many people have lost their lives and now with information being so quick and widespread, it’s giving the people of the United States a horrible feeling about this situation. Our relationships with our foreign allies is also heavily struggling as Trump has made almost every ally that we have turn away from us. Where do we go from this? Can we go anywhere from here? What if anything can we do to regain our status as a prosperous and collaborative democracy?

Shifting the goalposts constantly and making the war feel like what many are calling a regime change. We need strong leaders who will be able to look this war in the face and stand against it. People who can see through the obvious red flags that line this war.

Trump and Pete Hegseth both have been at odds with the media as questions arise about the need for another war. The last major conflict we had was in Iraq and after we were there for years it began to leave a sour taste in people’s mouths. Now it’s a difficult time to look back on and we’re beginning to repeat the same old mistakes our previous political leaders made.

We believe that the government works for us and must be transparent with us to a certain level as the way our system works is through collaboration and cooperation as a collective.

PIRATE RANTS

The Iran War: Its Impact on neighbors

Luke Hunt THE DIPLOMAT

Michael Martin returns to Beyond the Mekong following the outbreak of the Israeli-U.S. war on Iran, which is having a profound impact across the world and on ASEAN, where oil prices have surged, supply chains are being severely disrupted, and the costs are being borne by ordinary people.

Martin, who has retired as a specialist in Asian affairs for the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress and at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), spoke with The Diplomat’s Luke Hunt in Bangkok about the war and Trump’s foreign policy intentions.

This includes the prospects for Myanmar, which Amnesty International says is believed to have been supplied with aviation gasoline by Iran. Iranian fuel enabled the military’s relentless aerial bombing campaigns that has left thousands of civilians dead amid a five-year civil war. Alternatives supplies from Russia, which has longstanding ties with the junta, are also a prospect.

Across Southeast Asia the war on Iran is testing relations between the Trump administration and the 11 members of ASEAN on varying levels.

“We have a president who appears in his behavior and his conduct to feel that there are no constraints or restrictions on what he can do as the executive of the United States. So if he wants to go out and kidnap a leader

of another country, he will do so,” Martin says.

“For the leadership in Southeast Asia, I would not be surprised that they are right now discussing what if his eye turns on us. And I think Trump has a capricious eye. Something catches his attention and he’s interested in it.

“But if there’s nothing interesting there, then he forgets about it. He doesn’t even know it exists.”

Martin, speaking from Washington, D.C., has a long history of providing Congress with political and economic analysis about China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Vietnam. He has taught at Hong Kong Baptist University, Doshisha University in Kyoto, Colby College, and Tufts University.

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

The women in Trump’s admin

Rachel Marsden TRIBUNE

Trump kicked off Women’s History Month by dropping a missile on roughly 160 schoolgirls in Iran. Then he put out a statement bragging that his administration’s pro-women policies “uplift our children.”

How so? By bouncing rubble around in Iran like it’s a giant trampoline? He also says that he “emboldens women.” Great, so then where are all the female Trump appointees currently within the political blast radius of this administration to shut this fiasco down?

Here in France, in passing conversation with a group of women, the unanimous take on Trump and his de facto boss, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, setting the Middle East ablaze was that men should lose the privilege of running

the world. That none of this would have happened if women had been in charge.

Except that there are women in charge. Trump has appointed several of them to this administration. Where’s Tulsi Gabbard, his director of National Intelligence, who has long openly advocated against Iranian regime change and the risks of it for Americans? Suddenly, she has nothing to say when her own boss does it, having apparently dropped off the face of the planet. Or how about chief of staff, Susie Wiles, captured in a situation room photo with Trump as he launched the first missiles — and who’s now reportedly concerned about gas prices, albeit behind closed doors. A bit late, no?

Much is now being made of how Trump is unpleasantly surprised by how all this is turning out. How did killing Ayatollah

Khamenei result in the emergence of another Ayatollah Khamenei? Well, see, that’s what happens when your foresight is so impaired that you end up clearing your entire future puppet shelf of all the potential rivals to your target’s even more hardline kid.

Why didn’t Iranians come out and overthrow their government when Trump encouraged them to, like he was staging the end of his own Hollywood blockbuster? Instead, the New York Times has published images of Iranians ignoring the script with massive rallies against their IsraeliAmerican invaders. What did he think would happen? Can’t these people manage to place themselves in the position of the average Iranian? Imagine if you, as an American, witnessed another country bombing the White House under the pretext of liberating you of your unpopular government. Would you welcome that enthusiastically? Or would you be like, “He may be a jerk, but he’s our jerk! Who do you think you are?” It’s like when you complain about your family to your significant other, who suddenly starts badmouthing them. Then bombing them — and wondering why you’re not cheering him on.

Apparently, Trump didn’t foresee that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices skyrocketing. He can’t even say how long all this is going to last. One day he’s doing his best impression of President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” routine from the beginning of the War on Terrorism. The next, he’s saying that it will end when “I feel it in my bones.”

