Tennessee to put ‘everything we got’ into Wednesday clash in Hoover

It’s a new era at the Hoover Met for the Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament. Gone is the double elimination portion of the showcase. Instead, the tournament will house all 16 teams in the conference in a single elimination format.

How does that change the approach for Tennessee? Wins are always the goal, but there’s no safety net anymore for those programs receiving the BYE.

“How single-elimination has affected us is we kind of just tried to prepare like tomorrow is the only game of the weekend,” skipper Tony Vitello said on Tuesday to the media via zoom. “I think it makes it a lot more intense.”

No. 8 seed Tennessee will take on No. 9 seed Alabama on Wednesday morning at 10:30 ET to begin their Hoover journey. The Crimson Tide defeated No. 16 seed Missouri 4-1 on Tuesday to advance on in the tournament. The winner between the Volunteers and Tide will go on to face No. 1 seed Texas on Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock ET.   

“I think (in) this tournament everything affects everything. So, this tournament is one where there’s a bunch of different styles and approaches people take to it,” the coach continued. “So, this week will affect next week in one way or another, and it’s up to you to turn anything really into a positive.

“But it’s playoff time, and there’s no guarantees. It’s definitely expect chaos time.”

Tennessee needs some positives. The Vols dropped their final five weekend series and six of the past seven. UT is currently on the outside looking in with regards to hosting an NCAA Regional next weekend in Knoxville. Tennessee hasn’t won back-to-back conference games in over a month.

So, what’s the plan on the mound for a team that is playing like there is no tomorrow?

“Marcus (Phillips), (AJ) Russell, (Nate) Sneed, (Tanner) Franklin are all rested. (Dylan) Loy and (Brandon) Arvidson have been our two lefties we’ve leaned on the most,” Vitello answered when asked of the pitching plan for Alabama. “(Brayden) Krenzel, you know, showed on Saturday that — well, heck, we basically had to take him out because of pitch count, not because how he’s throwing. 

“So, all those guys will be available and we’ll kind of try and throw the kitchen sink at them.”

Though he didn’t officially confirm it, Vitello did mention that ‘odds are’ Marcus Phillips will get the start on Wednesday. A win over the Tide would be good from an RPI perspective (No. 9) and then a victory over Texas (No. 4) on Thursday – that would put the Vols back in the conversation as a host.

But the Vols just need to win some ballgames and find some confidence heading into postseason play. What better way to do that than to find a couple of wins at one of the greatest collegiate showcases every year?

Still, it’s going to be a day-by-day process for Tennessee and every program in this new format. Should be an exciting week of baseball regardless.

“I’ve been asked a bunch of different questions about— we talked about Friday and pitching plans and environment, and while this is very familiar to the coaching staff and some of our players, the new format is new, just that,” Vitello concluded. “It’s new to everybody. So, it’ll be interesting what kind of reflecting we all do on the tournament as a whole. And then obviously the group that’s on here will reflect on Tennessee baseball’s time here.”

The NCAA Baseball Selection Show will air on ESPN at noon ET Monday, May 26, following the conclusion of the SEC Tournament on Sunday.