Tennessee baseball secured the series victory with a 7-5 win over South Carolina on Saturday afternoon in the second game of their weekend matchup. Head coach Tony Vitello shared his thoughts after the game, with a transcript of his comments provided below.
Upcoming Game:
Tennessee and South Carolina will face off once more in the series finale on Sunday at 12 PM ET, with the game airing on the SEC Network.
On the Team’s Comeback Victory Against South Carolina:
“Winning is never easy, especially in this environment. The crowd was even larger today, and we’re certainly getting South Carolina’s best effort, not just from their pitchers but from their whole team. It pushed our guys to compete. Jarvis [Evans] did a good job keeping them off-balance early, and the way the team responded was impressive. Ariel [Antigua] made an incredible defensive play one of the best I’ve seen. He’s got a lot of talent, and that play came from sheer determination to win. We found a different way to secure the victory, which is crucial. Playing on the road presents challenges, and although we weren’t at our best in the first half, our effort stood out.”
On Cannon Peebles’ Home Run:
“It meant a lot to him. He’s always putting in extra work he’s in the weight room an hour before practice, completely dedicated. Sometimes, that kind of drive can interfere with natural ability, but he stayed focused and delivered in a crucial moment. He’s been a standout player since his freshman year, and this time, his offensive skills were on full display.”
On Andrew Fischer’s Defensive Improvement:
“I won’t discuss it much, but it’s clear he’s made strides. Dean (Curley) also stepped up in a challenging situation. Our fundamentals on the bunt play could’ve been better, but even top players have made similar mistakes. Hopefully, we won’t repeat them. Discussing roles with Fischer and another key player behind closed doors was initially uncomfortable, but it turned into one of the best conversations I’ve had. They’re both incredible teammates.”
On Nate Snead’s Versatility:
“We aimed to manage his workload better this weekend. Last week at Alabama, we may have used him too early, and credit to Alabama for wearing him down. College baseball doesn’t have a Mariano Rivera you just need someone to close games. Nate’s flexibility has been a huge asset, and this year, he’s taken his game to another level. He’s now a team leader, capable of starting, relieving, and handling pressure situations.”
Tennessee’s Continued Dominance:
Tennessee remains the top-ranked team in four major polls after sweeping South Carolina on the road. This follows their series win against Alabama and their sweep of Florida earlier in the season. The Vols (26-2, 8-1 SEC) held off South Carolina 11-7 on Friday, secured Saturday’s 7-5 comeback win thanks to Cannon Peebles’ ninth-inning homer, and dominated Sunday’s game 7-2 with standout performances from freshmen Tegan Kuhns and Brayden Krenzel.
D1 Baseball, the primary ranking system for this publication, maintained Tennessee at No. 1 after a 4-0 week, which also included a 14-3 midweek victory over Queens. Arkansas, Georgia, and Florida State stayed at No. 2-4, while Oregon State dropped from No. 5 to No. 11 after a 2-2 week. Texas moved up to No. 5, Clemson remained at No. 6, LSU climbed to No. 7, and Alabama jumped four spots to No. 8. Ole Miss surged from No. 15 to No. 9, while Oklahoma slid to No. 10.
Eight of the top 10 teams in this week’s rankings are from the SEC, with 10 total SEC teams in the top 25 (Auburn at No. 16 and Vanderbilt at No. 23). Baseball America, Perfect Game, and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll also continue to rank Tennessee at No. 1. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association previously placed Tennessee at No. 3 in their last update, though their latest rankings have yet to be released.
Next Up:
Tennessee returns home to Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a five-game homestand. They will face in-state rival Tennessee Tech on Tuesday at 6 PM ET before hosting Texas A&M, the preseason No. 1-ranked team, for a weekend series in Knoxville.
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