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First pitch: 2 p.m. ET
TV/Stream: ESPN2 / Click here (FREE)
TV Crew: Tom Hart (PxP), Chris Burke (Analyst), Ben McDonald (Analyst), Kris Budden (Sideline)
Listen: Click here (FREE)
Live Stats: Click here
Starting Lineup:
Pregame Notes:
- Tennessee is the home team for its opener in the College World Series.
- Vols are rolling with their typical starting lineup.
Key Plays:
T-1st: Virginia 0, Tennessee 0
Virginia third baseman Zack Gelof led off the game with a single, but Chad Dallas came back with a ground ball, a line-out and a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Cavaliers off of the scoreboard.
B-1st: Virginia 0, Tennessee 0
Tennessee wasted a golden opportunity in the bottom of the first.
After Liam Spence led off the inning with a walk and Max Ferguson singled to put runners on the corners with no outs, Jake Rucker struck out, Drew Gilbert popped up to second and Evan Russell struck out to strand runners on the corners.
B-2nd: Virginia 0, Tennessee 0
Pete Derkay hits a two-out single, but Connor Pavolony lines-out to left for the third out of the inning to strand Derkay.
T-3rd: Virginia 1, Tennessee 0
Virginia catcher Logan Michaels got the Cavaliers on the board first with a solo home run to left field. It was his first home run of the season.
T-4th: Virginia 1, Tennessee 0
Virginia singled with one out to reach base, but Dallas came back with back-to-back ground balls to get out of the inning.
B-5th: Virginia 1, Tennessee 0
Tennessee wasted another golden opportunity in the fifth. Jordan Beck worked a leadoff walk and Pete Derkay then singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Connor Pavolony then bunted them over to second and third.
With one out, Liam Spence roped one right at the second baseman for the second out. After the tough break for the Vols, Max Ferguson grounded out back up the middle to end the inning and strand the pair of runners.
T-6th: Virginia 1, Tennessee 0
Chad Dallas worked out of a big jam in the sixth inning. Dallas gave up a leadoff walk and then a single to put two runners on with no outs. But after a Frank Anderson mound visit, Dallas got a double play ball for the first two outs. He then got a fly ball for the third out of the inning to strand a runner on third and keep it a one-run game.
B-6th: Virginia 1, Tennessee 0
Jake Rucker led off the sixth with a single through the left side of the infield. And after Drew Gilbert legged out an infield single, the Vols had runners first and second with no outs. Evan Russell then hit into a fielder's choice for the first out, but putting runners on the corners with one out.
Tennessee wasted the opportunity to score once again. Luc Lipcius and Jordan Beck struck out in back-to-back at-bats to end the inning. It marked the third time the Vols had at least two runners on and no outs.
T-7th: Virginia 5, Tennessee 0
After Alex Tappen led off the inning with a single, Logan Michaels hit an RBI single to make it 2-0, Virginia. Chris Newell then made it 3-0 on an RBI single as well.
Sean Hunley relieved Chad Dallas with one out and Newell standing on first.
Virginia greeted Hunley with back-to-back RBI singles to extend the lead to 5-0. Zack Gelof and Max Cotier were the culprits.
The Hoos scored four runs on six hits in the inning to break the game open.
B-7th: Virginia 5, Tennessee 0
After a Connor Pavolony single with one out, Liam Spence strikes out and Max Ferguson flies out to right to end the inning.
T-9th: Virginia 6, Tennessee 0
Virginia tacked on its final run of the game on a double play ball with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth to extend its lead to 6-0.
Here’s four quick takeaways from Tennessee’s win.
Rounding 1st — Vols squander golden opportunities
On three occasions over the first six innings, Tennessee (50-17) had at least two runners on base with no outs. The Vols did not score on any of the three occasions. The golden opportunities presented themselves in the third, fifth and sixth inning.
Tennessee finished the game 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. With two outs, the Vols were 1-for-8. They eight runners on base.
Sunday’s shutout was just the third time this season in which the Vols were shutout. They were last shutout against Vanderbilt back on April 16.
Rounding 2nd — Floodgates open up in the seventh
When Tennessee squandered runners on first and second with no outs in the sixth, it opened up the floodgates and Virginia (36-25) took advantage. The third demoralizing momentum shift resulted in a big top of the seventh for the Cavaliers.
Virginia scored four runs on six hits to take a commanding 5-0 lead and it chased Tennessee starter Chad Dallas in the process. Sean Hunley relieved Dallas with one out in the inning, but Virginia was also able to touch up Hunley for a run on three hits.
The outing was just Dallas’ (L, 11-1) second loss on the season. Dallas allowed four earned runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work. He only gave up one walk and struck out four on 63 pitches, 48 of which were strikes.
Rounding 3rd — Abbott dominates
Contributing to Tennessee squandering multiples opportunities was the fact that Virginia starter Andrew Abbott (W, 9-6) dominated over the course of six innings. Abbott struck out 10 and didn’t allow a run on 104 pitches. He only allowed five hits and two walks.
Tennessee entered the game hitting just .261 off of lefties this season. Against Abbott, the Vols were 5-for-25 (.200). Abbott improved to 9-6 on the season.
Up Next
Tennessee will now await the loser of Sunday evening’s game between Mississippi State and Texas. That game will be play on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. If the Vols lose, they’re season will come to an end.
In order to make it out of the losers bracket and to the championship series, Tennessee must now win four straight games.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 19
Game 1: Stanford 4, NC State 10 -- RECAP
Game 2: Arizona 6, Vanderbilt 7 -- RECAP
Sunday, June 20
Game 3: Virginia 0, Tennessee 6
Game 4: Texas vs. Mississippi State | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Monday, June 21
Game 5: Stanford vs. Arizona | 2 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 6: NC State vs. Vanderbilt | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Tuesday, June 22
Game 7: Tennessee vs. Game 4 loser | 2 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 8: Virginia vs. Game 4 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Wednesday, June 23
Game 9: 7 p.m. | ESPN
Thursday, June 24
Game 10: 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Friday, June 25
Game 11: 2 p.m. | ESPN2
Game 12: 7 p.m. | ESPN
Saturday, June 26
Game 13: 2 p.m. | ESPN (if necessary)
Game 14: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (if necessary)
CWS Finals (Best-of-3 series)
Game 1: 7 p.m. | Monday, June 28 | ESPN2
Game 2: 7 p.m. | Tuesday, June 29 | ESPN
Game 3: 7 p.m. | Wednesday, June 30 | ESPN2 (if necessary)
