BSB PREVIEW: Vols Ready for College World Series - University of Tennessee Athletics
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OMAHA, NE - June 15, 2023 - Infielder Zane Denton #44 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the media day at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, NE. Photo By Ian Cox/ Tennessee Athletics
Ian Cox/ Tennessee Athletics

BSB PREVIEW: Vols Ready for College World Series

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Baseball June 16, 2023
OMAHA, Neb. – Ready for the Greatest Show on Dirt, the Tennessee baseball plays its third game of the weekend, and second elimination game, at the 2023 Men's College World Series on Tuesday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field, taking on No. 4 national seed LSU in an elimination game at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Vols (44-21) have had a long road to get to Omaha, grinding through the NCAA Clemson Regional before taking the final two games of the NCAA Hattiesburg Super Regional at Southern Miss. Tennessee has been propelled by its ability to battle through games and do what it must to win.

The Vols are making their sixth trip to Omaha in program history and second in the last three seasons. Tennessee will look to reverse its fortunes at the final stage of the NCAA Tournament as the Vols are looking for their first win at the CWS since 2001.

Below fans can find a schedule of games and links on every facet of the tournament. This page will be updated as the tournament progresses. For the tournament homepage, click HERE.

2023 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)

Friday, June 16
Game 1 – Oral Roberts 6, TCU 5
Game 2 – Florida 6, Virginia 5 

Saturday, June 17
Game 3 – Wake Forest 3, Stanford 2
Game 4 – LSU 6, Tennessee 3

Sunday, June 18
Game 5 – TCU 4 Virginia 3
Game 6 – Florida 5, Oral Roberts 4

Monday, June 19
Game 7 – Tennessee 6, Stanford 4
Game 8 – Wake Forest 3, LSU 2

Tuesday, June 20
Game 9 – TCU vs. Oral Roberts, 2 p.m. (Elimination game) | ESPN
Game 10 – Tennessee vs. LSU, 7 p.m. (Elimination game) | ESPN

Wednesday, June 21
Game 11 – Florida vs. Winner of Game 9, 2 p.m. | ESPN
Game 12 – Wake Forest vs. Winner of Game 10, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, June 22
Game 13 – Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 9, 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. (If necessary) | ESPN or ESPN2
Game 14 – Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10, 7 p.m. (If necessary) | ESPN2

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Saturday, June 17 (7 p.m. ET) [ESPN]
RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-3, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (12-2, 1.77 ERA)

Monday, June 19 (2 p.m. ET) [ESPN]
RHP Chase Dollander (7-6, 4.50 ERA) vs. Quinn Mathews (10-4, 3.60 ERA)

Tuesday, June 20 (7 p.m. ET) [ESPN]
RHP Drew Beam (9-4, 3.78 ERA) vs. TBD

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

With lots going on at the most coveted event in college baseball, information on numerous different aspects of the facility and event can be found by visiting the pages below.
 
BUY TICKETS | BAG POLICY | PARKING & EVENT MAPS | KNOW BEFORE YOU GO | MERCHANDISE

FAN FEST

There's so much to do at the FREE Men's College World Series Fan Fest Present by Capital One!  Be sure to check out the amazing activities brought to you by our NCAA Corporate Champions & Partners. Spend some time at the batting cages, sip on a cold beverage and enjoy fan contests and giveaways from the Fan Fest Main Stage!
 
Fan Fest Location: Lot C and Northeast corner of Lot B

Hours of operation and a list of Featured Fan Fest Attractions can be found by visiting HERE.

BROADCAST INFO

TV/Stream: ESPN
 
Talent: Karl Ravech (PxP), Eduardo Perez (Analyst), Kyle Peterson (Analyst), Kris Budden (Field Reporter)
 
Radio: Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) | Tennessee Athletics App | UTSports.com
 
Talent: John Wilkerson

National Radio: Westwood One (SiriusXM Ch. 84 & SiriusXM App)

NCAA COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HISTORY

Appearances: 6 (Most Recent: 2021)
 
College World Series Record: 9-11 (.450)
 
College World Series Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021, 2023)
 
The Vols have made it back to the College World Series for the second time in the last three years, the shortest time between appearances in program history. Tennessee earned its first victory in the new Charles Schwab Field on Monday, breaking a six-game losing streak in the College World Series that dated back to 2001.

