OMAHA, Neb. – No. 2 Tennessee dropped its College World Series opener Sunday at TD Ameritrade Park, falling to No. 8 Virginia, 6-0.
In what was a low-scoring pitchers’ duel for most of the game, Virginia used a four-run seventh inning to separate itself on the scoreboard and advance to Tuesday’s winner’s bracket game.
The Vols recorded six hits on the day and had opportunities to score runs, but were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Tennessee (50-17) had two runners on base with no outs during the first, fifth and sixth innings, but could not put any runs across. The Vols stranded a runner on third base during each of those three innings.
Tennessee starter Chad Dallas pitched 6.1 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits. However, through six innings, the Texas native had given up only one run on five hits, but was pulled from the game midway through the Cavaliers’ big seventh inning.
For Virginia on the mound, Andrew Abbott got the start and picked up the win, striking out 10 batters in six shutout innings while allowing five hits and two walks.
Virginia (36-25) plated the only run by either team during the first six innings of the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a solo home run to left field by Chris Newell.
Following Newell’s home run, the Vols held Virginia in check offensively until its big seventh inning, when the Cavaliers more than doubled their output in hits from the previous six innings—scoring four runs and tallying six hits. Virginia added on one more run in the ninth inning to push its final run tally to six.
Tennessee is back in action on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET for its second game in Omaha. The Vols will take on the loser of Sunday evening’s Texas-Mississippi State contest in an elimination game.
OMAHA, Neb. – No. 2 Tennessee returns to the biggest stage in college baseball for the first time in 16 years this weekend, beginning its College World Series run Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against Virginia at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
The NCAA Tournament’s No. 3 overall seed, the Vols (50-16) made it to Omaha by way of going a combined 5-0 in the Knoxville Regional and the Knoxville Super Regional.
Last weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, in what was the first super regional UT had ever hosted, Tennessee tallied two wins over No. 14 LSU after having already previously swept the Tigers during the regular season.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE
Saturday, June 19
Game 1: Stanford vs. NC State | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 2: Vanderbilt vs. Arizona | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Sunday, June 20 Game 3: Tennessee vs. Virginia | 2 p.m. | ESPN2
Game 4: Texas vs. Mississippi State | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
Monday, June 21
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser | 2 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Tuesday, June 22
Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser | 2 p.m. | ESPNU
Game 8: Game 3 winner 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)
BROADCAST INFO
TV/Stream: ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU
On call for Tennessee’s College World Series opener will be Tom Hart (PxP), Chris Burke (Analyst), Ben McDonald (Analyst), Kris Budden (Sideline). The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, every pitch of the College World Series will be televised on an ESPN network. In addition to the broadcast crew for Tennessee’s opening game against Virginia, Karl Ravech (PxP), Kyle Peterson (Analyst), Eduardo Perez (Analyst), Kris Budden (Sideline) will also call games from Omaha.
Fans can also listen to the official Vol Network radio broadcast from the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app.
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HISTORY
Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021)
College World Series All-Time Record: 8-8
1951: 4-2 (Runner-Up)
1995: 2-2 (T-3rd Place)
2001: 2-2 (T-3rd Place)
2005: 0-2 (T-7th Place)
Tennessee is searching for just its second all-time win in the opening game of the College World Series, as the Vols are 1-3 all-time in College World Series openers.
NOTABLE
Vitello Named Coach of the Year
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello was named the National Coach of the Year by the NCBWA and Perfect Game on Friday.
Vitello is just the second head coach in program history to earn National Coach of the Year honors, joining legendary Vols’ skipper Rod Delmonico, who was named National Coach of the Year by Baseball America in 1995. Vitello has led the Vols to 50 wins this year, their most since winning a program-record 54 during the 1995 season. It marks just the third time in program history that the Vols have reached the 50-win mark.
Sunday’s matchup will pit two NCBWA Coaches of the Year against one another, as Vitello will oppose Virginia’s Brian O’Connor, who won the award in 2009.
Four Vols Earn All-America Honors
Third baseman Jake Rucker, shortstop Liam Spence and pitchers Chad Dallas and Sean Hunley have all garnered All-America honors in the past week following the Vols punching their ticket to Omaha. UT’s four All-Americans are tied for the most in a single-season in program history, matching the record set back in 1994.
