Many things needed to fall into place for the University of Tennessee to have a chance to host postseason baseball at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. Nearly everything did. That leaves the Vols two road wins away from a trip to the College World Series.
Following a remarkable comeback, a few upsets and a little luck, the Vols (41-19) were in consideration to host the NCAA Super Regionals for the third consecutive season after sweeping through the Clemson Regional, including an epic 14-inning victory against No. 4 Tigers.
After No. 13 national seed Auburn was upset in its home regional and Southern Miss (45-18) emerged as the winner, the NCAA committee had to choose between Tennessee and Southern Miss as a Super Regional host since neither was a national seed and both submitted postseason hosting bids.
The committee looked at a variety of metrics and the hosting proposals and chose Southern Miss.
The teams will play a three-game series this weekend at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., with the winner advancing to Omaha. It would be the sixth World Series appearance for the Vols and their first since 2021.
The opening game will be Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT (ESPNU), followed by the second game Sunday at a time to be determined. If necessary, the third game would be played Monday at a time to be determined.
Shifting road fortunes
Last weekend’s regional championship was the first the Vols have won on the road. They were previously winless in four tries away from Knoxville.
“I think for our guys, their confidence has been growing as the year went on,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello says. “I know they believed in themselves, even though we were coming to a national seed’s site and a place that is always rowdy to play in no matter who the opponent is. Grateful to be around good players that make you look smart. More than anything, I am kind of enjoying the process.”
Southern Miss is hosting a Super Regional for the second consecutive year under head coach Scott Berry, who is retiring after the season. The Golden Eagles were eliminated last season by eventual national champion Ole Miss.
The Vols are hoping to chart a similar course, one year after being upset at home in the Super Regional by Notre Dame. The Vols entered that series as the No. 1 national seed.
Tanner Hall is the ace of the Southern Miss staff. The junior right-hander is 12-3 with a 2.08 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 32 walks in 108.0 innings pitched.
Southern Miss shortstop Dustin Dickerson was named the MVP of the Auburn Regional. He finished the weekend 8 for 22 with four home runs and 11 RBI.
Tennessee and Clemson engaged in the most entertaining game of regional play Saturday night when Tennessee staged an improbable comeback and then held on to beat the Tigers 6-5 in 14 innings to snap Clemson’s 17-game winning streak.
The Vols were down to their final strike in the ninth when Zane Denton hit a three-run home run to give Tennessee a 5-4 lead. After Clemson tied the game in the bottom half, Tennessee escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the 10th. Hunter Ensley’s RBI double in the 14th gave the Vols the win in front of a sellout crowd.
“Just appreciative to be part of that thing. It was special for both sides,” Vitello says. “There are a lot of plays you can analyze if you want to. They all make up one crazy game.”
Christian Moore was named the Most Valuable Player of the regional. The Brooklyn, New York native finished 7-of-10 (.700) at the plate with four home runs and eight RBI with his dad and uncle in attendance.
“Having them here was just a surreal moment,” Moore says. “My dad, he works hard. He’s finally retired so he kind of got to see me play my first college games cause last year when he came down he came at the beginning of the season and I think I got about two or three at-bats. It’s good to have him here and I’m so happy he got to come down and experience that with me.”
Pitching staff the backbone
During the regional, Tennessee received strong performances on the mound from Andrew Lindsey, Chase Burns and Drew Beam, who tied a career high with 10 strikeouts while giving up only two runs on four hits and no walks in six innings of work in the regional clinching win over Charlotte.
Given all they’ve been through already this season, Vitello doesn’t want his team to take for granted what they’ve accomplished.
“When these guys go back to the hotel and tomorrow, a bus ride back, it needs to be enjoyed more because it was challenging,” Vitello said after the regional final win. “We’ve said that in team meetings. That when things are difficult and you have to really work for something, it makes it sweeter.”
The Vols aren’t afraid to be on the road and know they will have support no matter where they play.
“(Clemson) Coach (Erik) Bakich made a great comment about the game last night about how our fans travel,” Vitello says. “Cautious to not take that for granted because it has kind of become the norm, even in your average game or a fall game even. It helps these guys and it makes it more fun regardless of how the outcome turns out.”
Tennessee hasn’t taken the route most expected to get back to the Super Regionals. The Vols have endured more struggles than their talent suggests. But if they wind up back in Omaha for the second time in three years, the resiliency they’ve developed may be a big reason why.
“That doesn’t mean if you could pick any one team, they’ve got an edge and the scoreboard is going to say 1-0 when it starts,” Vitello says. “But I do think because of some of the obstacles that these guys have had to climb over, go around, go through. It’s made them stronger and I think we’re still getting stronger.”