Stanford coach makes big statement about Vols RHP Chase Burns after loss to Tennessee
For a little while on Monday afternoon, it looked like the Tennessee Vols' 2023 season was on the verge of ending. Stanford led 4-0 after the third inning. The Cardinal's early offensive success knocked Vols starting pitcher Chase Dollander out of the game and it forced Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello to go to his […]
For a little while on Monday afternoon, it looked like the Tennessee Vols' 2023 season was on the verge of ending.
Stanford led 4-0 after the third inning. The Cardinal's early offensive success knocked Vols starting pitcher Chase Dollander out of the game and it forced Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello to go to his bullpen early.
That turned out to be a good thing for the Vols.
Right handed pitcher Chase Burns, who is quickly becoming a national sensation, came into the game in the fourth inning and shut Stanford's bats down for the rest of the day.
Burns tossed six innings of two hit baseball, striking out nine of the 20 batters he faced. It was the best relief performance in the College World Series since 1969.
Tennessee's 6-4 win allowed the Vols to stave off elimination for at least another day.
After the game, Stanford head coach David Esquer lauded Burns for his incredible performance on Monday.
"Today's game, obviously it started out well for us taking a lead early but Chase Burns came in there and just slammed the door on us and made it really difficult for us, didn't give us any cracks," said Esquer. "We were going to have to do something special there against him. And then just trying to hold onto that lead became more difficult. They did a nice job. They got the double in the seventh inning and they were able to get contact and a wild pitch to score."
"But Chase was going to make it real difficult for us to score," added Esquer. "We were going to probably have to get him out of there somehow and run his pitch count up and maybe even playing 10 or 11 innings. But hats off to him because that was an all-time performance at the College World Series."
Stanford's players shared similar sentiments while discussing Burns.
"I think for the most part he made his pitch when he wanted to," said Stanford outfielder Alberto Rios. "He made some really good pitches. He made sure he had us thrown off in between counts and stuff like that. We were putting our swing off on him. His stuff was just working really well. That's baseball sometimes — you'll swing and miss sometimes, you'll get a hit sometimes. It's exactly what happened."
Burns threw 73 pitches on Monday against Stanford which means he likely won't be available on Tuesday night against LSU — at least not in a lengthy role. Though considering this is an elimination game for both teams, it's certainly possible that Burns could be asked to get an out or two in a high-leverage situation.
Tennessee and LSU take the field on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM ET. The winner will take on Wake Forest on Wednesday.
Tennessee Vols RHP Chase Burns sets NCAA baseball history in win vs. Stanford
Unreal performance.
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
