IRVING, Texas – East Carolina officially clinched its place in the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, as the national tournament bracket was released on May 25 during the NCAA selection show on ESPN.

ECU (36-22-1), which defeated top-seeded UTSA 1-0 to win the 2026 American Baseball Championship on May 24 in Clearwater, Florida, is the No. 3 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional and will face No. 2 seed Tennessee (38-20) on May 29 at noon Eastern on ESPNU in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The other game on day one in the Chapel Hill Regional features VCU (37-23) and the No. 5 national seed and host North Carolina (45-11-1).

ECU qualified for its 36th overall and eighth consecutive NCAA Regional in baseball. It is the 10th time that the Pirates will represent the American in NCAA Regional play, previously making NCAA Super Regional appearances in 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

2026 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
Chapel Hill Regional – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Friday, May 29
East Carolina vs. Tennessee | Noon | ESPNU
VCU at No. 5 North Carolina | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
 
All times Eastern