SERIES HISTORY

vs. LSU
Overall: LSU leads, 62-29
In Knoxville: LSU leads, 20-18
In Baton Rouge: LSU leads, 38-9
at Neutral Sites: LSU leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: L, 3-6 (June 17, 2023, in Omaha. Neb.)

Tennessee and LSU had never faced each other in the College World Series prior to Friday's matchup.

vs. Stanford
Overall: Tennessee leads, 3-1
In Knoxville: N/A
In Palo Alto: N/A
at Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-1
at College World Series: Tennessee leads, 2-0 (1995; W, 6-2 - 2023; W, 6-4)
Last Meeting: W, 6-4 (June 19, 2023, in Omaha, Neb.)

NOTABLE

HEY OMAHA, THE VOLS ARE BACK!
For the second time in three years and the sixth time overall, Tennessee is back in Omaha for the NCAA Men's College World Series (2023, 2021, 2005, 2001, 1995, 1951).  
 
UT is the only program in the SEC and one of just four teams in the nation to appear in two of the last three College World Series, joining Stanford (2021, 2022, 2023), Texas (2021, 2022) and Virginia (2021, 2023).
 
The Big Orange advanced to Omaha after winning the Hattiesburg Super Regional against Southern Miss. UT won back-to-back elimination games over the Golden Eagles after dropping the series opener, 5-3. The Vols are now 9-3 overall record in super regional games, and have won four of the five super regionals they've participated in, with last season being the lone exception (lost to Notre Dame). UT has won all three of its super regional appearances away from home, posting a 6-1 record in matchups against Southern Miss (Hattiesburg, Miss.), East Carolina (Kinston, N.C. in 2001) and Georgia Tech (Atlanta in 2005).
 
After going undefeated in the Clemson Regional two weekends ago, the Vols have now won nine straight NCAA Regional games, the longest streak in program history and second longest current streak in the nation (Texas - 12). Tennessee and Texas are the only two programs in the country with current win streaks of nine games or longer in NCAA Regional play. This year's regional championship marked the program's first away from Knoxville.
 
VOLS ARE BATTLE TESTED
Tennessee has had no shortage of games against top-end competition this season after playing eight series and 25 total games against ranked foes this year. UT won five of those eight series, including taking two of three on the road against No. 9 Southern Miss in the Hattiesburg Super Regional last weekend.
 
The Big Orange is 15-10 overall against ranked teams this season, including six victories on the road after
toppling No. 9 ranked Southern Miss in the super regional and No. 4 national seed Clemson in a 14-inning thriller in the NCAA Clemson Regional.
 
Earlier this season, the Vols completed a grueling stretch of five straight weekend series against top-15 teams with a sweep of No. 2 Vanderbilt (April 21-23). The Vols played four consecutive series against top-five foes, facing No. 2 Vandy, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 2 Florida, No. 1 LSU and No. 12 Texas A&M in five straight weekend series, posting an 8-7 record during that stretch.
 
Since Vitello became UT's head coach in 2018, the Vols have posted 31 victories over teams ranked in the top 10 and seven wins over top-ranked teams - LSU in 2023, Ole Miss (x3) in 2022, Arkansas in 2021, Texas Tech in 2020 and Florida in 2018.
 
POSTSEASON PEN ON POINT
A major reason for Tennessee's run to Omaha has been the dominance of the bullpen. In six NCAA Tournament games, the Vols' bullpen has allowed just two runs in 23.2 innings, posting a 0.76
earned run average. UT's relievers have combined for 29 strikeouts while issuing just 10 walks and have held opposing hitters to a .143 batting average during that span, as well.
 
During last weekend's Hattiesburg Super Regional at Southern Miss, Tennessee's relievers allowed just one run in nine innings of work, posting 12 strikeouts and allowing just one walk as the Big Orange held the Golden Eagles scoreless over the final 15 innings of the Super Regional
 
POSTSEASON ZANE
Senior third baseman Zane Denton has been arguably the most clutch hitter in Tennessee's lineup during postseason play. Though he has just five hits, four of those have been round-trippers and almost all of those home runs have come in the most impactful of moments.
 
Denton had a two-homer game in the biggest of moments at Clemson, homering in the seventh inning before belting a three-run homer in the top of the ninth with the Vols down to their final strike.
 
He continued the strong showing at the plate in the regional finale against Charlotte, launching a homer high off the batter's eye in the fourth inning.
 