Rucker, who was named Third Team All-American by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball News, has put together his best season as a Vol in 2021. Entering the College World Series, Rucker leads the team and ranks 11th in the nation in hits (88), ranks second on the team in batting average (.331) and is third on the team in RBI (55).
Named a ABCA/Rawlings Third Team All-American, Spence established himself as Tennessee’s most reliable hitter for much of the season. The team leader in batting average (.339), Spence has 80 hits this season and an SEC-leading .477 on-base percentage. He also leads the team with 63 runs scored and has drawn 53 walks this year—fifth most in the nation.
A second team All-America selection by ABCA/Rawlings and a third team selection by the NCBWA, Dallas has started 16 games for the Vols and has posted an 11-1 record in the process. The Orange, Texas, native has recorded 118 strikeouts—eighth most in a single season in program history. Dallas’ 11 wins are the most by any Tennessee pitcher since 2005 and he’s currently tied for sixth in program history in single-season victories.
Hunley was named second team All-America by Baseball America. He ranks fourth all-time at Tennessee with a 2.56 ERA and is tied for fourth in program history with 13 saves. His nine saves this season are tied for fifth in program history and his 33 appearances are the most in a single season in program history.
Dynamic Duo on the Mound
Earning his 10th victory of the season during the Vols’ super regional win on Sunday win over LSU, Blade Tidwell became Tennessee’s second pitcher to reach double-digit wins this season, joining Dallas (11 wins).
It marks the third time in program history and first time since 2005 that the Vols have two pitchers with 10 or more wins. In 2005, Luke Hochevar (15) and James Adkins (10) both reached double digit wins, while in 1995, R.A. Dickey (14) and Ryan Meyers (10) accomplished the feat.
Hitting Bombs
Tennessee’s 98 home runs this season are its second most ever in a single season (107 in 1998) and rank fourth in the nation. The Vols have hit 16 home runs during their five NCAA Tournament games.
With Rucker’s two-home run performance this past Sunday against LSU, seven different Tennessee players now have at least one game of multiple jacks this season. The Vols have 11 total occurrences of one player hitting multiple home runs in a single game this season.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will play again on Tuesday, June 21 at either 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. ET against either Mississippi State or Texas, depending on the results of Sunday’s games. For the most up-to-date information on the 2021 College World Series, click HERE.
Vols SS Liam Spence and RHP Chad Dallas / Credit: UT Athletics
OMAHA, Neb. – Tennessee added to its growing list of postseason accolades as a pair of Vols were named ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans on Saturday.
Junior pitcher Chad Dallas earned his second All-America nod after garnering second-team honors, while senior shortstop Liam Spence was named to the third team.
Tennessee has now had four players earn All-America status this season, which ties a single-season program record that was set in 1994.
Dallas has been a tone setter for UT’s weekend rotation all season long. The Texas native has posted an impressive 11-1 record over 16 starts. His 11 wins are the most by a Tennessee pitcher since 2005 and rank tied for sixth in program history for a single season. He has also recorded 118 strikeouts this season, which is eighth on UT’s single-season list.
Dallas is the first Vols’ pitcher to earn All-America honors since Luke Hochevar was a unanimous first-team All-American back in 2005. Dallas was tabbed a third-team All-American by the NCBWA earlier this week, as well.
Spence has been one of the most consistent players in the country this season, both at the plate and in the field. Spence leads the team with a .339 batting average, 63 runs scored, 53 walks and a .477 on-base percentage and ranks among the national leaders in walks (fifth) and runs scored (23rd). He also leads the SEC in on-base percentage and ranks second on the team with 80 hits.
The senior from Geelong, Australia had already earned first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Defensive team honors as well as ABCA Southeast First Team All-Region honors. Spence was also named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
To view the complete ABCA All-America teams, click HERE.
Tennessee opens its College World Series run on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against Virginia. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Tennessee 2021 All-Americans
Chad Dallas – ABCA (2nd Team), NCBWA (3rd Team) Sean Hunley – Baseball America (2nd Team) Jake Rucker – Baseball America (3rd Team), Collegiate Baseball News (3rd Team) Liam Spence – ABCA (3rd Team)
Saturday in Omaha was my first full day here at the College World Series. Here’s what it looked like from “Vince’s View.”
