Mike Bianco and his club aren’t wasting any time tiptoeing into the shallows of the 2017 season—they’re diving headfirst into a showdown with No. 9 East Carolina, a team coached by former Rebel assistant Cliff Godwin. An integral part of Ole Miss’ 2014 College World Series run, Godwin came just shy of a return trip with the Pirates last season and has already racked up 78 wins in two years as the head coach in Greenville.
ECU returns seven everyday players, two aces on the mound and their entire bullpen from last season. The experienced lineup is led by catcher Travis Watkins, Dwanya Williams-Sutton and Eric Tyler, a trio of seniors who combined to slap 17 dingers and drive in 107 runs last season.