Left-handed pitcher Ryan Towers will start for East Carolina baseball against Tennessee in the Chapel Hill Regional opener on Friday afternoon, ECU head coach Cliff Godwin said during an appearance on Sports Talk 991.
“He’s got a lot better since the beginning of the season,” Godwin said. “He had the internal brace last summer. He’s battled through some injuries throughout his career and he’s a guy that knows how to pitch.
“He has his work cut out for him. I know Tennessee is very offensive and they like the long ball so we’ll have our hands full come Friday.”
Towers has made 15 appearances and 13 starts this season. He enters the postseason with a 7-3 record, 3.04 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 53.1 innings pitched this season. Towers has struck out 42 batters and offered 20 walks this season.
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A Loyola Marymount transfer, Towers mostly threw short outings and struggled early in the season but has gotten better as the year has gone on. He’s allowed just three earned runs in his last six outings dating back to April 19. Towers has a 0.86 ERA over that stretch.
“He’s a savvy pitcher,” Godwin sraid. “The fastball will not blow you away, it’ll be 88-90. He has a breaking ball. He has a cutter-slider, he has a changeup. He knows how to pitch.”
Towers last pitched on Friday, May 22 meaning he will have a full week of rest before starting against Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament.
East Carolina has co-aces with Towers and fellow lefty Ethan Norby (4.20 ERA in 83.2 innings pitched). However, Norby threw 41 pitches in relief last Friday before throwing 99 pitches in the American Conference Tournament championship game on Sunday.
First pitch between Tennessee and East Carolina is at noon ET on Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. ESPNU is broadcasting the game.
