Tennessee baseball outfielder Kavares Tears and RHP Drew Beam met with the media following the Vols’ 6-1 win over North Carolina to improve to 2-0 in the College World Series.
The pair were instrumental in the Vols’ crucial win. Beam bounced back in a 5.0-inning start in which he allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking two on 73 pitches (53 strikes).
Tears led the way offensively for Tennessee, launching a three-run homer to break a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning and also put the nail in the coffin with an RBI double in the eighth inning.
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Here’s everything the pair of Sunday night standouts said in the post-game press conference.
Drew Beam on his reaction to Hunter Ensley’s incredible catch in the 2nd inning:
“I was very hyped because it saved me from (indiscernible) and probably would have been a triple or inside-the-parker. He hit that wall hard. I was just making sure he was okay. But I was dumbfounded. That was a crazy catch.”
Kavares Tears and Drew Beam on what it’s like to be on the first Tennessee baseball team to start 2-0 in the College World Series:
TEARS: “I would say our fans have been great all season long. And as far as it goes with being 2-0, I think it’s just great that both games we came out and we were ready to win the game right in front of us.”
BEAM: “I’m just happy we put ourselves in this spot position, I guess. It’s been awesome seeing the amount of fans that have shown up from Knoxville, all over the country, just wearing orange. This place is a pretty special place to us so it’s awesome that the fans get to come and enjoy it and watch us play our game.”
Drew Beam on how he was able to get in a groove early:
“Yeah, felt really good early on. Cal [Stark] called a great game behind the plate. We had pretty much everything going. I was just trusting with what he had game planned and we had game planned with and we were going with it.
“They put some good swings on balls, especially that ball to center field. Ensley made a really good catch. The defense played well behind me. That helped me out in some situations. And the, I guess, the time break was unfortunate. But it is just what happens. It’s baseball. There’s always something that’s going to happen.
“I went down to the pen. I got loose. And just Vance made a really good swing on that pitch. Backed up a cutter and he made a good swing. Then coach made the call and Kirby got me out of it. I was happy that the guys behind me had my back.”
Drew Beam on the level of comfort when Kirby Connell relieves him:
“It’s awesome, and it’s easing whenever I see Kirby coming out of the bullpen whenever I’m on the mound just because he’s been there and done it so many times. I don’t know how many appearances he has in his career at Tennessee. I think it’s more than anybody else has ever had. He’s been there seeing anything and everything. I’m very comfortable handing the ball off to him.”
Kavares Tears on what is working for him at the plate so far in the tournament:
“Just trusting our game plan. Whenever we get the information about the pitcher. And then whenever just getting in the box making sure I don’t get too big.”
Kavares Tears on what winning in different ways so far in Omaha says about the team:
“I think it just shows how versatile we are, and it also shows our will to win. We don’t ever think we’re out of a game until the end of the game. And even then I think it’s just that we ran out of opportunities.”
Drew Beam on if his and the team’s experience in Omaha is helping this year:
“Last year we got a taste of what it’s like to be here. And we got a taste to be in the losers’ bracket. And it’s hard to come out of that side of the bracket. We’ve really ground out those two last games to put us in the position where we’re ahead 2-0. And there’s a bunch of guys on this team that have done it and been here. And the experience has really helped us through it all.”
Kavares Tears on his reaction ton Hunter Ensley’s circus catch in the 2nd inning:
“I was running over there to back him up. I was screaming he was about to hit the wall, which I doubt he heard me. Once he hit it my initial reaction was ooh. Then I saw the ball still in his glove and I was like let’s go. A lot of different emotions going on right there.”
