No. 2 baseball stays in College World Series by eliminating Tennessee, 8-4
OMAHA, Nebraska — The No. 2 Texas baseball team (48-16) beat the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers (50-18), 8-4, in a College World Series elimination game at TD Ameritrade Park, thanks an offense that pounded out nine hits and solid defense.
Texas starter Tristan Stevens allowed six hits, three walks and four earned runs while striking out one in 3-1/3 innings before giving way to freshman Tanner Witt (5-0), who got the win after an excellent performance in which he scattered three hits and struck out two in 5-2/3 scoreless innings.
Texas stays alive and will play again at 6 p.m. Thursday against the loser of Game 8 between No. 7 Mississippi State and Virginia.
Before a crowd of 19,150 on a perfect day in Omaha, Tennessee scored the first two runs in the top of the second, before Texas left fielder Eric Kennedy clobbered a three-run homer to right field. Texas scored one run in the third, three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the sixth.
In the third the Vols had the bases loaded but were unable to capitalize when center fielder Drew Gilbert grounded into a 5-2-3 double play (third baseman Cam Williams to catcher Silas Ardoin to first baseman Zach Zubia). Tennessee tried to come back with two runs in the top of the fourth, but the Horns' smart defense and pitching kept the Vols from scoring another run.
Texas Player Highlights
- Eric Kennedy goes 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
- Cam Williams and Silas Ardoin: 2 RBI
- Mike Antico: on base 3x, scored run, stole 40th base of season
Watch the Texas press conference after today's game with players Eric Kennedy, Tanner Witt and head coach David Pierce
