Carter’s Corner: A Closer Look at Conway Regional — Gators Open vs. East Carolina

Last Updated: May 30, 2025By


CONWAY, S.C. — The  Gators open the NCAA Tournament on Friday (noon, ESPN2) against East Carolina.

Florida is the No. 2 seed in the Conway (S.C.) Regional, hosted by No. 1 seed Coastal Carolina. Coastal Carolina faces No. 4 seed Fairfield in Friday’s late game.

Florida has recent experience in winning on the road in the NCAA Tournament. The Gators opened last season in the Stillwater (Okla.) Regional and advanced to the Clemson Super Regional. They defeated the Tigers to advance to Omaha for the second consecutive season.

Can they do it again?

Considering the way Florida finished the season, many pundits like the Gators’ chances.

For now, here is a closer look at the Conway (S.C.) Regional lineup, which features the Chanticleers, Stags, Pirates and Gators (that is an all-nickname regional team if you ask me):

 

1. COASTAL CAROLINA

Record: 48-11 (30-4 vs. Sun Belt Conference opponents)

Coach: Kevin Schnall, first year

NCAA Tournament: 21st appearance all-time

Season highlight: The Chanticleers enter the NCAA Tournament with an 18-game winning streak after sweeping four games in the conference tournament in Schnall’s first season. Schnall, a veteran assistant under former coach Gary Gilmore, was on the staff when the Chanticleers won the program’s only national title in 2016. They have not missed a beat under his direction in 2025.

Player to watch: Junior catcher Caden Bodine is a potential high-round pick in the upcoming MLB amateur draft. Bodine is a superb defensive catcher and has thrown out 36% of runners attempting to steal. Bodine leads the team with a .333 batting average (3 HR, 36 RBI) and .477 on-base percentage. Bodine has struck out only 19 times and walked 44 times.

Buzz: Despite playing in a ballpark that favors hitters, the Chanticleers own the best ERA (3.29) in the field, which ranks second nationally. Right-hander Jacob Morrison turned in a dominant season coming off Tommy John surgery. Morrison (11-0, 1.90) was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year at the top of a rotation that also features Cameron Flukey (6-1, 3.28) and Riley Eikhoff (6-2, 3.19). And Coastal Carolina’s bullpen isn’t bad, either. Ryan Lynch (0.61 ERA, 7 SV) and Dominick Carbone (5-0, 2.36 with 5 SV) have both been called upon to finish off opponents.

 

2. FLORIDA

Record: 38-20 (16-16 vs. Southeastern Conference opponents)

Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan, 18th year

NCAA Tournament: 40th appearance all-time

Season highlight: The Gators authored one of the most impressive in-season turnarounds in program history after starting 1-11 in conference play. Florida rallied to win 14 of its final 18 regular-season SEC games to earn a spot in the tournament for the 17th time under O’Sullivan.

Player to watch: Infielder Bobby Boser transferred from USF and has been an integral part of Florida’s success. Boser is hitting .330 and with 16 home runs and a team-leading 61 RBI. Boser’s versatility has helped the Gators withstand the loss of shortstop Colby Shelton to a hand injury. O’Sullivan said Shelton remains day-to-day as he attempts to return to the lineup in the postseason. He has missed the last 13 games. Meanwhile, Boser moved from third base to short and Landon Stripling is expected to start at third while Shelton remains sidelined.

Buzz: With the Conway Regional’s toughest strength of schedule (No. 4 nationally) and second-highest RPI (17th, second to host Coastal Carlina’s eighth), Florida is viewed as a threat to advance. The Gators’ starting rotation of Liam Peterson (8-3, 4.10), Aidan King (6-2, 2.76) and Pierce Coppola (3-0, 1.86) is one of the most capable in the country when all three are healthy and pitching well. O’Sullivan considers the move of right-hander Jake Clemente (2-1, 3.38, 7 saves) from the rotation to the closer’s role as one of the most significant factors in helping turn around the season. Brody Donay (.315, 17 HR, 38 RBI) has taken over full-time behind the plate for injured Luke Heyman to help fill the void in what has been an injury-plagued season for UF. 

 

 

3. EAST CAROLINA

Record: 33-25 (17-14 vs. American Athletic Conference opponents)

Coach: Cliff Godwin, 11th year

NCAA Tournament: 35th appearance all-time

Season highlight: The Pirates got hot at the perfect time as the No. 6 seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. East Carolina knocked off USF twice and defeated Charlotte to reach the championship, where it beat Tulane 8-2 to advance. The Pirates are in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive season but have never reached the CWS in 34 previous NCAA Tournament appearances. That is the longest current streak in the country.

Player to watch: Infielder Dixon Williams is an MLB prospect who hits and fields with the best in the country. Williams (.296, 13 HR, 48 RBI) has stolen 22 of 25 bases and walked (47) more times than he has struck out (45). Williams can play second or shortstop and is often the straw that stirs the Pirates’ lineup.

Buzz: The Gators get a look at left-handed starter Ethan Norby in their first game. Norby made headlines on March 7 when he struck out 19 without issuing a walk over 7 1/3 innings against Coastal Carolina. Norby (7-5, 3.81 ERA, 82 2/3 IP, 109 SO) uses a dominant sweeper, lively fastball and a good changeup to keep hitters off-balance. Freshman walk-on infielder Braden Burress starred in the conference tournament. Burress earned Most Outstanding Player honors and leads the team with a .392 average and 76 hits.

 

 

4. FAIRFIELD

Record: 39-17 (24-8 vs. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents)

Coach: Bill Currier, 14th year

NCAA Tournament: Third appearance all-time

Season highlight: The Stags advanced by defeating Rider in the MAAC Tournament championship in extra innings. Nolan Colby hit a two-out, solo home run in the top of the 10th to put Fairfield ahead 7-6. Reliever Blake Helmstetter finished off Rider in the bottom of the frame to lift Fairfield to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2021.

 

Player to watch: Senior third baseman Dean Ferrara (.381/.444/.529) set a school and MAAC record for hits (96) a season ago and has continued to shine in 2025. Ferrara has topped last season’s production with 98 hits, including eight homers and 57 RBI.

Buzz: D1Baseball.com says “don’t sleep on Fairfield.” The last time the Stags made the NCAA Tournament, they ousted Arizona State en route to the Austin Regional finals. Fairfield right fielder Matt Bucciero is a dangerous slugger for opponents to tame. He is hitting .351 and leads the team with 14 home runs and 66 RBI. Meanwhile, the Stags have three dependable starters that keep them in most games: Bowen Baker (8-1, 3.20), Ben Alekson (9-1, 3.24) and Kyle Lesler (5-1, 3.97).

 

 




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