99.1 THE Sports Animal’s coverage of the Vols in the College World Series in Omaha is presented by: Senior Benefit, AG Heins Company, Bobcat of Knoxville, Mercedes Benz of Knoxville and Chattanooga Whiskey.
Vince’s CWS Trip Day 2
*First station report on Saturday SportsTalk with Joel Silverberg and Eric Cain
— 99.1 THE Sports Animal (@SportsRadioWNML) June 19, 2021
*Buffet breakfast with the team at the hotel
*Gym workout where some players/coaches/staff were putting in strong work
*Walked several long blocks from the hotel to TD Ameritrade Park
*Had fun watching Game 1 of the CWS between NC State and Stanford, won by the Wolfpack 10-4
*NC State had, by far, the larger and louder fan base
*Walked around the press facilities to take in the locations and operations for our game on Sunday
*Visited with Texas Longhorns longtime play-by-play voice Craig Way and talked about the possibility of UT vs. UT Tuesday
*Watched some of the game from the press box that was spacious with mostly good views
*Mic’d-up home plate umpire Travis Katzenmeier had his mic on in the press box when he said “Oh, f***” loud and clear causing the press box to erupt in laughter. He had a bounce and skip past the catcher and hit him in the crotch-el/groin-ish region. You may have seen the video. We got the audio of his reaction in the press box.
*Attendance for Game 1 was 22,193 and seemed every bit of that
*Walked around the entire stadium because the concourse circles the ballpark for full fan access, which is a super cool element
*Sat in an empty seat in Section 101 enjoying some of the game with a great view and taking in some Vitamin D sunshine. Here’s what that looked like.
View inside @TDAmeritrade Park in Omaha at the #CWS from Section 101.
— 99.1 THE Sports Animal (@SportsRadioWNML) June 19, 2021
*Some ballpark observations…a huge video board with lots of great information for fans on every player, very spacious dugouts, tons of foul territory, a big X in the outfield grass, a neat view of CHI Medical Center beyond right field, a feel of a bigtime stadium, lots of fan energy with many different teams represented including Vols fans, water fountains with lines of people waiting to refill their water bottles and more. Most importantly, it had spacious, fan-friendly seating with reasonable leg room and wide enough seats.
*They have people with giant flags sticking out from backpacks high in the air called Event Ambassadors to help fans with questions
*Walked the outside of the stadium and saw the famous statue out front and many of the other structures embodying the Omaha city tradition
*Saw this cool slow motion video shot by my partner John Wilkerson who watched Tennessee go through a practice at nearby Creighton University
*Had a fantastic dinner from Lighthouse Pizza & Fries
*Continued preparation for Tennessee vs. Virginia Sunday at 2pm ET, 1:45pm airtime on 99.1 The Sports Animal AND 12 more Vol Network affiliate stations in 9 Tennessee cities, which has grown greatly this postseason
*Enjoyed a great game between Vanderbilt and Arizona, which included an excellent start from one-time, one-year Vol, Chase Silseth. The Commodores won 7-6 in 12 innings. Vandy will face NC State Monday night while Arizona takes on Stanford in an All-Pac 12 elimination game Monday afternoon.
Thomas Rhett has released the ultimate “dad” song just days before Father’s Day.
“Things Dads Do” is written by Thomas, his dad Rhett Akins, along with Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem.
Talking about the new song, Thomas says “We all have those moments as adults when we recognize ourselves doing things that our parents did our entire lives and finally start to understand. This one is for the dads and is out now. Happy early Father’s Day y’all.”
Elvie Shane‘s current single “My Boy” is climbing the country airplay chart with its autobiographical story of the relationship he has with his son.
Elvie shares the story of how his wife, and son came into his life at just the right time, “I met my wife in Bowling Green Kentucky we had both going to western Kentucky University and we just couldn’t figure out what we wanted to be when we grew up. So I met her she was working at a bar that I would go and play pool at all the time . I was playing guitar on the weekend doing some little bar gigs and stuff making a little bit of money and playing pool all day during the week with my friends. When I met her, found out she had a little boy, I was ready for a big shift in my life and they became two big reasons to make that shift.”
