CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Tennessee baseball twice tied the game while down to its final two outs but was unable muster enough offense to get over the hump, falling to East Carolina 7-3 in 14 innings in its NCAA Tournament opener.
Here’s how it happened.
East Carolina Had A Quick Hook On Ryan Towers
ECU starter Ryan Towers had no issues with Tennessee his first time through the lineup. Garrett Wright nearly homered on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning but Towers retired the rest of the Vols’ lineup with no more hard contact his first time through.
But Tennessee found some success the second time through. Blake Grimmer opened the scoring with a solo homer in the fourth inning. The Vols threatened to do more thanks to a Henry Ford walk and a Trent Grindlinger single before Levi Clark grounded into an inning-ending double play.
When Reese Chapman led off the fifth inning with a double to right field, Towers day was done. It was a quick hook but made sense with East Carolina’s deep bullpen and the Vols beginning to hit the ball hard.
Evan Blanco Was Terrific
Starting Evan Blanco in game one was a gamble by Josh Elander given his first inning struggles in his last three starts. But the veteran Blanco provided about as strong of a start as Tennessee could have hoped for.
Blanco got the first inning monkey off his back by sitting the Pirates down in order. He retired the first six batters he faced before getting out of trouble in third inning with an inning-ending double play. ECU mustered just one run off Blanco thanks to an Austin Irby double and a Nick Parham single in the fifth inning.
The left-handed pitcher was not overly dominant but managed traffic well, tossing seven innings while allowing one run on seven hits and zero walks. He gave Tennessee a great chance to win.
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A Reese Chapman Miscue And Defensive Gem
Manny Marin bunted Chapman over to third base following his leadoff double in the fifth inning. With the infield in, Blaine Brown lined out directly at the second baseman.
Chapman took his first two steps home after contact and was too far off the base to recover as East Carolina got out of the inning with a 4-5 double play.
But the senior Chapman made up for his mistake with a fantastic defensive play. With Braden Burres on second and one-out, Davin Whitaker singled to right field. But Chapman cut down Burres at home with a phenomenal one-hopping throw. Garrett Wright made a strong tag to preserve the lead.
CALL STANDS!
Don’t run on Reese!
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— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
A Chaotic Ninth Inning
After Tennessee failed to capitalize on a seventh inning scoring opportunity, the game remained tied entering the ninth inning. It stayed tied for just one pitch as Davin Whitaker took Brandon Arvidson deep to right field for a go-ahead solo homer.
The Pirates threatened to do more before Bo Rhudy relieved Arvidson and retired the first two batters he faced to strand a pair of baserunners.
East Carolina’s Ethan Norby retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth inning to move the Pirates an out away from securing the victory. Norby had retired the first five Vols he had faced while striking out three.
Then Henry Ford came through, launching a 388 foot homer to left field to tie the game. In the biggest moment of the season to date, the star Virginia transfer came through with a massive home run to send the game to extra-innings.
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Suicide Squeeze Execution Proved Important
Tennessee baseball had runners on second and third with one out in the 12th inning. With the winning run 90 feet from home, the Vols put on a suicide squeeze.
The pitch was a bit outside but Manny Marin was unable to keep it fair, poking it foul. He struck out on the next pitch before freshman Nate Eisfelder softly grounded out to first base. It was the third inning that Tennessee failed to score after having a baserunner on third base with less than two outs.
East Carolina found itself in a familiar spot in the 13th inning, putting a runner on third with one out. The Pirates also went to the suicide squeeze but, unlike Tennessee, executed as Colby Wallace got a bunt down to the right side and Levi Clark was unable to corral it and make the play.
How ECU Finally Won
East Carolina was unable to put Tennessee away in the 13th inning. Garrett Wright doubled to left field and Blake Grimmer drove him in with a single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.
But the Pirates quickly reclaimed the lead in the top of the 14th inning when Walker Barron launched a no-doubt solo homer off Will Haas. This time, the Pirates added more insurance runs to put the game away.
Two more runners reached against Haas before Cam Appenzeller came in to relieve him. Appenzeller was unable to limit the damage. Burress drove in a run with a single to left field before Colby Wallace provided the dagger with a two-RBI double to left field.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball is on the brink of elimination after falling to East Carolina. The Vols will face the loser of the North Carolina-VCU game at noon ET on Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.
