OMAHA, NE. — Poor situational hitting, struggles against left-handed hitting and defensive mistakes. Tennessee baseball made the same mistakes it had left behind in March at the College World Series in June.
The Vols weren’t able to overcome it as their season ended at the hands of LSU 5-0 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Here’s everything to know about the loss.
Tennessee’s Offense Falls Flat
Tennessee was supposed to have a major starting pitching advantage. And Drew Beam was really good, but Nate Ackenhausen mitigated that advantage.
The Vols’ weakness all season was their ability to make average left-handed pitchers look elite. Ackenhausen — who entered the game with zero starts and 22.1 innings pitched on the season — was elite.
Tennessee totaled just four hits and seven baserunners against him in his six innings pitched. Ackenhausen added seven strikeouts in the outing.
Still, Tennessee had scoring opportunities against Ackenhausen and the LSU bullpen. Tennessee stranded a pair of runners on-base in the third inning, had a great scoring opportunity in the fifth inning (more on that in a bit) and stranded the bases loaded against the LSU bullpen in the seventh inning.
The seventh inning missed opportunity was particularly brutal. LSU committed a routine fielding error that loaded the bases with two-outs. Ensley swung at three balls including a 3-2 pitch well out of the zone. He softly grounded out to first base to end the inning.
Tennessee ended the game stranding nine runners and hitting one-of-11 with runners on-base.
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Drew Beam Does His Job
LSU looked poised to repeat its explosive offensive performance against Drew Beam in the regular season again in Omaha in the first inning. The Tigers used a walk and two hits to take an early 1-0 lead. LSU consistently made hard contact in the first frame and made Beam throw 26 pitches.
But the sophomore settled in and was fantastic against LSU’s high powered offense. Dylan Crews flew out to the warning track in the second inning and Tommy White repeated the action to leadoff the third inning, but otherwise LSU rarely threatened against Beam after the opening frame.
Beam got into a groove after getting out of the second inning and recording 10 straight outs. The sophomore’s curveball was fantastic again, as it has been all postseason, and it led to him striking out nine Tigers.
The right-handed pitcher’s day ended with two-on and two-outs in the sixth inning after the Tigers added an unearned run. Still, Beam was very good for Tennessee again and more than did his job.
Beam’s final line was 5.2 innings pitched, six hits, two runs and one earned run allowed while walking two batters and striking out nine.
A Bad 10 Minutes
Amidst his fantastic performance, LSU starter Nate Ackenhausen hit Cal Stark with two-outs in the fifth inning. The mistake gave Tennessee a lifeline.
Maui Ahuna roped a double into the left-center gap that might have tied the game but associate head coach Josh Elander threw up the stop sign at third for Stark.
The questionable decision was further highlighted by Hunter Ensley flying out to end the inning. A good relay would have gotten Stark at home, but it wasn’t a definitive out and Tennessee was struggling to get baserunners, let alone runs.
LSU finally got another run off Beam and ran him from the game in the sixth inning. Beam made a mistake on an 0-2 pitch and Tre’ Morgan lined it into left field for a leadoff double.
Gavin Dugas followed it up by laying down a perfect bunt. When Zane Denton’s throw went into right field, Morgan walked home.
Tennessee limited the damage by getting out of the jam allowing no more runs but with the Vols’ bats cold it was a tough swing in a matter of minutes.
Final Stats
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Tennessee baseball’s season comes to an end in the final six of the College World Series.
