Southeast Regional Preview
The NCAA Division II baseball tournament will open its Southeast Regional in Tigerville, South Carolina, on May 14, featuring a pair of Peach Belt Conference powerhouses.
Lander University, the back‑to‑back conference champion, secured its second straight NCAA berth after finishing the season with a 16‑23 record against the Trailblazers. The team’s recent surge includes a historic win over Young Harris last year, marking its first tournament victory in more than a decade.
North Georgia, the regular‑season title winner, earned the No. 4 seed and will open play against Francis Marion. The Nighthawks captured the Peach Belt regular‑season crown outright for the first time since 2017, adding a narrative of resurgence to their tournament run.
Both squads will enter a double‑elimination bracket that also includes host North Greenville and No. 5 seed Francis Marion. Winners from the opening round will advance to the regional final, with the champion earning a spot in the Super Regional and a pathway to the Division II championship.
Historic Matchups
The upcoming first‑round clash pits Lander against North Greenville, a team the Bearcats have faced 16 times with a 22‑20 all‑time record in their favor. Their last meeting in February 2021 resulted in a 16‑7 victory for the Nighthawks, adding a layer of familiarity to the contest.
North Georgia will meet Francis Marion for the first time in the tournament, though the two programs have a long history of competition. The Patriots advanced through the Conference Carolinas Tournament with wins over Erskine and UNC Pembroke, setting the stage for a potential showdown in Tigerville.
The tournament schedule underscores the competitive balance of the region, with each team poised to make a deep run. As the bracket unfolds, the Peach Belt’s recent champions will look to translate conference dominance into national relevance.