Tony Vitello considers positive aspect of early SEC Tournament exit

Tony Vitello’s Tennessee squad bowed out of the SEC Tournament on Tuesday in a 3-0 loss to Texas A&M. The Volunteers pitchers were solid, allowing only five hits and five walks throughout the game.

But the Aggies pitching staff led by Troy Wansing dominated the Tennessee hitters. Wansing lasted eight innings while giving up just one hit: a single to Christian Scott.

Now the Volunteers will have about a week-and-a-half off before returning to the diamond for the NCAA Tournament. Vitello knows that such a break has benefitted some teams in the past.

“I think in prior history, some teams have benefited from that,” Vitello said in his post-game press conference. “You can gas some guys out and maybe it cost you in a regional or you can get some guys fresh and get them sorted and it can benefit you. A lot of it is probably you know how guys mindsets are between now and then because you know their bodies are going to get rested. I think you know playing in this league or playing in any league, a little bit of time off your feet or maybe not as many pitches thrown can probably benefit somebody this time of year.”

Vitello and the Volunteers won the SEC Tournament last year as the No. 1 seed before bowing out of the NCAA Tournament in the Super Regionals to Notre Dame.

This year’s team could host a regional. They entered this week as the No. 13 team in the country. How their early loss in SEC Tournament play remains to be seen.

“Everybody’s here competing to win,” Vitello said. “In my opinion, the league prepares you. There’s nothing you have not seen. No fan is going to make a comment. No amount of fans. No noise. No facility. No pitching. No hitter. You’re gonna see everything in this league so it prepares you. I think that’s one of the reasons you often see a bunch of teams from our league in Omaha. But the league in preparing you also beats you up a little bit. To recover and kind of get some rest time between the finish of SEC play including here in Hoover and then get back after it, I think helps people a lot.”

2023 SEC Baseball Tournament Schedule

*All times in CT

Tuesday, May 23

Game 1: No. 11 Georgia (0) vs. No. 6 South Carolina (9)
Game 2: No. 10 Texas A&M (3) vs. No. 7 Tennessee (0)
Game 3: No. 9 Alabama (4) vs. No. 8 Kentucky (0) 
Game 4: No. 12 Missouri (4) vs. No. 5 Auburn (10)

Wednesday, May 24

Game 5: No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 3 LSU — SEC Network — 9:30 a.m.
Game 6: No. 10 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Arkansas — SEC Network — After Game 5
Game 7: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Florida — SEC Network — 4:30 p.m. 
Game 8: No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 4 Vanderbilt — SEC Network — After Game 7

Thursday, May 25

Game 9: Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 5 — SEC Network — 9:30 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7 — SEC Network — After Game 9
Game 11: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5 — SEC Network — 4:30 p.m. 
Game 12: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 7 — SEC Network — After Game 11

Friday, May 26

Game 13: Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 9 — SEC Network — 3 p.m.
Game 14: Loser Game 12 vs. Winner Game 10 — SEC Network — After Game 13

Saturday, May 27

Game 15: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 11 — SEC Network — Noon
Game 16: Winner Game 14 vs. Winner Game 12 — SEC Network — After Game 15

Sunday, May 28

Championship Game — ESPN2 — 2 p.m.