OMAHA, NE. — Christian Moore drove an outside change up to center field for a two-out single and Jared Dickey high stepped home to tie the game in the fifth inning.
The Vols appeared in trouble again early in Monday afternoon’s elimination game at Charles Schwab Field. But the Vols overcame a four-run Stanford lead to defeat the Cardinal 6-4 and stay alive at the College World Series.
Here’s everything to know about Tennessee’s first win in Omaha since 2001.
A Brutal First Inning For Tennessee
Both the top half and bottom half of the first inning started very well for Tennessee. Maui Ahuna lined the first pitch he saw into right-center field for a leadoff single.
When Jared Dickey lined a two strike pitch into right field to give Tennessee runners on the corners with one-out, the Vols looked poised to strike first.
That still seemed true when Griffin Merritt skied a fly ball to left field, but the wind was blowing in and Stanford left fielder Alberto Rios caught it about 40% of the way through the outfield grass. Tennessee was overly aggressive, sending Ahuna home but Rios gunned him down with a throw that easily beat the runner to the plate for an inning ending 7-2 double play.
After a disappointing top of the first inning, Chase Dollander looked like he’d have a drama free first inning. The junior retired the first two batters he faced on just five pitches but that’s when the trouble started.
Carter Graham worked a six pitch walk and Braden Montgomery singled to give Stanford a runner in-scoring position. Stanford didn’t need another hit to open the scoring. The Cardinal enacted a double steal and Cal Stark threw the ball into centerfield allowing Graham to score.
The miscue likely proved inconsequential as Rios roped a double to left field which gave Stanford a 2-0 first inning lead.
Tennessee seemed poised to take an early lead but mistakes on the base paths and in the field led to an early deficit instead.
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Chase Dollander Struggles. Chase Burns Picks Him Up
Tennessee probably needed a good Chase Dollander outing to defeat Stanford and live to fight another day
The Vols didn’t get one, but Chase Burns picked his teammate up and mitigated the damage from a disappointing Dollander outing.
Dollander’s command eluded him at Charles Schwab Field, totaling just two strikeouts while walking two batters and hitting another. The free passes were particularly costly in the third inning when he hit the leadoff man and walked the next batter he faced.
The junior couldn’t work around the trouble as Stanford doubled its lead with a single up the middle and a sac fly.
When Dollander surrendered a leadoff single an inning later, Tony Vitello made a move to his bullpen and brought Chase Burns in in relief.
While Dollander struggled, Burns dominated again. The sophomore has been Tennessee’s best pitcher this postseason and Stanford had few answers for him.
Burns worked around the runner he inherited in the fourth inning and Stanford put only two runners on-base against him in his six innings pitched.
The Cardinal only truly threatened once against Burns, using a single to right field and a bunt single in the sixth inning to put two on with two-outs.
But Burns got a fly out to exit the inning unscathed. The Gallatin, Tennessee native was brilliant getting the Vols to the finish line, allowing no runs while striking out nine in six innings pitched.
Tennessee Climbs Back Into Game With Two-Out Fifth Inning Hitting
Tennessee seemed like it missed its chance to get to Quinn Mathews. After squandering scoring opportunities in the first and second inning, the Vols proceeded to struggle against the lefty.
Mathews retired the side in order in both the third and fourth inning and entered the fifth inning having retired eight straight Vols.
But Tennessee kept chopping wood and found success. Zane Denton led off the inning with a single and Cal Stark and Ahuna each singled to load the bases for Hunter Ensley.
Ensley flew out to left field and Rios’ nearly made it a second inning ending 7-2 double play. But Denton was barely safe, Tennessee was on the board and a two-out rally ensued.
Jared Dickey brought a run home with a clutch single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch. Griffin Merritt loaded the bases again with a single and Christian Moore came through in a big way with a game tying single up the middle.
Tennessee failed to take the lead as Zane Denton struck out on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to end the inning.
However, it was an extremely productive inning for Tennessee as they tied the game and ended Mathews’ day early.
How Tennessee Took The Lead
Tennessee’s game tying fifth inning was full of drama. The Vols two-run seventh inning which gave them their first lead of this College World Series was not.
Griffin Merritt worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a one-out Blake Burke double down the left field line. Denton did his job, bringing Merritt home with a RBI groundout.
Stanford, who made very few mistakes all game, made a crucial mistake to give Tennessee a key insurance run. A Brandt Pancer wild pitch in the dirt allowed Burke to score and gave the Vols a 6-4 lead.
With Burns dominating on the mound, the Vols never looked back.
Final Stats
Up Next
Tennessee lives to fight another day. They’ll face the loser of Monday night’s LSU-Wake Forest game at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday night.
