The Tennessee Volunteers are set for their first game against a team in the Chapel Hill Regional, as they will be playing against the ECU Pirates. This is a non-elimination game, but the winner of this game will maintain their loss that they can take, while the loser of this game can no longer lose. Here are our staff's honest predictions of how the game will play out. Dale Dowden - Tennessee Defeats ECU 11-4 Tennessee pitcher Evan Blanco (11) opens against Missouri during an NCAA college baseball game on Mar. 22, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images " Evan Blanco , as the starting pitcher in game one, is definitely capable of leading a winning effort, but the Tennessee defense and the bats could make up for any potential pitching struggles against a solid batting club. The Vols just can not afford to go down early to prevent playing the game from their head.…