Pirates to begin NCAA Tournament play at Clark-LeClair Stadium

East Carolina to host regional for third time, first in Greenville

When former East Carolina baseball coach Keith LeClair took over the Pirate program in the summer of 1997, he envisioned the program hosting regionals and making the trek to Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium—the home of the College World Series.

LeClair led the program to three consecutive number one seeds and a first-ever hosting opportunity in 2001. Due to inadequate facilities, East Carolina held its NCAA Regional at nearby Wilson’s Fleming Stadium. The Pirates won consecutive games against Maryland-Baltimore County, South Florida, and Winthrop to advance to the program’s first Super Regional—which it hosted and lost to Tennessee at Kinston’s Grainger Stadium.

In 2004, East Carolina would return to Grainger Stadium to host its second regional. That season, the Pirates beat Stony Brook in their opener before defeating in-state rival UNC-Wilmington twice to advance to the Super Regional round against South Carolina.

However, with the construction of Clark-LeClair Stadium prior to the 2005 season, the Pirates would now be able to host in Greenville.

The past four seasons the stadium built to host regionals has sat vacant, as the Pirates found themselves on the road for postseason play.

Many thought that may be the case again when the Pirates went 1-2 and failed to capitalize in last week’s Conference USA Tournament in Hattiesburg.

However, the NCAA committee felt East Carolina—Conference USA’s regular season champion—had done enough to be rewarded with one of the 16 host sites.

While this will be the program’s first time hosting on-campus, it is safe to say that the program being a proven commodity when it comes to putting on a successful regional played a key role in the Pirates getting the benefit of the doubt.

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That factor, along with the excellent facility and atmosphere that the supporters of East Carolina baseball provide for the program helped earn a team on the hosting bubble another weekend at home.

The Pirates (42-17), who are making their 24 th NCAA appearance and tenth in the last 11 years, will begin play on Friday against an opponent that is yet to be announced.

The other three teams in the Greenville Regional will be known on Monday when the entire field of 64 is announced during ESPN’s “Road to Omaha” Special at 12:30 p.m. (ET).