With three games from the 2024 regular season now in the rearview mirror, the Tennessee baseball season is off and running.
The Top 10 Vols opened up their season in Arlington, TX, in the Texas Rangers’ ballpark. Tennessee was one of the six teams featured in the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown alongside Nebraska, Oregon, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech.
While Tennessee didn’t play the Cornhuskers or the Ducks, the Vols did go 2-1 on the weekend with two strong wins and one loss in extra innings, which was enough to be crowned the weekend champions.
Way to go, @Vol_Baseball! Champions of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown! 🏆⚾️#ShrinersShowdown // #GBO pic.twitter.com/xfMINvT1QY
— Shriners Children's (@shrinershosp) February 19, 2024
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Tennessee, playing in the night slot in all three games, began the weekend with a game against the home state Texas Tech Red Raiders in Globe Life Field. The Vols struck first with three runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a home-run swing from transfer acquisition Billy Amick and some kind help from an error on the Texas Tech side.
While the Red Raiders struck back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, Tennessee got in the last word of the argument in the eighth inning with three more runs to secure the season-opening victory. The runs didn’t come via the flashy home run but still counted for the same value nonetheless. Tennessee took home the 6-2 victory on Friday night.
A pitcher’s duel took place during the Saturday night game between Tennessee and future SEC foe Oklahoma. The Vols and the Sooners both put up one run in the fourth inning… which accounted for all the scoring in the initial nine innings of play. The teams moved into extra innings tied at one, but it was Oklahoma that would have the last laugh. The Sooners put up four runs in the top of the 10th inning to earn the win.
Tennessee must have saved their Saturday night scoring for Sunday. Despite an hour-long delay that moved Tennessee’s game back to about 8:30 p.m. ET, the Vols’ bats came out on fire. Unfortunately for Tennessee, though, so did the bats of the Baylor Bears.
Baylor opened the game by putting up two runs on Zander Sechrist but Tennessee responded with a three-run home run from Kavares Tears in the top of the second inning. The Bears then added another run via the solo shot in the bottom of the second but, once again, Tennessee had a response ready to go with three runs behind a Billy Amick triple and a Cannon Peebles sac-fly in the top of the third. Tennessee scored at least one run in six straight innings from the second to the seventh while Baylor’s offense trailed off thanks to hot pitching from Tennessee reliever Nate Snead. The Vols put up 11 runs in those six innings which was more than enough to secure the win.
The Vols’ +6 run differential on the season was enough to win the weekend crown.
Friday Night: Tennessee def. Texas Tech 6-2
Saturday Night: Oklahoma def. Tennessee 5-1 (10 innings)
Sunday Night: Tennessee def. Baylor 11-5
Tennessee will now return to Rocky Top for the Vols’ home opener against UNC Asheville on Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET in the new-and-improved Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
