Tennessee and Notre Dame meet at Lindsey Nelson Stadium with a berth in the College World Series at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
After Notre Dame took the series opener Friday night, Tennessee dominated the Fighting Irish, 12-4, to even up the series in game two. After the Vols ran Notre Dame ace John Michael Bertrand from the game with an eight-run fifth inning, the Fighting Irish started preserving their pitching for Sunday’s rubber match.
“We’re stocked okay in the pen,” Notre Dame coach Link Jarrett said. “As this thing evolved in their favor, you were very conscious of how you handle the rest of the game on the mound. You don’t ever want to present that it feels like this is out of reach. But ultimately the way he was pitching, it wasn’t like it was 14 to eight. We were not in a position where the quality at bats were stringing themselves together. That’s when the decisions had to be made on how you navigate the back end of that game.”
After not announcing a potential game three starter before the Knoxville Super Regional began, Jarrett told the media that RHP Liam Simon will start the rubber match.
“Liam (Simon) will start tomorrow. I’m happy for him. He’s had some good outings. One of them was a true start and then one of them was a pseudo start after the seven-hour delay. I told you last night, somebody asked, ‘What did I think?’ Well, I could tell last night they were talented, and today, they had a good approach to the plate. They did damage. But yes, I was thinking about that game. When we were in the fifth inning, you have to start thinking about the pitching and we’ve got some guys banged up. We needed to get them out of there.”
The junior has a 2-1 record and 4.67 ERA in 14 appearances and five starts this season. Simon has started in three of his last five appearances and has a 2.77 ERA in that stretch.
“It lines up for him,” Jarrett said. “He’s had two good starts, and if you can dial it in, obviously this stuff plays. Some of the other guys that haven’t started as much lately. You know, maybe they’re a little more comfortable in the relief role where he seemed a little more comfortable starting. I think it lines up. How does it play off? I can’t tell you, but that seemed like the logical thing.
Jarrett also said that reliever Alex Rao will be available after throwing 58 pitches out of the bullpen Friday night.
“Yes, I do,” Jarrett said. “He was okay today. And maybe if we needed him for an inning or so, yes (we could have inserted him). And I didn’t want to get to that, to be honest with you. He was ‘if necessary,’ and then he’ll be a little fresher tomorrow. So yes, he can play.”
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello didn’t name the Vols’ starting pitcher for the series finale, but added that no matter who gets the ball it will be all hands on deck.
“I’m not sure what they’re going to do, but I think they would answer the same way,” Vitello said. “Both teams are fortunate to have options. A lot of times you get to this situation, and maybe you don’t feel that way. Maybe you got a guy to start the game, but you know, you’re low on options. I think we’re both fortunate, and I think probably every team in the country to get to this point, you have options. I don’t need to speak for Notre Dame, but for us, it’s kind of all hands on deck. We have to do whatever we have to do. That’s what we’ll do for us, and we’ll figure out who will have the first inning. But again, all hands on deck and do whatever we think is best.”
Tennessee will have an abundance of arms to use in the winner-or-go-home game three. Chase Burns, Drew Beam, Redmond Walsh and Kirby Connell haven’t pitched yet this weekend while Will Mabrey threw 18 pitches and Camden Sewell threw 21 pitches Friday.
Ben Joyce — who threw 64 pitches Friday — and Chase Dollander — who threw 112 pitches Saturday — are the only pitchers who likely won’t be available on Sunday.
Beam has started more frequently than Burns the last few weeks, but Burns has been the more effective of the two.
ESPN is broadcasting the series finale.
