Zane Denton's slide might have saved the Vols' season
Zane Denton has had many big postseason moments for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2023. In Tennessee's 6-4 comeback win over Stanford in Monday's College World Series elimination game, he might have just provided another one. Denton stood on third base with one out in the top of the 5th inning. The Vols had the bases […]
Zane Denton has had many big postseason moments for the Tennessee Volunteers in 2023. In Tennessee's 6-4 comeback win over Stanford in Monday's College World Series elimination game, he might have just provided another one.
Denton stood on third base with one out in the top of the 5th inning. The Vols had the bases loaded, down 4-0, with Hunter Ensley at the plate.
Ensley lofted the ball to left field, which was caught. Denton took off to the plate, went full extension, and got his fingertips on the plate just before the glove hit his hand. Stanford requested a review, but the call was confirmed.
The play was monstrous, because had Denton been called out, the inning would have been over, Tennessee would have been wiped off the scoreboard, and the momentum the Vols were building would have been completely killed. Instead, the Vols would go on to put up 4 two-out runs in the 5th inning to tie the game and completely seize the momentum.
Denton has been nothing short of clutch this postseason. His two-out, top of the ninth three-run homer against Clemson goes down with Drew Gilbert's walk-off blast against Wright State as one of the most iconic home runs in school history. His three-run shot against Southern Miss in the deciding game of the Super Regional also helped lift the Vols to victory. His glove also came up big in Hattiesburg, with his web gem in the second game while the Vols were trailing 4-0 helping to stop the bleeding and turn the game in the Vols' favor.
Now, Denton can add basepath heroics to his growing list of postseason memorable moments.
Tennessee lives on Omaha for at least another day, and that might be at least in part – once again – to their standout third baseman.
Featured image via Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
