Tony Vitello provides in-game update as Tennessee faces CWS elimination

Tennessee did not get off to the hottest start in their elimination game of the College World Series versus Stanford on Monday, finding themselves down 0-4 heading into the fifth inning.

Head coach Tony Vitello gave junior right-hander Chase Dollander the start on the mound, but after giving up four runs and four hits in his three innings pitched, Vitello subbed in Chase Burns to take over the pitching reins. And at the top of the fifth inning, Vitello was asked what he needs from Burns in this high-stakes elimination game.

“To be who he is, I mean he’s one of the best pitchers on the planet to be honest with you,” Vitello said. “So he’s been great at the back end of games, but this game being an elimination game, calls for him to enter a little bit earlier.”

Burns has come up big for the Volunteers this postseason, giving up just one run so far in his three appearances on the mound following the SEC Tournament. He was used effectively in the Hattiesburg Super Regional versus Southern Miss but in small doses, pitching in just 3.2 innings in his two games versus the Golden Eagles. And it will definitely be interesting to see how much gas he has left in the tank in this game.

“Doll’s been our guy as well, just obviously didn’t have it, they were on him a little bit today so we’ll go to him and we’ll go as long as he can. He’s told me before when he’s coming in, or when he’s going to exit, and how long he’s gonna stay in so we’ll trust his thought,” Vitello said.

On the offensive end, the Volunteers have put together some hits but struggled to produce runs early. Tennessee is facing Stanford ace Quinn Matthews in Monday’s matchup, who famously pitched a complete game in the Super Regional round versus Texas when facing elimination with 156 pitches and 16 strikeouts. And early on against the Vols, he’s looked just as effective in Omaha.

“Came out of the gates with a really good approach, just deflated the guys a little bit. We didn’t get a run in the first inning and it’s hard to manage emotions on this stage but you gotta reset and get to what was working for you,” Vitello said. “This is a guy that plays off of frustration.”

Vitello’s words heading into the fifth inning must have worked as good luck for the Volunteers, as they finally broke their offensive seal and put some runs on the board. The Volunteers hit six singles in the fifth inning versus Matthews, which tied the game at 4-4 and forced Stanford head coach David Esquer to take Matthews off the mound and put an end to his day.

Drew Dowd replaced Matthews on the mound and stopped the bleeding for Stanford, getting out of the inning with the game tied at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.