The defending MEAC Champion Bethune-Cookman Wildcats clinched the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 16-1 record and will be the top seed in the 2007 MEAC Baseball Championship that begins May 17-20 at the Marty L. Miller Baseball Field on the campus of Norfolk (Va.) State University.

The Wildcats have commanded tournament play over the years, winning nine of past 11 conference titles. Last season they recorded their tenth overall MEAC title defeating Maryland Eastern Shore, 14-0, in the championship game. During the season, the Wildcats boasted one of the nation’s longest winning streaks with 15 consecutive victories before losing to Florida Atlantic this past weekend.

Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T both finished with a 11-7 conference record, but it was the Ratters of FAMU that grabbed the number two seed following the conference tie-breaker procedure. North Carolina A&T nestled in as the third seed followed by Delaware State, who secured the number four spot.

Host institution Norfolk State finished fifth and the Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore wrapped up the seeding at the sixth and final position.

Only the top six teams qualify to compete for the MEAC tournament title. The winner will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Regional scheduled June 1-4. Coppin State was eliminated from tournament play based on their conference finish.

2007 MEAC STANDINGS
1. Bethune-Cookman 16-1, 30-24
2. Florida A&M 11-7, 16-34*
3. North Carolina A&T 11-7, 23-29*
4. Delaware State 10-8, 21-25-2
5. Norfolk State 9-8, 23-23
6. Md. Eastern Shore 5-13, 9-43

*seeding based on MEAC tie-breaker procedures