Tennessee, Texas to square off in College World Series elimination game on Tuesday

It was a disappointing day for both Tennessee and Texas on Sunday, as both dropped their opening games in the College World Series. Tennessee was shut out by Virginia, losing 6-0. Texas lost 2-1 against Mississippi State, setting up a big-time elimination game on Tuesday.

Virginia piled up four runs in the seventh inning, while Tennessee never was able to cash in on their multiple opportunities with runners in position to score. That’s baseball though, and Tennessee still has a chance to bounce back, just as they did in the SEC Tournament.

“To be honest with you, our brand name is to bounce back and to answer,” Tony Vitello said after the loss to Virginia. “So, yeah, there’s no need to stew. There’s extra time between now and that game. So the time will be right to start doing what you’re talking about and prepare to answer back in the fashion that they do and have done, and Hoover is one example. And the teams here are pretty special, but the teams in our league are downright good, too.”

Tennessee and Texas will now meet and play for their seasons on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and ESPNU will have the coverage. Texas, 47-16 overall on the year, finished as the nation’s No. 2 ranked team. The Volunteers finished fourth in the same poll, creating quite the matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

Tennessee freshman Blade Tidwell is the expected starter for the Volunteers on Tuesday, and Vitello confirmed that plan on Sunday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

The winner of this game will advance to another elimination game on Thursday, facing the loser of Virginia-Mississippi State.