Bailey's Take on Pirate Sports
-----

From the Anchor Desk Wednesday, May 11, 2005 ----- By Brian Bailey

Yogi was right

©2005 Bonesville.net

Yogi Berra said it best. It was like déjà vu all over again.

That had to be the feeling for East Carolina on Tuesday night.

Andrew Brackman, the N.C. State hoopster who may find greater success on the diamond then on the hardwoods, beat East Carolina for the second time this season.

Brackman pitched 5 innings, giving up only two hits and no runs. He struck out three. He’s 2-0 vs. ECU this year.

“He’s got four quality pitches,” said ECU head coach Randy Mazey. “I’m not down on our offense at all. Today we faced a guy who is going to beat most teams that he plays against.”

The Pirates have now dropped three in a row to North Carolina State. The Wolfpack takes the season series 3-1.

Mazey was very concerned about his pitching going into the match up. In fact, he was threatening to pitch yours truly, but this veteran sportscaster lost his eligibility some two decades ago.

Chris Powell did his part to help out the pitching situation last night. Powell went 7 strong innings, scattering 8 hits and giving up three runs.

Powell’s performance may have moved the Pirates a little closer to the postseason.

“The fact that Powell went as long as he did, and pitched as well as he did will really help us this weekend,” Mazey said. “We need to win all three at UAB, and our staff will be pretty fresh for the series.”

Even at 28-20, the Pirates are still very much in the hunt for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The consensus is that the Pirates need to get to 34-36 wins.

East Carolina has an added game with UNC Ashville, along with three-game sets with UAB and Saint Louis. The Pirates also play at North Carolina next week.

If the Pirates can win out, that would put them at 36 wins going into the C-USA tournament. A more realistic plan would be to win at least five of the remaining eight games, getting the team to 33 wins.

Either way, I think the Pirates will have to pick up a couple of wins in the C-USA tournament. Obviously, the further the Pirates advance, the better their chances will be at the post season.

“We are still in the hunt,” said Mazey. “We just have to keep on fighting. I like this team and I think we’ll battle until the end.”

The Pirates have won five straight C-USA series. They hope to add to that list when they visit UAB this weekend.

Don’t forget, the final weekend of the season will include the dedication game for Clark-LeClair stadium. Like the opener back in March, that special occasion should mark a most emotional day at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Send an e-mail message to Brian Bailey.

Click here to dig into Brian Bailey's Bonesville archives.

02/23/2007 01:31:50 AM