CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Travis Watkins watched from the bench in 2014, nursing an elbow injury that ended his season. It was there he found his motivation.

Watkins was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Charlottesville Regional as he belted a pair of home runs, including a walk-off blast against Virginia, while going 6-for-13 in three games. ECU swept the regional and is on to its first super regional since 2009.

“Two years ago, it really shows you how much this game means to you,” Watkins said Monday outside of Clark-LeClair Stadium. “Just sitting on the sidelines and just watching it really shows you how appreciative you are to be in this opportunity. There’s so many people that would be willing to be in your shoes. Every day when I lace up, I just go out there and think about that.”

In East Carolina’s regional-clinching 8-4 win over William & Mary, Watkins and the rest of the offensive carried ECU past a tough start from Jacob Wolfe.

Wolfe allowed three runs on five hits over three innings of work while his control seemed to elude him.

“Wolfe’s not been himself for about a month,” ECU head coach Cliff Godwin. “Yesterday he was better but you could tell that the adrenaline was going. He was throwing real hard and he didn’t really know where it was going. But to be honest with you, it was the first time he’s ever pitched in a regional.”

Luckily for Wolfe, Godwin and ECU, freshman reliever Sam Lanier had more than enough to bring ECU through game. After fellow freshman Chris Holba threw an inning and allowed one run on four hits, Lanier took over and went the distance to earn the win.

Lanier tossed five scoreless innings, allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out seven batters. Godwin raved over his freshmen relievers after the Pirates returned home from the Charlottesville Regional.

“Sam Lanier, Matt Bridges and Chris Holba — all those guys got out there and Joe (Ingle) got back out there and did a great job in Saturday’s game against UVA,” Godwin said. “The bullpen was very good this weekend even while our starting pitching has kind of carried us this year. I think our bullpen carried us on Saturday and Sunday.”

Along with the bullpen, the offense also picked up the slack in Sunday’s win. In the fifth inning, Watkins and Eric Tyler each launched two-run home runs for a four-run inning. The Pirates also posted a four-run inning in the third frame as Charlie Yorgen belted a two-run home run after Parker Lamm plated a pair in the inning.

Saturday, the Pirates knocked off defending national champion Virginia in walk off fashion.

The Pirates trailed 6-3 entering the ninth and were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position to that point. Virginia reliever Tommy Doyle returned to the mound in the ninth after throwing the eighth inning.

Krik Morgan kicked things off with a single and Lamm’s double plated a pinch runner. Lamm hustled home on Yorgen’s single to make it a one-run-game. Freshman Dwanya Williams-Sutton singled to put two on and Turner Brown put the pair in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Watkins followed and made the most memorable play in recent years to put ECU on the brink of a super regional.

“It wasn’t just the home run,” Watkins said. “We had a ton of quality at bats before that, leading up to it. I’m just fortunate enough to be the one that got the opportunity for that hit. Like I said, I’d be confident with anyone on the team (in that situation).”

ECU opened the regional with a commanding 9-1 win over Bryant. Evan Kruczynski cruised through seven innings and allowed just six hits and no runs while the offense exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning. Brown, Garrett Brooks, Harman, Morgan and Yorgen all recorded RBI in the frame as ECU took command of the game and started its road to a super regional.

ECU will face the winner of Tuesday’s regional final between Texas Tech and Dallas Baptist in this weekend’s super regional.