Elvie says that when it comes to the song “My Boy” – it was Garth Brooks who helped him and his cowrites zero in on the tone and message of the track, “There’s an old Garth Brooks song that says ‘blood is thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood’. That’s the message we were trying to get out with this song, ‘My Boy.'”
Elvie Shane made his second appearance on the Grand Ole Opry this weekend – but it was in late April during his Opry debut that he got to play his song “My Boy” and share the story with the crowd…
Did you know that “Would Have Loved Her” from Chris Bandi was inspired by his grandfather?
Chris is lucky to have had his grandfather in his life, but this Father’s Day weekend, he’s also very happy to have his father still around.
Chris is very thank for having the dad he does, “I know that I will never be able to say thank enough to either one of my parents for everything they have done for me. My dad was the kind of dad that never missed a game or practice! He was always pushing me to be the best that I could be in whatever I set my mind to. I think Father’s Day is just a great way show appreciation to the role models who helped us get to where we are today!”
With his schedule usually having him on the road, Chris appreciates anytime – but especially Father’s Days that he gets to spend with his own dad.
Like most fathers, all Chris Bandi’s dad ever wants as a present is just time with his son…but Chris recalls a year when he got just the right Father’s Day gift, “My dad was always the kind of guy that when you asked him what he wanted as a present he would always say ‘for you to be happy’ so that made getting presents pretty difficult but one year I got him a signed Ole Miss jersey by his favorite football player and had it framed.”
For every winner — Chris says there’s also a present that misses the mark…
“The worst present is probably the nest doorbell camera I got him that’s still sitting in the box!”
We hope Chris and his dad are having a great Father’s Day weekend this year.
Check out this special stripped down version of “Would Have Loved Her” from Chris Bandi…
After all of his years of performing on stage, Jay DeMarcus had a first this past week…he got to perform with his son.
Jay shared “Well, this is one for the books: got to perform with my boy Dylan last night for the VERY FIRST time-and I may be biased, but I’d say he KILLED it!!!”
The moment was captured by Allison DeMarcus – Jay’s wife, and Dylan’s mom – and we think he did great…
Being a father is less about DNA and more about love.
Chris Young knows that better than anyone else.
Chris shares, “My dad, I think I tell the same story every time, everybody is like, ‘Oh! Y’all look so much alike!’ And he’s my stepdad, but that’s who I refer to as my dad.”
Chris adds, “He’s just an incredible man, I’m so lucky that that guy is my dad. Basically, from the time he came into my mom’s life, my life, my sister’s life… He’s always treated me like a son. It’s pretty incredible to have somebody that you look up to and that you’ve got a lot of respect for. He and I kinda have this relationship where sometimes we’ll kinda rib each other back and forth a little bit. I don’t know that there’s a whole lot of people that I respect more than I do him.”
Although Chris does admit there’s one thing that his dad did that will always leave as a challenge for Chris every February. He jokes that no matter what he does on Valentine’s Day for his someone special, he’ll always feel like he’s in his dad’s shadow…Chris explains, “My favorite story about Valentine’s Day is everybody’s like, ‘So, what are you gonna do special?’ or, you know, kind of, ‘What do you have in your back pocket on Valentine’s Day?? And I can never live up to my stepdad, because he asked my mom to marry him on Valentine’s Day, and then called us down from upstairs and asked me and my sister permission. So, pretty much anything I do, he made me look like a punk for the rest of my life (laughs) on Valentine’s Day”
But we think Chris is OK with that.
Chris’ dad even appeared in one of his music videos – check out the video for Chris Young’s number-one hit “Voices” and you’ll see his dad as one of the guys under the hood of the car at the start of the video.
For most Father’s Day is a great time to connect with your dad and do something special, or simply just spend time together…but for others the day is left to just memories.
Matt Stell‘s father is no longer with us, but he shares one of his favorite memories of a trip he took with his dad.
Matt recalls, “So, it would have been sometime around 2016 or so. I got my dad for his birthday tickets to go out to the Barrett Jackson auction out in Scottsdale, Arizona. We’ve always watched it on TV and we’ve always been really into cars and stuff like that. I got to go out there with him and a couple of his buddies and man that’s a memory that always stuck with me and he since passed, but that’s something that every time I think about it, I smile because we had a great time. And you know that that love of cars and things like that is is still with me today.”
