Adam Miller, East Carolina University Athletics – Assistant Director of Media Relations
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina softball team was picked to finish fourth in Conference USA for the 2014 season after a vote conducted by the league’s coaches was released Tuesday.
The Pirates were one of just three teams to receive at least one first place vote. The UAB Blazers, who reached the NCAA Super Regionals last season, received seven first-place votes and were picked to win the conference. Tulsa came in second with five first-place nods, followed by last year’s C-USA Tournament champion, Marshall, in third place.
ECU returns 11 players from last season and welcomes equally as many newcomers to balance its roster for the upcoming season. Included in that total are the team’s top seven hitters from a year ago and a veteran core comprised of seven seniors.
East Carolina will open the season Feb. 7-9 in St. George, Utah at the Red Desert Classic. The Pirates’ will take on Grand Canyon and BYU the first day, followed by Utah State and Southern Utah on day two and Nevada on the tournament’s final day.
2014 Conference USA Preseason Poll (1st place votes)
1. UAB (7)
2. Tulsa (5)
3. Marshall
4. East Carolina (1)
5. North Texas
6. FIU
7. Florida Atlantic
8. Louisiana Tech
9. UTSA
10. Charlotte
11. Southern Miss
12. UTEP
13. Middle Tennessee
