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BASEBALL |
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Red Raiders advance on two-hitter |
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LUBBOCK, TX — The difference
between a No. 5 national seed and a No. 3 regional seed became apparent
in game three of the Super Regional at Texas Tech on Sunday.
One big difference was
pitching depth as the Red Raiders found a pair of arms to combine for a
two-hitter in an 11-0 win over East Carolina at Rip Griffin Stadium.
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Game story, pictures & postgame
audio... |
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Pictured: For the third straight
day, a crowd 4,817 watched the Super
Regional in Lubbock, TX. The mark
was an attendance record for Rip
Griffin Park and the host team's
fans enjoyed the experience as Texas
Tech jumped ahead early in Sunday's
decisive third game and never looked
back in defeating ECU 11-0 for a
berth in the College World Series.
(Photo by Al Myatt) |
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BASEBALL |
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Texas Tech forces deciding game |
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LUBBOCK, TX — East Carolina was playing for its first ever
trip to the College World Series on Saturday. Texas Tech was just trying
to get to Sunday.
The Red Raiders (45-18)
accomplished their objective with a 3-1 win as Eric Gutierrez had a
two-run single in the top of the 13th inning at Rip Griffin Park.
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Game story, pictures & postgame
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Pictured: The East
Carolina baseball team stands with
respect along the first base line
for the National Anthem before the
start of Game Two of the NCAA
Lubbock Super Regional on Saturday. (Photo by Al Myatt) |
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BASEBALL |
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Mr. June bustin' out all over |
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LUBBOCK, TX — Travis Watkins has
become Mr. June for East Carolina in the way that Reggie Jackson was
once Mr. October for the New York Yankees — by hitting big home runs in
big games.
Watkins continued his torrid power
pace with two home runs and six RBIs
at Texas Tech Friday night in an 8-6
Pirates win in the first game of a
best-of-three Super Regional.
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Game story, pictures & postgame
audio... |
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Pictured: East
Carolina's Travis Watkins trots home
after his fifth-inning grand slam
put ECU ahead of Texas Tech in
Friday night's NCAA Lubbock Super
Regional. Watkins' two-run blast one
inning later proved decisive as the
Pirates edged within a win of
sealing a berth in the College World
Series. (Photo by Al Myatt) |
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By
Brian Bailey
©2016 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
VIEW MOBILE
ALPHA VERSION OF THIS PAGE
Never has an East Carolina baseball team gotten as
close to a trip to Omaha.
It will go down as the longest 90 feet in Pirate
baseball history.
Saturday’s 3-1, 13-inning loss to Texas Tech in game
two of the NCAA Lubbock Super Regional was simply a gut-wrenching
marathon.
The Pirates could get a runner to third. One
seeing-eye single. One wild pitch or passed ball. One timely hit. Any of
those would have sent Cliff Godwin and his Pirates to Omaha for the very
first time.
Those of us who were around during the Keith LeClair
era know what that would have meant. Words can’t describe that raw
emotion.
LeClair wanted it that badly for East Carolina.
Perhaps Godwin wants it more, to honor his former coach and his alma
mater.
“Unfortunately we just weren't able to crack through
yesterday,” said Godwin in the postgame press conference after
ECU’s 11-0 loss to Texas Tech in the clinching game on
Sunday. “I think it took a toll on us today, and the better team won.
They outplayed us today when it mattered. But it's baseball.
"You know, the ball Brady Lloyd hit yesterday in
whatever inning it was, it hits the mound – if it doesn't hit the mound,
then we're going to Omaha yesterday. It didn't go our way, but I can
tell you this: East Carolina baseball will be back. I promise you. These
guys have put East Carolina in another regional, winning a regional
championship, and a super-regional, won the first game of the
super-regional, first time in school history, and we're going to
continue to get better.”
(Replay
Godwin's press conference audio...)
With the Pirates' depleted bullpen the team’s only
hope for a win on Sunday was for lefty Jacob Wolfe to come through in a
big way. Wolfe, though, struggled down the stretch. He didn’t pitch in
Clearwater and didn’t last long against William & Mary. He only recorded
a single out in first inning on Sunday, giving up three runs on three
hits and two walks.
“Well, yeah, that's what you don't want,” said
Godwin. “When you draw it up as a coach, you want to get the momentum
and not give 5,000 Texas Tech fans the momentum, and we didn't do a good
job of that.”
Even with a great effort on the mound, Godwin said
his team just didn’t deliver enough at the plate to win.
“You know, really when you look at it, we didn't
execute offensively yesterday or today early to give us a chance," he
said. "We had opportunities yesterday. I thought our guys felt pressure
yesterday.”
Godwin didn’t waste any time getting set for 2017. He
says the future is bright with his program.
There is no easy way to get to Omaha, but playing at
home certainly increases your odds for success. The Pirate coach knows
his team’s goals will be lofty ones next season.
“We're going to be in a good situation to host a
regional next year,” said Godwin. “The draft was good to us. Travis
(Watkins) will be back and (Evan) Kruczynski will be back. Those guys
turned down some money. They weren't drafted, but they had calls, and
then the incoming guys are really talented.
"You know what, we're going to be really good, and
I'm not afraid to say it on record because I'm excited about the future.
When you get into a head coaching position, it really takes you three
years to get your recruits in here, and the class we've got coming in is
going to be one of the best in the country.”
Perhaps Godwin said it best after Saturday’s loss.
“You can't go through the back door to get to Omaha.
You've got to go through the front door and tell everybody you're
coming.”
Godwin said it in Lubbock. The Pirates are coming!
It just didn’t happen this season.
On a personal note, I had more fun with this team
than any other in my 30-plus seasons covering Pirate baseball.
From
emceeing the
season-opening banquet, to growing a mustache with the
players and coaches for ALS awareness, to watching in awe as Travis
Watkins
beat the defending national champions in Charlottesville,
it was some kind of ride.
As I said in my television report, only my son Ryno’s
wedding kept me out of Lubbock this past weekend. Still, I had the
entire wedding party watching those extra innings on Saturday on a cell
phone. We picked up a couple of Pirate fans that day I’m sure.
So, Cliff Godwin and the Pirate program, keep your
heads up high. For whatever reason, this wasn’t your time. That time is
coming.
LeClair said it. Godwin came close in year two.
Omaha is and will always be the goal.
It’s now certainly in sight for the Pirate baseball
program.
BB
