To say East Carolina is a absolute powerhouse is an understatement.  They have won the Mid-Atlantic Region five years in a row and six of the last eight years.  While the Mid-Atlantic Championship Crown has been one they are used to wearing, the National Championship Crown hasn’t been so easily attainable for the Pirates.  In their first appearance at the World Series in 2011 and winning the National Championship, they had a two year hiatus before returning in 2014.  After disappointing finishes at the World Series in 2014, 2015 and 2016, ECU absolutely dominated the World Series in 2017 behind incredible pitching and defense. In 4 games at the World Series, they only gave up 1-run which helped propel them to their 2nd ever National Championship.  In 2018, the Pirates picked up where they left off winning the Mid-Atlantic once again and entered the World Series as the #2 seed.  After a tough opening round loss to Penn State, they battled through the losers bracket winning 4-games in a row to land themselves in the National Championship against Penn State.  All things pointed to ECU claiming their 3rd National Championship being up 2 runs heading into the bottom of the 9th, but a late rally by Penn State ended their season as National Runners-Up.  Will that heartbreak motivate the Pirates in 2019, or will someone else in the Mid-Atlantic take their spot?  Check out the Mid-Atlantic Team Previews to find out!

-Division I PRESEASON TOP 20 POLL RELEASED 1/24/19!