Denton came through yet again in game three of the Hattiesburg Super Regional. With the Vols up just a run in the fifth, Denton crushed a 2-0 fastball high into the night sky that sailed over the fence for a three-run blast, giving the Vols some distance and quieting the home crowd.
 
For his performance during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, Denton was named to the NCAA
Clemson All-Regional Team and his four home runs in the tournament currently rank tied for third among all players.

OPPONENT SCOUT

LSU Tigers
  • 2023 Record: 49-16 (19-10 SEC)
  • Head Coach: Jay Johnson (second season)
  • Postseason Honors:
    • Paul Skenes: Dick Howser Trophy Winner; SEC Pitcher of the Year; First Team All-America (NCBWA); First Team All-SEC
    • Dylan Crews: Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger of the Year; SEC Player of the Year; First Team All-America (NCBWA); First Team All-SEC; SEC All-Defensive Team
    • Tommy White: First Team All-America (NCBWA); First Team All-SEC
    • Jared Jones: Second Team Freshman All-America (NCBWA); SEC All-Freshman  Team
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Average: Dylan Crews (.427)
    • OBP: Dylan Crews (.569)
    • SLG: Hayden Travinski (.740)
    • OPS: Dylan Crews (1.291)
    • Hits: Dylan Crews (100)
    • Runs: Dylan Crews (90)
    • RBIs: Tommy White (98)
    • Doubles: Tommy White (22)
    • Triples: Tre' Morgan (4)
    • Home Runs: Tommy White (22)
    • Stolen Bases: Jordan Thompson (7)
    • ERA: Paul Skenes (1.80)
    • WHIP: Paul Skenes (0.78)
    • BAA: Paul Skenes (.171)
    • Innings Pitched: Paul Skenes (114.2)
    • Strikeouts: Paul Skenes (200)
    • Wins: Paul Skenes (12)
    • Saves: Thatcher Hurd, Gavin Guidry (3)

Stanford Cardinal
  • 2023 Record: 44-19 (23-7 Pac-12) | Pac-12 Regular-Season Champions
  • Head Coach: David Esquer (sixth season at Stanford)
  • Postseason Honors:
    • David Esquer: Pac-12 Coach of the Year
    • Quinn Mathews: First Team All-America (ABCA, NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball); Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year; First Team All-Pac-12
    • Alberto Rios: First Team All-America (ABCA, NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball); Pac-12 Player of the Year; First Team All-Pac-12
    • Malcolm Moore: Second Team Freshmen All-America (NCBWA); Freshmen All-America (Collegiate Baseball); Pac-12 Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
    • Tommy Troy: Second Team All-America (ABCA); First Team All-Pac-12
    • Braden Montgomery: Second Team All-America (ABCA); First Team All-Pac-12
    • Ryan Bruno: First Team All-Pac-12
    • Carter Graham: First Team All-Pac-12
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Average: Tommy Troy (.398)
    • OBP: Alberto Rios (.484)
    • SLG: Tommy Troy (.707)
    • OPS: Tommy Troy (1.188)
    • Hits: Tommy Troy (98)
    • Runs: Tommy Troy (75)
    • RBIs: Carter Graham (77)
    • Doubles: Alberto Rios (23)
    • Triples: Tommy Troy (4)
    • Home Runs: Alberto Rios (18)
    • Stolen Bases: Tommy Troy (17)
    • ERA: Quinn Mathews (3.60)
    • WHIP: Quinn Mathews (1.21)
    • BAA: Ryan Bruno (.176)
    • Innings Pitched: Quinn Mathews (120.0)
    • Strikeouts: Quinn Mathews (152)
    • Wins: Quinn Mathews (10)
    • Saves: Ryan Bruno (9)

Players Mentioned

Drew Beam

#32 Drew Beam

RHP
6' 4"
Sophomore
Chase Dollander

#11 Chase Dollander

RHP
6' 2"
Junior
Zane Denton

#44 Zane Denton

INF
6' 1"
Senior
Andrew Lindsey

#29 Andrew Lindsey

RHP
6' 3"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Drew Beam

#32 Drew Beam

6' 4"
Sophomore
RHP
Chase Dollander

#11 Chase Dollander

6' 2"
Junior
RHP
Zane Denton

#44 Zane Denton

6' 1"
Senior
INF
Andrew Lindsey

#29 Andrew Lindsey

6' 3"
Junior
RHP