The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
East Carolina
UAB Travels to East Carolina for American Conference Opener
3/19/2026 12:35:00 PM | Baseball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – UAB Baseball opens American Conference play as the Blazers (13-8) travel to East Carolina to take on the Pirates (13-8-1). ECU has won the American Conference regular season or tournament crown in each of the last seven seasons. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Who: UAB (13-8) at East Carolina (13-8-1)
Where: Clark-LeClair Stadium – Greenville, North Carolina
Watch: ESPN+
On The Call: Patrick Johnson (PxP) and Mike Mullis (Analyst)
Series: ECU leads, 33-7
In Greenville: ECU leads, 17-1
Last Meeting: April 19, 2025 (UAB won, 16-9)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Friday (6 p.m. ET)
Probable Starters
UAB: Mason Steele (2-1, 5.00 ERA), RHP, Junior
ECU: Ethan Norby (1-1, 4.37 ERA), LHP, Junior
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+
Saturday (4 p.m. ET)
Probable Starters
UAB: TBA
ECU: Gavin Van Kempen (1-1, 1.69 ERA), RHP, Senior
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+
Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET)
Probable Starters
UAB: TBA
ECU: TBA
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
Cliff Godwin's Pirates come into the series winners of seven of their last 10 including three run-rule victories. ECU has shown its ability to play small ball this season as the Pirates lead the American Conference with 40 HBP and second-best in sacrifice bunts (14). The Pirate pitching staff is one of the top groups in the conference as well, ranking first in both walks allowed per nine innings (3.17) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.31). Additionally, the pitching staff ranks second in the league in hits allowed per nine innings (8.27) and ERA (4.09). Braden Burress ranks fifth in The American in both batting average (.410) and hits (34). Gavin Van Kempen ranks second in the conference in ERA (1.69).
THINGS TO KNOW
- UAB is searching for its second win at East Carolina in school history. The lone win came on May 10, 2003 as the Blazers took the middle game of that series, 12-8.
- Both teams go into this weekend's series winners of seven of their last 10.
- UAB is 2-4 away from home this season and 2-3 in true road games. East Carolina is 8-5 at Clark-LeClair Stadium in 2026.
- The Blazers rank fourth nationally in doubles plays with 23 and tied for seventh nationally with 40 home runs. Both totals are the best in the American Conference.
- UAB is 10-0 this season when scoring first. Additionally, all 13 of the Blazers' wins this season have come when scoring at least eight runs.
- John Paul Head is the leader of the Green and Gold's power surge as the sophomore outfielder from Vestavia Hills is tied for fifth in D1 Baseball with 12 home runs.
- Brady Waugh comes into the weekend reaching base safely in 14 straight games. Baylor Roberts rides an 11-game on-base streak into Greenville.
- Alex Dupuy leads the Blazers with 29 hits on the season. Dupuy has at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games, with the lone hitless outing coming on March 10 at No. 6 Auburn.
- Mason Steele will make his sixth start of the season at the head of the weekend rotation for the Blazers. Last week, Steele pitched a 7-inning complete game against Belmont and earned the win in a 13-3, run-rule shortened game. Steele also leads the team with 29 strikeouts.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB Baseball team, follow @UAB_Baseball on X and Instagram.
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