East Carolina’s 2026 baseball season will be starting shortly as the Pirates host Xavier for a 3-game series beginning Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. (ESPN+).

ECU is coming off a 35-27 season that included the American Conference tournament championship and a seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Pirates have been in the NCAA Tournament 35 times. The 2025 competition at the Conway Regional saw ECU defeat No. 17 Florida twice and lose to the host Chanticleers, ranked No. 11, twice.

Coastal won the regional and eventually lost to LSU for the College World Series championship.

Cliff Godwin, who has 432 victories, became the winningest coach in program history last year.

Draftees

Godwin has had 30 players drafted in 11 seasons at ECU.

After the 2025 season, a pair of Pirates were taken in the MLB draft. Infielder Dixon Williams went in the fourth round to Atlanta and right-handed pitcher Evan Young was selected by St. Louis in the fifth round.

Williams hit .299 with a team high 14 home runs in 2025.

Young appeared in 23 games with a 3.84 earned run average.

Portal departures

There were some surprising personnel exits from the program after the 2025 season, especially considering the cohesion and common purpose with which the Pirates played in the American tournament in Clearwater.

ECU was confronted with the task of winning the league tournament to get the American’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Pirates weren’t in contention for an at-large bid last year.

Some solid right-handed pitchers will be playing elsewhere in 2026. The group includes Lance Williams (Maryland), Jaden Winter (Charlotte), Ian White (Indiana) and Brad Pruett (Georgia).

Incoming arms

Incoming transfers who could help fill some of the mound voids include righties Gavin Marley (Lenoir-Rhyne), Thomas Paxton (Belmont-Abbey), Joe Webb (Liberty) and lefty Luke Payne (Tennessee).

Returning nucleus

The Pirates will have left-hander Ethan Norby back. He primarily was the Friday night starter as a sophomore going 8-5 with a 3.80 ERA. Norby struck out 119 in 90 innings. He has made several preseason All-America teams.

Versatile Colby Wallace returns. He had 10 home runs and 42 RBIs last season. He also pitched in 13 games.

Outfielder Jack Herring hit 302 last year with five homers and 28 RBIs.

Braden Burress was outstanding as a freshman, hitting a team high .389 and stealing 18 bases in 22 attempts.

First baseman Austin Irby also was productive as a freshman as he hit .303 with 12 dingers and 50 runs driven in.

Early nonconference schedule

After opening with Xavier, the Pirates will play Campbell in Buies Creek on Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. The Camels have owned the series of late.

There is a 3-game series with North Carolina that will include a Friday game in Greenville on Feb. 20, a Saturday matchup at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and a Sunday contest in Chapel Hill.

The Keith LeClair Classic, Feb. 27-March 1 will include Rutgers, Troy and Western Carolina, LeClair’s alma mater.

The Pirates play at UNC-Wilmington on March 4 at 6 p.m.

ECU plays a 3-game series at Coastal Carolina on March 6-8.

American play

The Pirates start their American Conference schedule at home against Alabama-Birmingham on March 20-22.

There are nine series of three games each in league play.

That includes at Texas-San Antonio (March 27-29), at home against Charlotte (April 2-4), at Tulane (April 10-12), Wichita State in Greenville (April 17-19), at home against South Florida (April 24-26), at Memphis (May 1-3), at home against Rice (May 8-10) and at Florida Atlantic (May 14-16).

The American tournament in Clearwater is set for May 19-24.

Midweek matchups

Bragging rights in regional showdowns will be at stake throughout the season.

ECU hosts Old Dominion on March 10 and visits the Monarchs on April 21.

Elon comes to Greenville on March 17. The Pirates play at Duke on March 24 and host the Blue Devils on April 7.

UNCW plays at ECU on March 31.

The Pirates host N.C. State on April 14 and visit the Wolfpack on April 28.

Campbell makes the trip to ECU on May 13.