Who will the Tennessee Vols start against LSU in the College World Series?
Despite a rocky start to the 2023 season, the Tennessee Vols are exactly where they planned to be at this point in the season — in Omaha. The Vols advanced to the College World Series for the second time in the last three years thanks to their Super Regional series win against Southern Mississippi earlier […]
Despite a rocky start to the 2023 season, the Tennessee Vols are exactly where they planned to be at this point in the season — in Omaha.
The Vols advanced to the College World Series for the second time in the last three years thanks to their Super Regional series win against Southern Mississippi earlier this week.
Tennessee will open College World Series play on Saturday night at 7:00 PM ET against the LSU Tigers.
Tennessee dropped two of three to LSU earlier this season in Baton Rouge. The first game of that series was a 5-2 loss against Tigers starting pitcher Paul Skenes.
Skenes, who was just named the top college baseball player in the nation, is expected to start against the Vols on Saturday night.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander is 12-2 this season with a 1.77 ERA in 17 starts.
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello didn't officially name a starter for the Vols on Saturday night, but he strongly suggested that right-hander Andrew Lindsey will get the ball for UT against LSU.
"We’ve rolled with what really has got us to this point with Andrew Lindsey first and (Chase) Dollander second and (Drew) Beam third," said Vitello on Thursday. "Burnsy (Chase Burns) has been incredible out of the bullpen with his stuff and ability to get outs, but he has kind of changed our team’s mentality a little bit too with the emotion he pitches with and having fun out there again as an athlete, but also he gives our guys confidence that the back end of the game is one that we feel like we can win each time we go out.”
There's probably a little gamesmanship at play here — Vitello's comments mean that the Tigers have to at least prepare for Beam and Dollander, even though Lindsey will likely be the starter.
Getting past LSU won't be easy, but this is the College World Series — nothing is easy at this point.
Tony Vitello comments on ‘incredible’ moment during Tennessee’s game 3 win against Southern Miss
Vols baseball coach Tony Vitello commented on a ‘special moment’ that happened during Tennessee’s game 3 win against Southern Miss
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
