KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee baseball is in a must-win situation to keep the season alive.
The Vols lost to Evansville in Game 2 of the NCAA Tournament Super Regional on Saturday by a final score of 10-8. This was a day after they took Game 1 by a final score of 11-6.
The two teams will play on Sunday in Game 3 and the winner will go to the College World Series.,
There was frustration on UT's side as they missed a chance to punch their ticket, leading 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
"You're in a three-round bout and obviously we were fortunate yesterday but today they delivered a couple of more blows than we did," head coach Tony Vitello said after Saturday's loss. " It's thrilling for the fans that we are one win away from being in a good position, but it didn't happen that way so we roll into Sunday, which is always an important day."
The Vols are relying on their experience in SEC play to close out this series. On six separate occasions, they were tied 1-1 in the series headed into the Sunday series finale. They were 5-1 in those games, losing the first series to Alabama but then beating Ole Miss, Georgia, Auburn, Kentucky and Florida.
"I think it's a benefit," Vitello said. "It helps to have a vision of what it looks like."
Vols catcher Cal Stark agreed.
"We know what it looks like," he said. "We know how to treat the game. We need to keep that same mentality coming into the building tomorrow."
Vitello said regardless of what happens, the season has been full of a lot of success. This team is focused on getting the job done though."
"We are fortunate to host Evansville, who is one of the best teams in the country," Vitello said. "We are trying to win the series tomorrow."
Game time for Game 3 is set for 6 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNU.
