Many of the things that East Carolina did right in taking the series from then 6th-ranked North Carolina disappeared in the first two games of the annual Keith LeClair Classic. The Pirates dropped the first two games, falling 12-2 to Pepperdine and then losing to No. 28 Missouri State, 7-4. Pepperdine took the opener by scoring eight runs in the 9th to blow open a close … [Read more...]

Walter Williams wanted East Carolina to be successful in athletics sooner rather than later and he was more than willing to put forth his financial support to see it happen. "I don't know how many more five-year plans I have left," said the amicable 1951 East Carolina graduate, then in his 70s, who shared millions of dollars generated by the Trade Oil Company and Trade Marts … [Read more...]

Mike Hamrick may have left East Carolina for UNLV in 2003, but 15 years later the legacy of his time as the Pirates’ athletic director continues to be felt. And not in a good way. Hamrick’s ill-fated decision to replace football coach Steve Logan with John Thompson was an unmitigated disaster that set the program back several years. But that wasn’t his worst personnel … [Read more...]

GREENVILLE — Chris Holba (3-0) struck out eight in seven innings as East Carolina snapped a two-game losing streak in the Keith LeClair Classic with a 9-0 win over St. Joseph's on Sunday. Cam Colmore completed the shutout as the Pirates, who started the week ranked as high as 18th nationally, improved to 8-3. No. 28 Missouri State (6-3) topped Pepperdine 8-7 in Sunday's … [Read more...]