The Vols (41-19) were excellent in the NCAA Clemson Regional a weekend ago, sweeping the three games at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on the campus of Clemson University. The Vols were powered by strong pitching from Andrew Lindsey, Chase Burns, Seth Halvorsen and Drew Beam, while Christian Moore’s 7-for-10 weekend at the plate and Zane Denton’s clutch three-run home run against Clemson pushed the Big Orange to victory.
Southern Miss (45-18) presents a strong test for the Vols, emerging as the victor of the NCAA Auburn Regional, doing so by coming all the way back through the loser’s bracket after dropping its first game of the tournament. The Golden Eagles won the Sun Belt Championship during their inaugural year in the league, defeating Louisiana in the finals, 6-2.
The home team designations for the weekend, as decided by coin flip at the pre-series meeting, pitted Tennessee as the home team for the series opener on Saturday and as the home team for the if-necessary game on Monday.
For the most up-to-date scores, links and other information, visit the NCAA Hattiesburg Super Regional Central Page.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Saturday, June 10 (3 p.m. ET) [ESPNU]
RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-2, 2.40 ERA) vs. RHP Billy Oldham (8-3, 4.33 ERA)
Sunday, June 11 (TBD)
RHP Chase Dollander (6-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Hall (12-3, 2.08 ERA)
Sunday, June 12 (if necessary)
TBD vs. TBD
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking information, as well as a map of available lots, can be found on the Super Regional Central page which can be accessed HERE.
BROADCAST INFO
TV/Stream: ESPNU & ESPN Family of Networks
Talent: Roy Philpott (PxP) & Todd Walker (Analyst)
Radio: Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) | Tennessee Athletics App | UTSports.com
Talent: John Wilkerson
NCAA SUPER REGIONAL HISTORY
Prior Appearances: 4 (2001, 2005, 2021, 2022)
Super Regional Record: 7-2 (.778)
Road Super Regional Record: 4-0 (1.000)
College World Series Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021)
Tennessee will be playing in the super regionals for the fifth time in program history and for the third consecutive year, marking the longest current streak in the Southeastern Conference and the second-longest streak nationally. The Vols have not had to go on the road for a Super since 2005 when they traveled to Georgia Tech. The Vols played their first-ever super regional in 2001 on the road at East Carolina.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 6-2
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 3-0
In Hattiesburg: Tennessee leads, 3-2
at Neutral Sites: N/a
Last Meeting: W, 8-6 (March 1, 1992, in Hattiesburg)
Tennessee has won the last six games against the Golden Eagles, sweeping USM in a home-and-home in 1991 and 1992.
NOTABLE
FEELING SUPER, AGAIN
UT is the only program in the SEC and just one of three in the nation to reach three consecutive NCAA Super Regionals, joining Stanford (4) and Texas (3).
The Big Orange owns a 7-2 overall record in super regional games and have won three of the four super regionals they’ve participated in, with last season being the lone exception (lost to Notre Dame). UT has won both of its prior super regionals away from home, posting a perfect 4-0 record in matchups against East Carolina (Kinston, N.C. in 2001) and Georgia Tech (Atlanta in 2005).
After going undefeated in the Clemson Regional last weekend, the Vols have now won nine straight NCAA Regional games, the longest streak in program history and second longest current streak in the nation (Texas – 12). Tennessee and Texas are the only two programs in the country with current win streaks of nine games or longer in NCAA Regional play.
Last weekend’s regional championship marked the program’s first away from Knoxville (had lost previous four road regionals).
GIVE ME SOME MOORE OF THAT!
Sophomore second baseman Christian Moore was a pitcher’s worst nightmare last weekend, earning NCAA Clemson Regional MVP honors after batting .700 (7-for-10) with six runs, two doubles, four homers, eight RBIs, 21 total bases, a .733 on-base percentage and a 2.100 slugging percentage, leading the team in all of those categories.
Moore became the sixth UT player to earn NCAA Regional MVP honors and the third in a row, joining Jorel Ortega (2022 Knoxville Regional) and Drew Gilbert (2021 Knoxville Regional).
Moore has been one of Tennessee’s hottest hitters down the stretch, batting .384 while leading the team with 24 runs, 28 hits, 11 homers and 22 RBIs over the team’s last 20 games. He belted seven homers in an eight-game stretch from April 28-May 12 and had a pair of two-homer games during that time after going deep twice in wins over Mississippi State (4/29) and Georgia (5/5).
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native has reached base in 20 of his last 21 games and is tied for the team lead with 14 multi-RBI games after driving in multiple runs in two of UT’s three NCAA Regional wins. Moore also had multiple-hits in all three games of the regional to bring his season total to 17 multi-hit performances.
For the year, Moore leads the Vols in runs (63), on-base percentage (.466), total bases (123), stolen bases (15) and walks (49).
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS
Tennessee made major improvements at the plate down the stretch, batting .304 as a team with 87 extra-base hits and 44 home runs over its last 20 games, posting an 15-5 record in that stretch. In those 20 games, UT is outscoring its opponents 161-86, averaging 8.05 runs per game with 207 hits and a .566 slugging percentage as a team. The Vols have also had seven players with 10 or more RBIs and five players batting .329 or higher.
Tennessee has scored double-digit runs in 10 of their last 22 games and has recorded double-digit hits in 17 of its last 22 games entering this weekend.
Two-out hitting has been a staple for the Big Orange as of late. In its last 15 wins, Tennessee has scored 85 of its 186 runs with two outs while batting .336 (79-for-235) with two outs during that stretch.
ZEUS’ LIGHTNING BOLTS
Alabama transfer Zane Denton, who has the nickname “Zeus”, has been one of Tennessee’s most productive hitters this season with a team-leading 55 RBIs. He is also tied for third on the team with 15 home runs.
Denton came up clutch in the regional last weekend two home runs in UT’s 14-inning win over No. 4 Clemson, including a three-run blast to give the Vols a 5-4 lead in the ninth when they were down to their final strike. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native was named to the NCAA Clemson All-Regional Team after hitting three home runs and driving in five runs over the weekend.
Denton became the fifth player in program history and the second in as many years to hit for the cycle after accomplishing the feat in the series opener vs. Morehead State on March 10. Denton led UT’s offensive explosion in the 23-4 victory, finishing with a career high four hits and six RBIs.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
- 2023 Record: 45-18 (22-8 SBC)
- Head Coach: Scott Berry (14th season)
- Postseason Honors:
- Tanner Hall First Team All-America, Collegiate Baseball; Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year; First Team All-Sun Belt
- Dustin Dickerson: First Team All-Sun Belt
- Danny Lynch: Second Team All-Sun Belt
- Stat Leaders:
- Average: Dustin Dickerson (.328)
- OBP: Dustin Dickerson (.421)
- SLG: Slade Wilks (.612)
- OPS: Slade Wilks (.995)
- Hits: Matthew Etzel (86)
- Runs: Dustin Dickerson (55)
- RBIs: Slade Wilks (58)
- Doubles: Dustin Dickerson (20)
- Triples: Dustin Dickerson, Carson Paetow (3)
- Home Runs: Slade Wilks (20)
- Stolen Bases: Matthew Etzel (23)
- ERA: Tanner Hall (2.08)
- WHIP: Tanner Hall (1.02)
- BAA: Tanner Hall (.202)
- Innings Pitched: Tanner Hall (108)
- Strikeouts: Tanner Hall (119)
- Wins: Tanner Hall (12)
- Saves: Justin Storm (6)
