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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite battling back on multiple occasions, No. 20/23 Tennessee was unable to deliver the final blow it needed to defeat East Carolina, falling 7-3 in a 14-inning marathon in the opening game of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional on Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
Heartbreaker in extras in game one of the Chapel Hill Regional. pic.twitter.com/2kLFl9zcNz
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
The Volunteers got a pair of excellent pitching performances from Evan Blanco and Bo Rhudy, but the bats were unable to find consistent success against a talented Pirates’ pitching staff that presented a variety of different looks throughout the game.
M14 | Gonna need a bigger rally this time as we trail 7-3 with three outs to work with after a four-run inning by ECU.#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/VeHCttpajp
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
UT (38-21) was held to just three hits heading into the ninth inning before a Henry Ford solo home run to tie the game at two with the Vols down to their final out.
T14 | Find ourselves back in the same position as last inning. ECU runners on first and second with one out and ECU leading by one.
Cam Appenzeller takes over for Haas on the mound looking to keep the deficit at one.
4-3 ECU#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/f8NUIQg1In
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
Blanco gave the Big Orange all they could have asked for with his start, holding ECU to just one run while scattering seven hits and striking out four batters over seven strong innings of work.
Cardiac Vols! Grimm ties it up at three!
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/ZKIlTOCxzJ
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
Rhudy entered with one out and two runners on in the top of the ninth after the Pirates had taken a 2-1 lead and was able to keep them from doing any more damage, setting the stage for Ford’s clutch blast to left field in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extras.
M13 | Haas gets a big double play ball to end the threat!
Let's do this again, time to rally! Abernathy, Wright and Grimmer due up.
3-2 ECU
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/8wpnku0Q6v
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
Rhudy went on to pitch a career-high four innings and struck out four while giving up just one run on three hits to keep Tennessee in the game.
T13 | Will Haas coming on to pitch with runners on first and second with one out. He'll try to keep the deficit at one after ECU has taken the lead on a squeeze bunt.
3-2 Pirates
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
After three scoreless extra innings, East Carolina (37-22-1) pulled ahead once again in the top of the 13th on a squeeze bunt by Colby Wallace to make it 3-2. However, just like they did in the ninth, the Vols displayed their fight and answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to knot things up at three and send the game to the 14th inning, tying the UT record for the longest postseason game in program history.
M12 | Another scoreless inning of relief from Bo, who's set a new career high with 3.2 innings pitched!
Grindlinger set to lead off the bottom of the 12th.
Score: 2-2#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/VOpGHSkQgV
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
Blake Grimmer singled up the middle for his second RBI of the game, driving in Garrett Wright, who reached on a one-out double one batter prior. Grimmer finished as the Vols’ top hitter for the day, finishing 2-for-6 with a solo homer and two RBIs.
M11 | Bo works around a two-out double and strands him in scoring position to keep this one tied at two!
Stone Lawless will pinch hit to start the bottom of the inning.
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/05BftaCOyL
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
The momentum was short-lived for Tennessee, however, as ECU punched back with four runs in the top of the 14th to all but put the game away.
M10 | Bo Rhudy with back-to-back strikeouts to cap a 1-2-3 inning!
Chance to walk it off here in the 10th. Levi will lead things off, followed by Reese and Manny.
Score: 2-2 #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/uHJ3tJL43s
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
The Vols had chances to win the game in the 11th and 12th innings but were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position and less than two outs on both occasions.
HENRY FORD SAYS NOT SO FAST!
📺 https://t.co/7N1pCZHwx2 (ESPNU)#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/hWJuV6fYlo
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
Brett Antolick earned the win for the Pirates after striking out five batters and allowing just one run on three hits over 2.2 innings of relief. Despite giving up the game-tying home run to Ford in the ninth, left-hander Ethan Norby also shined on the mound for ECU, racking up eight strikeouts and giving up just two hits in 4.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Something about Tennessee third baseman and dramatic postseason homers! pic.twitter.com/a9dEe3DkzB
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 29, 2026
UP NEXT: Tennessee will have to fight its way out of the loser’s bracket to keep its season alive, starting tomorrow at noon with an elimination game against the loser of Friday night’s contest between No. 5 national seed North Carolina and VCU.
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