CLEARWATER, Fla. – No. 6 East Carolina defeated No. 3 South Florida, 9-4, Tuesday evening, May 20, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
 
With the win, the Pirates (30-25) will play Charlotte on Thursday, May 22 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. The Bulls (29-24) will play Wichita State in an elimination game on Wednesday, May 21 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
 
East Carolina opened the scoring in the first with Ryley Johnson doubling home Braden Burress and Dixon Williams, followed by an RBI groundout by Colby Wallace. The Pirates scored four more in the third inning, highlighted by a 2-run home run by John Collins. Burress hit a solo home run in the fifth to make the score 8-0. Burress finished the day 4-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI.
 
South Florida scored three in the bottom of the fifth, including a 2-run double by Jackson Mayo.
 
Ethan Young (5-0) earned the win after allowing one run in 3.1 innings of relief with four strikeouts. Pirate starter Ethan Norby struck out the first six batters and allowed three runs in 4.1 innings. 
 
Corey Braun (8-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) in 3.0 innings for South Florida.
 
2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
 
Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 | Box Score | Highlights
 
Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 8 Rice vs. No. 4 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: No. 7 Wichita State vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
 
Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 2 Charlotte | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 23
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 24
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS
 
All times listed are Eastern.