Vols are excited, but business as usual heading on to CWS Finals

Omaha, Neb. — It was all smiles for Tennessee baseball Wednesday evening following the 7-2 win over Florida State that secured a spot in the College World Series Finals.  

The Vols rode the hot hand of Zander Sechrist on the mound and rallied behind three, first inning runs to control the Seminoles every step of the way. Not that any of these guys were even a thought at the time, but it is the first time Tennessee has reached the College World Series Finals since 1951.

“It’s a surreal moment. I’m definitely trying to soak it all in and figure out who we are going to play and all that,” star Christian Moore said moments after the game. “Definitely just want to take it in with the team and enjoy it with the guys and just get ready for Saturday.”

Tennessee awaits the winner of Texas A&M and Florida for a Saturday, 7:30 pm eastern time first pitch. If the Gators win on Wednesday night, the two teams square off once more on Thursday. If the Aggies win, it’s set in stone for a Tennessee – Texas A&M battle to the finish line.

“Definitely an awesome opportunity we have in front of us to be able to wear the Tennessee and be able to make everybody back home proud,” outfielder Kavares Tears said of playing for a national championship. “It’s definitely a great opportunity and we are looking forward to it.”  

It was anything but routine the first time Tennessee and Florida State squared off on Friday in the College World Series opener. The Vols had to rally from three down in the ninth to walk off a winner on a Dylan Dreiling single. Moore logged just the second-ever cycle in Omaha, as well as double in the ninth and score the tying run on a Blake Burke single.

Since then, however, the Vols have made quick work of their opponents. Tennessee cruised to a 6-1 win over North Carolina on Sunday and controlled the Seminoles in the second go-around Wednesday afternoon.

Knowing they are playing good baseball is satisfying, but the Vols understand the job is not yet completed.

“It feels great. It’s something cool to hear, but the job is not done,” catcher Cal Stark explained. “We’ve played three really good games so far, so we need to keep that rolling going into Saturday.”

Late in ballgames, Stark and Nate Snead usually do some pretty stellar work. The flame-throwing righty has appeared in all three of Tennessee’s games in the College World Series to date – slamming the door shut while not allowing a single run.

Still, there’s two more wins left on the table for Tennessee to be the undisputed final team standing.

“Kind of normal,” Snead said of his emotions after the ballgame. “It’s another win and we got a few more games left. Nothing is finished, so we are pretty excited for what is next.”

This type of maturity is a major reason why Tennessee has won a program-record 58 games in 2024. The veteran leadership is why the Vols have dropped back-to-back games only one time this season and haven’t ever flinched when the game is on the line.

“As far as my emotions, I’m kind of at the point where I’m just following these guys,” skipper Tony Vitello admitted Wednesday in postgame. “There are certain tasks I have to do, and there’s direction I give them, and they’ll listen. But kind of following them right now. Makes it nice.”

Tennessee came up short 3-2 against Oklahoma in the national title game back in 1951. Back then, there wasn’t a three-game finals series but the Vols have already secured a share of the best season in program history in terms of postseason success.

But that’s not the goal here. A national championship is the goal and there’s no reason why this team can’t finish the job with their ‘business-like’ approach.