This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.

Arts & Entertainment

EVENTS TODAY

Little Women Magnolia Arts Center, 1703 E 14th St, Greenville, NC 27858

888-622-3868

7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

TOMORROW

Awaken Coffee Gala

Rock Springs Center, 4025 NC Highway 43 North, Greenville, NC 27858

252-830-890

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

2026 Greenville Heart Ball

ECU’s Murphy Center, Murphy Center, Greenville, NC 27835 180-024-28721

6:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Backyard Bash at Local Oak Brewing CO.

Local Oak Brewing Co., 2564 Railroad St, Winterville, NC 28590 252-364-8815

6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Dickinson Avenue After Dark Five Points Plaza, 5th and Evans Street, Greenville, NC 27858

252-561-8400,7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

SATURDAY

14th Annual FROGGS Friendraiser Pitt Street Brewing Company, 630 S Pitt St., Greenville, NC 27834

252-227-4151

4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

MARCH Permanent

Jewelry @ Coopers Cup

Coopers Cup, 2588 Railroad Street, Winterville, NC 28590 252-689-1454

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Spring Market and Opening Day at the Museum

Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum, 4570 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858

252-531-2771

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Eastern Carolina Village & Farm Museum Vendor Markets

Eastern Carolina Village and Farm Museum, 4570 County Home Road, Greenville, NC 27858

252-531-2771

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Latina writers to speak at ECU

The Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University will host “Latinas writing from the South,” public panel bringing together Latina writers from across the Carolinas, from 5 to 6 p.m. on March 19 at Sheppard Memorial Library. The event is free and is open to students, faculty and members of the community.

The panel is a collaboration between the Hickard DIstinguised Professorship in the Humanities, the Department of English and the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. The panel will explore themes of storytelling, identity, migration and community in the American South.

“One of ECU’s greatest strengths is its strong

connection to the surrounding community. Through the Whichard Distinguished Professorship, we’re able to bring conversations about literature, language, and culture into public spaces where everyone can participate.”

said Amy E. Wright current Professor of the Humanities

Hosted by Amy E. Wright, the event includes creators Stephanie Elizondo Griest, Von Diaz, Tita Ramirez, and Dailihana Alfonseca to speak.

“This panel conversation celebrates the voices of Latina writers in the Carolinas and shows how the humanities can connect universities with the communities around them,” Wright said.

The discussion will give students and community members an opportunity to engage directly with the writers. They will be addressing real world topics such as identity, migration,

family and community, emphasizing that literature is an ongoing cultural conversation beyond the classroom.

“This event brings together writers whose work reflects the many cultural traditions shaping Latino life in the American South today,” said Wright.

The discussion will be recorded and in collaboration with the podcast Hablemos Escitoras. It will be included in a future episode taking the conversation off campus and to national and international audiences.

“Stories help us understand who we are and how we live together,” Wright said.

Attendees can RSVP on the Pirate Experience Website.

This writer can be contacted at arts@theeastcarolinian.com.

ECU’s Once Upon a Dance

Nuha Ahmed TEC STAFF

Fantasy and storytelling will take the stage as East Carolina University’s dance program presents Once Upon a Dance, a themed dance

p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in McGinnis Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for the general public, $15 for seniors, faculty, and staff, and $10 for students and youth. According to Hudson, the fairy-tale theme developed during seasonal planning discus-

this year.”

Students have been involved in nearly every part of the production, from early planning to the final performance. In addition to performing on stage, students are working behind the scenes in design, stage management, and choreography.

“From conception to design, to choreography and the performance, our students play a role in every aspect,” Hudson said, “This show has a student stage manager, two student costume designers, and senior dance major Alexis Goodwin was granted the honor of student choreographer, so one of the pieces in this production is entirely hers.”

Hudson said this production is also different from previous dance theatre concerts because it follows a single theme, rather than presenting unrelated pieces in different styles.

“Themed dance concerts are a new concept for us,” Hudson said, “In the past, choreographers had artistic freedom to create their own segment in any style. With a center theme driving this production, audiences have a better idea about what they can expect to see when they purchase tickets to Once Upon a Dance.”

For the dance program, the event serves as both a showcase of student work and a chance for the community to experience live performance together.

“This event is essential to our dance program and the ECU community because it celebrates dance as both an art form and a shared human experience,” said Hudson.

She added that live performance creates a type of connection that cannot be replicated through digital media.

“Live performances bring people together in a way few other experiences can,” she said, “Movement communicates emotion, story, and meaning without words, allowing audiences and performers to connect on physical, emotional, and intellectual levels at the same time.”

By reimagining familiar fairy tales through movement, Once Upon a Dance continues a long tradition of storytelling through dance while inviting audiences to experience those stories from a new perspective.

