Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament with a No. 25 national ranking, scheduled to open play on May 29 at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, against the third‑seeded East Carolina Pirates.
A Left‑Handed Ace Returns
Evan Blanco, a senior left‑handed pitcher who transferred from the Virginia Cavaliers, will take the mound for the Vols. Blanco brings College World Series experience and a track record of composure on the mound. His most recent outing on May 20 in the SEC Tournament against Arkansas saw him surrender five runs, a game that ended the Vols' tournament run, but coach Josh Elander highlighted Blanco’s maturity and ability to locate pitches as reasons for his selection.
Opposing him will be East Carolina left‑hander Ryan Towers, a redshirt junior who arrived from Loyola Marymount. Towers has carved out a role at the top of the Pirates’ rotation, and his presence adds a familiar left‑handed threat for Tennessee to navigate.
Adding depth to the Vols’ lineup, outfielder Reese Chapman, who missed the SEC Tournament due to a cheek fracture, has been cleared to participate in the NCAA Tournament, giving the team another experienced bat.
Coach Josh Elander emphasized that the pitching staff will be fully available for every game, underscoring the team’s confidence as they head into the regional.