East Carolina had the afternoon to relax in Clearwater, FL, after a morning workout on Wednesday, a contrast to last year’s run through the losers bracket in the American Athletic Conference tournament at  BayCare Ballpark.

In 2023, the Pirates played six games in six days, a situation necessitated by a 12-11 loss to South Florida in 11 innings on opening day of the AAC Tournament.

A 12-run eighth inning provided a 12-4 win over Rice in the AAC tournament opener on Tuesday and gave ECU (41-13) a more direct path to the championship.

“You don’t want to lose that first game,” said Pirates coach Cliff Godwin. “We’ve been there last year. It’s not fun. I mean, it’s just a grind to try to get back out to get to the championship game.

“I think last year we were the first team that ever lost the first game that’s ever made it to the championship game. But you could see how fatigued our players were, having to get through all those games playing a doubleheader on Saturday and then flip around.

“And, of course, the heat just wears you down.”

Tulane topped ECU, 8-6, in the championship game on Sunday in 2023.

Different challenge

The Pirates may have had an off day Wednesday but there are different obstacles to overcome this year. ECU’s next man up approach has gone another man down.

Godwin revealed on Wednesday that AAC Pitcher of the Year Trey Yesavage of ECU has been undergoing treatment for a partially collapsed right lung.

Godwin doesn’t expect Yesavage to be available in the league tournament but hopes to have him back for the NCAA Tournament.

“It sounds worse than it is,” Godwin said.

Root’s status

The Pirates’ Saturday starter, Zach Root (6-0), is progressing toward a return.

Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman, the team leader in saves with five and possessor of a 1.20 earned run average, has been working his way back as well.

“They both threw full bullpens,” Godwin said Tuesday. “They both felt fine. So probably maybe Friday-ish, we’ll maybe see one of them, maybe both of them. So that’s what we’re hoping for, but we’ve got to see what they feel like Wednesday after their full bullpen.”

The Pirates have been dealing with the loss for the season of former Sunday starter Jake Hunter (3-2, 4,05 earned run average) for several weeks.

Stepping up

Freshman left-hander Ethan Norby has been among those stepping up for the depleted pitching staff.

Norby started and went five innings Tuesday against Rice. He allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) with three walks and three strikeouts.

“I thought Norby had to be really good for us to just stay in the game,” Godwin said. “(J.J.) McCracken (Rice starter) was way better than he was at our place. He was commanding three pitches in the zone and, fortunately, they took him out and then we were able to scratch some.

“We had some good fortune as well. Really wasn’t thrilled with the way our position players showed up today. I didn’t think they were as intense and full of energy as we need to be when you’re playing championship baseball.

“Everybody’s got their backs against the wall, so you have to play your best. I am proud of our guys the way they battled in the eighth inning, but we had some good fortune.

“The right fielder loses the ball in the sun, and, of course, there’s a double play ball that the shortstop doesn’t handle and doesn’t get anybody out.

“And then we just started rolling and I thought it was awesome that (Cam Clonch) came off the bench and they were in a shift. He got a drag bunt down.”

Jacob Staring, who missed a string of games with an oblique injury, closed the scoring in the eighth with a 2-run homer.

Sunny start to rally

The big eighth inning started as Joey Berini was credited with a triple on a fly that the Rice right fielder lost in the sun.

“Yeah, it was awesome,” Godwin said. “We needed something to go right because not much had gone right offensively up until that point. And of course, the sun’s always been tough. I mean, he’s not the first right-fielder that’s ever struggled in this tournament at that time.”

On deck

The Pirates take on Wichita State (30-27) on Thursday at 1 p.m. (ESPN+).

ECU swept the Shockers in Greenville on April 19=20 with Yesavage and Root getting wins.