“Once Upon a Dance continues this long tradition, linking past and present by using live performance to strengthen community bonds and celebrate our shared humanity,” Hudson said.

by Ricky Cruz

The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events

Caleb Johnson TEC Sports Editor

ECU VS. UAB Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

American Conference play is here, record wise these teams are practically dead even but the Pirates have the home field advantage against a Blazers team that has a negative road record. Offensively the Pirates have been on point as of late outside of last Saturday’s game against Penn. I think that because of the injuries to Colby Webber and Jack Herring the Pirates drop one game and get the series win to open AAC play.

Cannon Gates WZMB Station Manager

ECU VS. UAB Score Prediction?

ECU 2-1

Why?

This is going to be a high scoring series between these 2 teams, for UAB, with guys who have 4 or more appearances the best era is a 4.00 while ECU has pitched well on Saturdays with the GVK and Jenkins combo but with Norby struggling and Weber going down on Sunday against Penn, it’ll be interesting to see where this pitching staff goes. I believe the offense can scrap together against this not so great pitching staff for UAB and take 2 games in Clark-Leclair

Tyler Buonocore TEC Staff

ECU VS. UAB Score Prediction?

ECU 3-0

Why?

With how inconsistent this team has been, it’s going to be incredibly important to start conference play off 3-0. While it will be difficult losing Weber and Herring, Cliff Godwin said this is the most depth on a team he’s had, and I think that depth will come to shine this weekend. While it won’t be pretty, I think the Pirates can scrape out their first series sweep of the season.

ECU softball to face off against Memphis

Kalise Lewis TEC STAFF

East Carolina softball (19-10, 4-2 American Athletic Conference) will travel to Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday for the start of a three game conference series against the University of Memphis (7-19, 0-6 AAC). This series will be an important stretch within the AAC as both teams look to improve their conference record.

The Pirates will first take on Elon University (9-17, 3-0 Coastal Athletic Association) before heading into this series, giving them a chance to improve their two game winning streak. The Pirates have shown strong consistency throughout the season producing a .283 team batting average, with 209 hits and 124 runs scored.

The Pirates have also been consistent at

home with a 13-6 record and record of 4-3 on the road. Carrying momentum into Memphis will be key as they head into this conference series.

Memphis will take on The University of Oklahoma (28-2, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) at home before the series against the Pirates. As they look to defend their home field and build momentum.

The Tigers will aim to capitalize on their offense that has racked up 19 home runs so far this season.

Offensively, East Carolina has demonstrated the ability to produce runs in multiple ways whether it’s timely hitting or aggressive baserunning. Continuing that offensive efficiency and balanced approach will be important against a Memphis team that looks to limit scoring opportunities.

Defensively, ECU has been solid at

limiting errors and making key plays in critical moments. Strong pitching performances and defensive execution will be essential as the Pirates aim to contain Memphis’ offense.

This series presents an opportunity for East Carolina to strengthen its position in the AAC standings while building momentum heading deeper into conference play. For Memphis, it’s a chance to move up in conference standing and challenge one of the conference’s stronger teams.

Game one will be played in Memphis, Tennessee Friday March, 20. at 5 p.m. at the Tigers softball complex. Followed by March, 21. at 3 p.m. and March 22. at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.

ECU lacrosse to take on Temple

Caleb Johnson TEC STAFF

East Carolina’s (3-4, 0-1 American Athletic Conference) lacrosse team will take on Temple University (8-2, 0-1 AAC) Saturday March, 21. Both teams will be in search of their first conference win of the season.

Suffering a 10-16 defeat last Saturday against James Madison University (4-4, 1-0 AAC) the ladies will be looking to bounce back and snag their first conference win of the season.

The focus against the Owls will be on the defense and goal keeping. In their last outing, the Pirates proved they can score with the best of them putting up 10 goals.

The goal this time around will be to have similar production offensively, while backing the scoring up with the necessary defense and goal keeping to produce a win.

Senior goalkeeper Jamie Behar and sophomore goalkeeper Maeve Meehan split time in the matchup with JMU. Behar allowed 11 goals in 35 minutes while Meehan allowed five goals in 25 minutes, the two combined for six total saves. The Pirates have allowed 10 or more goals in four of their seven games so far.

Offensively, senior midfielder Kayla Wilkes, junior attack Sarah Goodison, and senior attack Rachel Chessock have had consistent production for ECU. All three of them scored two goals their last time out.

Defensively, the Pirates will need to force turnovers and land defensive checks on the Owls offense. This is something that this East Carolina team hasn’t been great at.

There are only two players on the roster who have forced double digit turnovers. Wilkes has 17 and graduate student defender Emma Magazu has 12.

Wilkes and junior midfielder Bella Askey lead the team in defensive checks. Wilkes has 13 and Askey with 19.

The game will be played at home in Greenville at Bill Clark Homes Field at Johnson Stadium. It will start at 11:00 a.m. Saturday March, 21. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.