CLEARWATER, FL — East Carolina built an 8-0 lead and defeated South Florida, 9-4, in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday night.

The win was No. 427 for ECU coach Cliff Godwin, tying him with Dr. Gary Overton for the most in program history.

“Maybe some day when I’m retired I’ll think about that,” Godwin said. ” … Guys were really locked in. It’s a new season.”

The Pirates (30-25) will take on Charlotte (36-20) on Thursday in a winners bracket matchup. The contest is scheduled to get underway 47 minutes after a 1 p.m. contest between two-time defending AAC tournament champion Tulane and 2025 regular season champion Texas-San Antonio.

Ryley Johnson had a 2-run double in the top of the first to put ECU ahead to stay. John Collins scored later in the first on an RBI ground out by Colby Wallace.

“Setting the tone early was very important,” said Braden Burress, who was 4-for-6 at the top of the order.

Austin Irby went 3-for-5 with a double. Collins and Ryley Johnson each had two hits and two RBIs.

Collins had a 2-run homer in a 4-run third. Alex Peltier had an RBI single and Burress had a bunt single that brought in a run.

Pirate pitchers Ethan Norby, Ethan Young (5-0) and Jake Hunter protected the advantage. Norby started and went four and one-third innings on 68 pitches. He allowed three hits and three runs (all earned) with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Young yielded three hits over three and one-third innings with one run (earned) while walking one with four whiffs. Hunter went the last one and one-third with one hit, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts.

ECU hurlers totaled 13 strikeouts as Pirate batters held a 15-9 lead in hits.

Burress, a freshman from Godwin’s hometown of Snow Hill, provided more breathing room with a solo homer in the fifth for an 8-0 lead.

A 2-run double by Jackson Mayo got USF (29-24) on the board in the fifth.

Wallace had an RBI single for the Pirates in the eighth.

Tulane opened tournament play Tuesday with a 6-3 win over Florida Atlantic. UTSA followed with a 4-2 win over Rice. The 49ers topped Wichita State, 7-1.

Wednesday’s schedule in the losers bracket includes Rice vs. FAU at 1 p.m. with the Shockers and Bulls meeting in the second elimination game 47 minutes after the first game.