Tennessee right-handed pitcher Landon Mack’s status remains uncertain for this weekend’s Chapel Hill Regional, head coach Josh Elander shared Wednesday. Mack is battling right arm soreness that has cost him time late in his sophomore season.
“Landon is still going through his progression,” Elander said. “He will be on the roster, kind of the same deal down as Hoover. So, he’s going to be kind of a day to day deal. I know I had some good conversations with him yesterday, just guy to guy right there, and I know Woody’s (Jeff Wood) been working with him. So, ultimately, it’ll be where is his health and where is his camp feel and what our doctors say? We’ll see how it is. But he will be on the roster this weekend.”
A weekend starting pitcher for Tennessee all season, Mack missed his final two starts of the regular season due to arm soreness. Mack also did not pitch last week in the SEC Tournament.
Mack’s last outing came on May 3 against Kentucky when he allowed one earned runs on six hits in six innings pitched. Elander told the media that Mack has been throwing ahead of this weekend’s regional.
More From RTI: Tennessee HC Josh Elander Provides Positive Reese Chapman Update Ahead Of NCAA Tournament
The Rutgers transfer started on the mound in Tennessee’s first 12 weekend series this season, posting a 4-4 record, 4.67 ERA, 1.49 WHIP in 61.2 innings pitched.
The sophomore began the season as the Vols’ Saturday starter before moving into the Friday night spot. Mack was terrific in his Friday night debut against LSU but struggled his next three times out before turning in a quality start two Sundays ago against Kentucky.
Tennessee’s lone two losses in the final two weeks of the regular season came in starts that Mack missed. The Vols’ lack of quality pitching depth has been exploited. Texas scored 13 runs in the series finale in Knoxville while Oklahoma scored 11 runs in the series finale victory in Oklahoma City.
First pitch for Tennessee baseball’s NCAA Tournament opener against East Carolina is at noon ET on Friday, May 29. Mike Monaco and Ben McDonald are on the call for ESPNU.
