Welcome back, Reese Chapman.
The senior leader for the Tennessee Volunteers missed the SEC Tournament after sustaining an injury to his face before the tournament, but returned to the field on Friday for Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Regional against three-seed East Carolina.
During a 1-1 game in the top of the sixth inning, ECU was threatening to take the lead after a liner to right field. The Pirates’ lone baserunner started on second base and rounded third on the hit to the outfield, but Chapman came up with a flamethrower from right field and got the ball to home plate on one bounce. Catcher Garrett Wright laid down the tag, and after a review to confirm the call, the runner was ruled out to keep the game tied at one.
CALL STANDS!
Don’t run on Reese!
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/YJiBT3CUcd
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
More From RTI: LIVE Updates, Score, Notes: No. 23 Tennessee Baseball vs. East Carolina Chapel Hill Regional Game One
It’s been a pitcher’s duel on Friday afternoon in Chapel Hill. The Vols’ lone run came on a solo home run from Blake Grimmer in the bottom of the fourth inning, while the Pirates tied it up with an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning. Tennessee starting pitcher Evan Blanco had a memorable 7-inning outing to keep his team in the race.
At the time of this publication, the game is still ongoing and tied at 1-1 in the eighth inning. The winner will go on to face the winner of the North Carolina-VCU game on Saturday, while the loser faces the loser of the aforementioned game in an elimination contest.
Check out Rocky Top Insider’s live coverage of Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Regional here.
