Tennessee Will Play For National Championship At College World Series

For the first time since 1951, Tennessee will play for a national championship at the College World Series thanks to another win over Florida State. 

The story of the Vols baseball revival over the past five seasons under head coach Tony Vitello has been lacking one thing, a shot at a national title. Having won SEC regular season and tournament titles, with three appearances in Omaha, the opportunity to hoist the trophy at the end of the season was the last thing to check off in their quest to finish the story. 

For a squad that has made headlines over the last few years for its wins, along with dugout celebrations, the 2024 Vols have gone about their business in a different manner. Maybe it's the veteran group, or wanting to do things their own way compared to past teams, like the 2022 squad. This Tennessee team has looked different from the season opener, and that certainly did not hurt. 

If there was one play that could sum up this postseason for the Vols, it came Monday night against North Carolina, when Hunter Ensley decided he wasn't worried about the wall that was staring him in the face when making a grab. Not to be outdone, Kavares Tears had himself a moment at the wall as well Wednesday night against Florida State. 

"KT's catch kinda set the tone for the day, there's no doubt," starting pitcher Zander Sechrist said postgame.

It's not as if this came easy for Tennessee, especially after losing starting pitcher AJ Russell to injury for most of the regular season. For the offense, it was Blake Burke who clinched another record Wednesday night, becoming the fifth player on Tennessee's squad to have 20 home runs in one season, breaking an NCAA record and making history. 

Tennessee's Offensive Firepower Leads To National Title Series

Simply put, the Vols have so many weapons on offense that opposing teams struggle to find a spot that won’t present some type of damage. Whether it's Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Billy Amick, Hunter Ensley or even Cal Stark, this offense can strike at any time, which has obviously caused problems for opposing teams all season long. 

"I'm kinda following these guys now and their emotions," Tony Vitello said postgame about playing for a national title. 

Knowing they were just one win away from clinching a spot in the championship series, this team looked as if it were just another midweek game during the regular season when it came to nerves. Scoring three runs in the first inning set the tone for what was to come over the remaining eight innings, finishing the game with 10 hits in a 71 win against Florida State. 

Tennessee will play for a national championship, after beating Florida State in College World Series. Via: Tennessee Athletics

The offensive output from this squad certainly did not slowdown once they arrived in Omaha, scoring 25 runs over three games, while the Vols pitching did not let them down in the rematch against the Seminoles. Zander Sechrist threw 6.1 innings, giving up just five hits, with two of those coming off errors, and striking out three batters, leaving Kirby Connell and Nate Snead to finish off the game. 

If you were wondering how much different this squad is compared to years past, look no further than Zander Sechrist during his postgame interview. When asked how it felt to be playing for a national championship against either Texas A&M or Florida, the Vols pitcher summed it up with just one uncomplicated answer. 

"All I can say is Go Vols, and let's see what we can do."