Pirates climb to No. 23 in Baseball America as NCAA tourney begins

East Carolina is in the polls for a third straight week

Following a 2-1 showing--including a 4-0 shutout of No. 21 Southern Miss--at last week's Conference USA Tournament in Pearl, MS, East Carolina is ranked in two of the four major polls as it prepares to play in the Charlottesville Regional this weekend.

The Pirates (39-19), who have won 10 of their last 12, rose two spots to No. 23 in Baseball America while they slid two spots to No. 27 in the NCBWA poll.  ECU is receiving votes in the ESPN Coaches Top 25, where they would "rank" 28th according to the number of points they have.

Fellow CUSA members Rice and Southern Miss are ranked in all four polls.  The Owls come in anywhere from 9th to 17th depending on the poll.  They are 9th in Baseball America, 13th in NCBWA and ESPN, and 17th in Collegiate Baseball.  Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles are ranked as high as 22nd in the ESPN/Coaches' Poll and as low as 29th in the Collegiate Baseball Poll.  USM is 24th is the NCBWA poll and 25th in Baseball America.

UCF is receiving votes in the NCBWA and ESPN/Coaches' Polls.

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