ECU picks up its first victory of the season  

Jeff Ostrander turned in a solid pitching performance and East Carolina avoided its first 0-2 start since 1997.

The Pirates (1-1) picked up their first victory of the season, taking a 7-4 win over the Liberty Flames (1-1) on a sunny , crisp Saturday afternoon in front of 2,777 fans at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

“I thought our team was tested early to come out and not play like we wanted to (Friday),” ECU coach Billy Godwin said. “Today to come out and put a solid effort together says a lot about our club. I’ve said all along that I like this team. We didn’t push panic buttons with our lineup and we didn’t make wholesale changes.

“We came out and we were aggressive on the bases. I was pleased with that, and we got some timely hits.”

Ostrander (1-0), who missed last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, picked up his first win in nearly two years.

“Ostrander’s performance was outstanding,” Godwin said. “It was really special for me to watch that.”