Tennessee dropped its first game of the Super Regional stage to Notre Dame Friday, falling behind seven runs before eventually succumbing to the Fighting Irish’s capable pitching staff, 8-6.
The Vols now need to win Game Two on Saturday to keep their National Championship hopes alive.
Here are three things we learned from the Vols’ opening loss:
Vols fall behind early once again
Carter Putz took Tennessee deep less than 15 pitches into the game.
The Fighting Irish took advantage of the breaks that came their way early. Their leadoff hitter, Ryan Cole, started things off with a single before Putz knocked his seventh long ball of the year to deep right.
But the damage was far from done. The Irish, a team that combined to score 11 runs in 27 innings in the regional round, found themselves almost halfway to that total in just three innings.
Jared Miller took Tidwell deep in the second. Jack Zystra knocked a third home run over the wall in the third and suddenly the score was 5-0.
Home run No. 4 came in the fourth inning – a three-run shot to left field to make the score 8-1. Four home runs tied the most by the Fighting Irish in any game this season, dating back to a series-clinching win against Clemson in April.
It’s a reality that seemed to weigh on the Vols from the first pitch of the game. Tennessee has really struggled in the opening innings off games lately, surrendering back-to-back 4-0 leads against Campbell and Georgia Tech, respectively.
The Vols will need to avoid doing that again to keep their season alive Saturday at 2 p.m.
Tidwell struggles in the early going
It seemed Blade Tidwell was going to carry momentum from an electric performance against Alabama State to start regional play into Friday’s game. The sophomore righty seemed to finally have settled into his groove after an early-season injury.
Instead, he struggled mightily against Notre Dame’s iffy hitting lineup. Tennessee’s ace last season allowed seven hits, five runs and was replaced after just 52 pitches.
It continues a streak of rough performances from Tennessee’s starting pitchers this postseason. Chase Dollander and Drew Beam both failed to pitch five innings in their respective stints against Campbell and Georgia Tech last week.
That is almost to be expected though. The Camels and Yellow Jackets are great hitting teams, but the Fighting Irish are not revered as such.
Notre Dame was all over Tennessee’s entire staff on Friday, not just Tidwell. Jack Brannigan tagged Tidwell’s reliever – Will Mabrey – for a three-run jack in the fourth inning.
Tennessee threw Tidwell, Mabrey, Ben Joyce, Wyatt Evans and Camden Sewell when it was all said and done. While Vitello did say mid-game that Dollander was available, it seems he will still be on the mound to start Game Two on Saturday.
Gilbert, Anderson tossed in the fifth
Just as it seemed Tennessee was gaining a little bit of momentum, the Vols took a big step back.
Notre Dame relief pitcher Alex Rao had thrown five balls in a row. He walked Jordan Beck and stared at Drew Gilbert with a 1-0 count. Roa fired a low fastball that looked to be under Gilbert’s knees.
It was called a strike.
Fans reacted as you would guess. Gilbert wheeled around, said what looked to be a profanity-laced retort and was promptly tossed. Pitching coach Frank Anderson ran onto the field and was also thrown.
Tennessee has flirted with disaster on that front all season. Anderson and head coach Tony Vitello were thrown from a game earlier in the year when Vitello chest bumped an umpire in response to Anderson being tossed initially.. Per NCAA rules, Gilbert and Anderson will have to sit out Saturday’s game as well. The Vols will need to force a game three on Sunday to advance to a second straight College World Series.
