Friday, February 16, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Rider Broncs (0-0) vs. #11 East Carolina Pirates (0-0)
Location: Greenville, N.C. Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. / 1:00 p.m.
Live Stats:– Friday/Saturday/Sunday
Twitter: @RiderUBaseball

What You Need To Know
- The 2023 MAAC Champion Rider Broncs kick off their 2024 campaign battling #11 ECU.

About the Broncs
- Rider returns four offensive starters from a season ago, led by 2023 2nd Team All-MAAC selection Brian Skettini who hit a team-high .313 last season with 67 hits, 46 runs, and 49 RBIs.The Broncs also return a pair of stellar performers from their impressive run to the Conway regional as NCAA Tournament All-Conway Regional Team selection Jack Winsett and Right Fielder Erich Hartmann both return after strong seasons in '23. The final returner offensively is 2023 MAAC All-Tournament Team selection Luke Lesch who started 57 games a year ago while also having 18 multi-hit games, including three multi-hit games and a pair of home runs in the MAAC Tournament.
- The Broncs pitching staff is highlighted by Junior LHP Brian Young. Young was stellar down the stretch as in his final three starts he went 19.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA, including 7.1 innings and four strikeouts vs Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament being named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. Rider will also see a combination of young arms see action including Sophomores PJ Craig, Clayton Poliey, Gavin Hawkes, Christian Aiello, and Freshman Jake Dorety.  
- Rider is coming off one of their best seasons in program history. Rider played in a regional for the 15th time in program history, and Rider's 36 wins matches the 2010 team for most wins in program history.
- The Rider University baseball team earned a single first-place vote and was selected fourth ahead of the 2024 season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior Pitcher Brian Young was the lone Bronc to earn Preseason All-MAAC Team honors.
- Rider also won their fourth MAAC Championship, all under Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis, and reached their ninth appearance in the MAAC Championship Game. 
- Returning for his 20th season is Head Coach Dr. Barry Davis. During his tenure, Davis has transformed the program into a consistent contender in the Metro-Atlantic Conference (MAAC), winning four conference tournament championships, two regular-season championships, and qualifying for twelve conference tournaments. Davis owns a 1026 – 693 career record, picking up his 1000th win last season over Richmond on March 11. 

History vs ECU
- Rider trails the All-Time Series vs ECU 8-0, with the last matchup between the Broncs and Pirates coming in 1997.

About ECU
- East Carolina is ranked amongst all major national polls including D1Baseball: 11 | USA Today/Coaches: 12 | NCBWA: 13 | Baseball America: 14 | Perfect Game: 17
- ECU returns 20 players, including eight all-conference selections and six lineup regulars, from a 2023 squad that captured its fourth-straight American Athletic Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Charlottesville Regional finals. 
- The Pirates put together a 47-19 record and 18-6 league mark before making a run to the title game of the AAC Baseball Championship tournament.
- The Pirates are led by Junior RHP Trey Yesavage, who was named Preseason All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game. Yesavage enters the campaign as the American Athletic Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year and a unanimous selection to the All-AAC Preseason Team. Yesavage is coming off a stellar 2023 being named Second Team All-America honors by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. As a sophomore, he compiled a 7-1 record and 2.61 earned run average with 105 strikeouts and 23 walks in 76.0 innings of work. He also held opposing hitters to a .193 batting average.

PITCHING MATCHUPS
Rider
Friday- Brian Young
'23 Stats- 5.53 ERA 6-6 REC 70.0 IP 
Saturday- PJ Craig 
'23 Stats- 5.28 ERA.  3-1 REC 46.0 IP
Sunday- Jake Dorety
First Collegiate Appearance
 
ECU
Friday – RHP Trey Yesavage 
'23 Stats- 2.61 ERA 7-1 REC 76.0 IP
Saturday – LHP Zach Root 
'23 Stats- 5.53 ERA 3-3 REC 53.2 IP
Sunday – RHP Jake Hunter
'23 Stats 4.71 ERA 4-2 REC 42.0 IP