East Carolina defeats Tulane, 8-2, to win AAC Tournament title, advance to NCAAs

by | May 25, 2025

East Carolina is once again the kings of the AAC after winning the tournament title again on Sunday.

The Pirates beat Tulane, 8-2, to reach the NCAA Tournament once again. It’s the fourth AAC title since 2015 for ECU.

Below is more information from the AAC.

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Photo credit: (Conor Kvatek, the AAC photo)

By TheAmerican.org

CLEARWATER, Fla. – East Carolina defeated Tulane, 8-2, to capture the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions Sunday afternoon, May 25, at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

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It is East Carolina’s fourth American Baseball Championship after winning the title in 2015, 2018 and 2022. The loss snapped Tulane’s 9-game win streak at the Championship. The Green Wave (33-25) won the last two Championships.

With the win, the Pirates (33-25) earns The American’s automatic spot in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament. The 64-team field will be announced on Monday, May 26 at noon Eastern on ESPN2.

The Pirates jumped out to an early lead as Braden Burress led off the game with a single and Jack Herring followed with a 2-run home run to left.

East Carolina pushed the lead to 3-0 when Dixon Williams scored on an RBI groundout by Ryley Johnson. The Pirates struck for five runs in the top of the fifth, including 2-run doubles from Burress and Johnson.

Burress, the 2025 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player, finished the week batting .450 (9-20) with six runs scored, two home runs and five RBI.

Tulane got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Gavin Schulz and added a second run in the seventh on an RBI double by Jason Wachs.

East Carolina starter Sean Jenkins (4-4) earned the win, allowing one run on four hits in 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Michael Lombari (4-1) took the loss for the Green Wave, allowing four runs in 4.0 innings of work.

2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central

Most Outstanding Player
Braden Burress, IF, East Carolina

All-Tournament Team
Theo Bryant, OF, Tulane
Tayler Montiel, P, Tulane
Gavin Schulz, DH, Tulane
Walker Barron, C, East Carolina
Braden Burress, IF, East Carolina
Jack Herring, OF, East Carolina
Austin Irby, IF, East Carolina
Sean Jenkins, P, East Carolina
Ryley Johnson, OF, East Carolina
Colby Wallace, IF, East Carolina
Dixon Williams, IF, East Carolina

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. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane 10, No. 1 UTSA 6 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina 6, No. 2 Charlotte 5 | Box Score | Highlights

Friday, May 23
Game 9: No. 1 UTSA 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 (Florida Atlantic eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 10: No. 3 South Florida 7, No. 2 Charlotte 6 (Charlotte eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Saturday, May 24
Game 11: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 1 UTSA 3 (UTSA eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 12: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 7 (South Florida eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Sunday, May 25
Game 15: No. 6 East Carolina 8, No. 5 Tulane 2 | Box Score | Highlights

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