Tennessee Falls in Marathon to East Carolina, Faces Uphill Battle in Chapel Hill Regional
Tennessee’s 7‑3 defeat to East Carolina after fourteen innings highlights missed chances and a taxed bullpen, setting up a must‑win elimination game on May 30.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Evan Blanco across Baseball.
Tennessee’s 7‑3 defeat to East Carolina after fourteen innings highlights missed chances and a taxed bullpen, setting up a must‑win elimination game on May 30.

A back‑and‑forth contest saw seven lead changes, a home run by Blake Grimmer and a 14th‑inning surge by the Pirates, leaving Tennessee facing a must‑win game.

A marathon game in Chapel Hill saw the Tennessee Volunteers battle East Carolina through extra innings, with key performances from Blanco, Ford and Barron, but ultimately the Pirates secured a 7‑3 victory.
The East Carolina Pirates and Tennessee Vols battled through extra innings, with a squeeze play and a home run swinging the lead before a decisive finish.
The Volunteers secured a 1‑1 tie after six innings, highlighted by a home run, a key defensive play, and strategic pitching changes that kept the tournament hopes alive.

The second‑seeded Volunteers meet East Carolina in a regional clash defined by injuries, pitching talent, and passionate fan support.

No. 23 Tennessee meets East Carolina in the Chapel Hill Regional, with a pitching duel and key player updates shaping the preview.

Analysts forecast a decisive win for Tennessee, but the Volunteers must navigate pitching rotations and avoid complacency against the Pirates.

The Volunteers open against the Pirates in a regional that promises a pitching duel, small‑ball tactics and passionate fan support.

The Vols open their NCAA Tournament campaign on Friday at noon ET against East Carolina, a matchup that pits two promising pitchers and carries notable betting implications.

The Vols will take on the Pirates on Friday at noon EDT, with the game streaming on ESPN and ESPNU.
The Vols, seeded second in a competitive Chapel Hill Regional, aim to translate recent SEC resilience into NCAA Tournament success.

The Volunteers begin their NCAA tournament journey in Chapel Hill, facing East Carolina as the two‑seed, with Blanco on the mound and Reese Chapman available for the lineup.

The Volunteers will rely on sophomore left‑hander Evan Blanco to lead the charge in the first game of their regional tournament, with a potential rotation shift looming if they secure a win.

The Volunteers open their NCAA Tournament run against East Carolina in Chapel Hill, with senior pitcher Evan Blanco leading the charge on the mound.
The Volunteers, ranked No. 25, will face the Pirates on May 29 at Boshamer Stadium. Coach Josh Elander praises Blanco's maturity, while Reese Chapman returns from injury.

Evan Blanco will start for Tennessee against East Carolina in the NCAA Baseball Tournament's Chapel Hill Regional on Friday, while Ryan Towers, a 3.04 ERA pitcher, anchors the Pirates' rotation.

The 2026 NCAA baseball tournament field is now set, and the Chapel Hill Regional promises a fierce battle among four historic programs. North Carolina enters as the fifth overall seed and will enjoy home‑field advantage while confronting a lineup that includes the Tennessee Volunteers, East Carolina Pirates and VCU Rams.
The Vols enter the Chapel Hill Regional as the No. 2 seed, aiming to extend a five‑year streak of regional titles. Their path hinges on a young rotation and a showdown with a North Carolina staff that boasts national‑top ERA numbers.

The Volunteers will meet the Razorbacks in the second round of the SEC Tournament, with pitching ace Evan Blanco leading the charge. A victory could set up a showdown against the Texas Longhorns.

Arkansas defeated Tennessee 8-4 in the SEC tournament, with Tennessee set to learn its NCAA Tournament fate on May 25.
Tennessee’s recent SEC stretch revealed a pattern of falling behind early, with only two first-inning victories in nine games, raising concerns about their ability to compete in a tight regional tournament.
Despite a potent lineup and late‑game resilience, Tennessee’s recent SEC loss to Arkansas exposed a troubling pattern of early deficits, prompting coach Josh Elander to stress the need for a strong start as the Vols eye the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas beat Tennessee 8‑4 in the SEC tournament, with Blanco lasting just three innings. Tennessee now looks ahead to the NCAA Tournament, whose bracket will be released on May 25.