The East Carolina Pirates and Tennessee Vols met at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill for a tightly contested NCAA Tournament regional game that stretched deep into extra innings.
After nine innings the score was locked at 2‑2, and both teams refused to surrender, setting the stage for a dramatic continuation.
In the 13th inning ECU manufactured a run with a squeeze play, taking the lead, only for Tennessee to answer in the 14th with a solo home run that knotted the game again.
The back‑and‑forth battle was underpinned by strong pitching performances; ECU’s Ryan Towers and Tennessee’s Evan Blanco each delivered solid outings, keeping the contest within reach.
Extra‑Inning Thriller
Key contributors emerged on both sides. Austin Irby went 2‑for‑3 with a double and two walks before a twisted ankle forced him out, while Tennessee’s Blake Grimmer supplied a timely home run in the fourth to put the Vols ahead 1‑0.
Other pivotal moments included Davin Whitaker’s ninth‑inning homer that briefly gave ECU a 2‑1 edge, Henry Ford’s equaliser later in the same frame, and Ethan Norby’s four‑strikeout burst in the seventh.
Nick Parham’s two‑out RBI single in the fifth tied the game at 1‑1, and Garrett Wright’s 2‑for‑4 effort added a run for Tennessee. The game was broadcast on ESPNU and streamed on Fubo, bringing the excitement to a national audience.
With the victory, the winner will advance to face either North Carolina or VCU in the next round, while the loser will drop into an elimination game scheduled for May 30. ECU, still seeking its first trip to Omaha, remains the program with the most NCAA Tournament appearances without a regional final, and Tennessee aims to extend its streak of six consecutive regional titles.