The pitching matchup for Friday afternoon’s Chapel Hill Regional opener is set. Tennessee will throw throw veteran Evan Blanco to open the weekend against East Carolina, Josh Elander announced on Wednesday.
Blanco has had a rough finish to the season, giving up 19 earned runs in his last four starts combined. That includes a tough outing against Arkansas last week in the SEC Tournament, where he gave up a handful of long balls. The Virginia transfer enters the NCAA Tournament with a 4.94 ERA, going
7-4 on the season.
ECU will counter with lefty Ryan Towers, who is 7-3 with a 3.04 ERA on the season. Towers moved into the Friday starter role midseason, where he seemed to find his groove.
“The fastball will not blow you away,” ECU coach Cliff Godwin said. “It will be 88 to 90. He has a breaking ball, a cutter, a slider. He has a changeup. He knows how to pitch. He’s got his work cut out for him. I know that Tennessee is very offensive and they like the long ball. We will have our hands full come Friday.”
This very likely sets up a Saturday start for Tegan Kuhns against either North Carolina or VCU. Landon Mack, who spent most of the year as Tennessee’s Saturday starter before going down with an injury, will be a part of the roster. Elander called Mack day-to-day in today’s press conference. Mack missed his final two starts of the regular season and didn’t pitch in Hoover.
First pitch is scheduled for noon ET on Friday with ESPNU carrying the game.
