East Carolina baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more

East Carolina baseball continued its American Athletic Conference dominance this year, winning a fifth regular-season title on the trot with an impressive 19-8 record. While it faltered in the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship semi-finals, it made the NCAA Tournament for the eighth time in nine seasons.

The Pirates earned the No. 16 national seed and hosted the Greenville Regional. However, they suffered a stunning end to their 2024 season, losing two games to the least regarded team in the Regional, the Evansville Purple Aces. Their overall record at the end of the season stood at 46-17.

Cliff Godwin enters his 10th season as Pirates coach in 2025. His program looks to fill the gaps left by the MLB Draft and the transfer portal during the off-season. With that said, let's preview East Carolina baseball ahead of the 2025 NCAA baseball season.

3 key games for East Carolina Baseball in the 2025 season

3. UTSA Roadrunners

The Roadrunners came closest to stopping the Pirates in the American Athletic Conference, finishing just two games behind them with a 17-10 conference record in the regular season. USTA also bested the Pirates in a three-game home series.

They are likely to be the Pirates' main challengers in 2025, which would see both teams at their best when they face each other.

2. Wichita State Shockers

While the Pirates swept the Shockers in the regular season, Wichita State had the last laugh this year by beating the Pirates in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.

The Pirates hope to get payback while winning the regular season title and the conference tournament for the first time since 2022.

1. NC State Wolfpack

The rivalry between the Pirates and the Wolfpack recently produced entertaining games. While the teams didn't face each other in the regular season this year, the Pirates are motivated to beat the Wolfpack given that they trail their head-to-head series 23-39.

Key players for the East Carolina Pirates in 2025

3. Nathan Wines, RHP

Wines is currently the top prospect in the Pirates' 2025 recruiting class. He has a fastball in the low-90s and a changeup in the mid-80s, along with a curveball and slider in the mid to high-70s.

While he needs fall camp work to make a solid freshman impact, he could emerge as an ace in 2025.

2. Dixon Williams, INF

Williams produced a decent sophomore season for the Pirates this year. He recorded nine home runs and 43 RBIs, averaging .308 in 62 games. Godwin hopes Williams can produce an incredible junior season to lead the Pirates' offense in 2025 after the team lost several key hitters in this year's draft.

1. Ethan Norby, LHP

Norby was on fire for the Pirates during his freshman season this year. While Trey Yesavage's mound domination stole the spotlight, Norby earned a place on Perfect Game's Freshman All-America First Team.

He finished the season 4-0 in 10 starts while recording 63 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.79 during 59.1 innings pitched. With the Toronto Blue Jays making Yesavage the 20th overall pick in this year's draft, Norby could evolve into a strong weekend starter for the Pirates in 2025.

Predicting East Carolina Pirates' 2025 season

Godwin has done an outstanding job of making the Pirates a top American Athletic Conference team. After winning the regular season title this year, they should have no trouble making their seventh straight NCAA Tournament.

The Pirates should win an NCAA Regional. However, they are likely to fail in the NCAA Super Regionals. This will likely result in the team missing the College World Series.