Tennessee baseball ended its regular season Saturday by splitting a doubleheader against South Carolina in Columbia. The Vols end the regular season 38-18 (16-14 SEC) and land as the No. 7 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament in Hoover.
The Vols will face No. 10 seed Texas A&M at approximately 1:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday to open the tournament. The first game of the event is single elimination. If Tennessee gets past the Aggies they will be in a four-team double elimination tournament that will include Arkansas, LSU and either South Carolina or Georgia.
Tennessee won a three-way tie with Alabama and Kentucky to earn the seven-seed. The tie breaker was decided by record against high seeded team in the tournament. All three teams took one of three games against Florida. Kentucky didn’t play Arkansas voiding the Razorbacks from the scenario. Tennessee and Kentucky won one game against LSU while the Tigers swept Alabama.
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With Alabama eliminated from the seven-seed the tie breaker went back to head-to-head. The Vols won two out of three against Kentucky to earn the No. 7 seed.
With Tennessee at 16 regular season SEC wins, there’s an abundance for Tennessee to play for in Hoover. The Vols are a fringe regional host for the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky, South Carolina (16-13) and Alabama are also at 16 SEC wins while Auburn is at 17.
Despite Tennessee winning its series against Kentucky, the Wildcats are in a better spot to host due to ranking No. 2 in RPI. Alabama ends the regular season No. 12 in RPI, Auburn is at No. 16, South Carolina is No. 6 and Tennessee is at No. 15.
The Vols are in the SEC Tournament for the fourth straight season after making the event just twice in the 12 years prior. Tennessee opens up SEC Tournament play at 1:30 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon at the Hoover Met.
