June 9th, 2025, by 90.3 WUTK
By Jay King
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – One week after winning the Knoxville Regional, the 14th-seeded Tennessee Volunteers went on the road to Fayetteville to face off against the conference rival, three-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks, in a best-of-three series where the winner goes to Omaha and plays in the College World Series.
Tennessee was unable to win a game though, as the Razorbacks got a 2-0 sweep.
This ends the Volunteer’s title defense, and this is the first time since 2022 that Tennessee misses out on the College World Series.
Game One
In game one, the Vols started flat, losing 3-4.
Marcus Phillips didn’t have his best performance, as he gave up four hits and all four earned runs in his outing. It could have been worse, though, as Arkansas had trouble hitting with runners in scoring position, as they left seven runners on base.
Razorback southpaw Zach Root had played strong, as he had four perfect innings and only gave up one hit, with seven innings pitched.
Root got into it with Andrew Fischer at the top of the sixth, and tempers then flared. This resulted in warnings being issued to both teams. “The guy’s fired up, man,” Is what head coach Tony Vitello said about Root’s outburst. “The way he threw, you could argue that he could’ve done a cartwheel if he wanted to… I got no beef with that.”
Arkansas got on the board first, as Kuhio Aloy scored on a wild pitch by Marcus Phillips.
The Vols then took the lead back at the top of the fifth, 2-1, with a two-run home run by Dean Curley, which was the Vols’ first hit of the day.
Arkansas then responded with a two-run home run of their own by Ryder Helfrick to take the lead back 3-2. “I didn’t think it was out, but you know that’s baseball,” is what Marcus Phillips said about giving up the home run. “The wind was blowing today, and he got it up in the jet stream, so kudos to him.”
In the bottom of the sixth, after Tennessee used three different pitchers for three different batters, Charles Davalan hit an RBI single to bring home Brent Iredale to extend the Razorbacks’ lead, 4-2. Reese Chapman then made a great leaping catch to prevent more runs from scoring
After two straight scoreless innings by both teams, Tennessee was down to their last chance in the top of the ninth. Andrew Fischer was able to connect with a solo home run to cut the lead down to one, but that was all they could get going, as Arkansas won game one.
Game two
Liam Doyle’s second start in Fayetteville was another one not up to his standards, as he gave up five hits, five earned runs, and a home run, while also having two wild pitches. He was out by the fourth inning.
After two scoreless innings by both teams, Arkansas left fielder Charles Davalan broke the tie with a two-run home run in the top of the third.
The Vols had a respons of their own in the bottom of the third, after three straight singles by Cannon Peebles, Manny Marin, and Gavin Kilen, but Andrew Fischer grounded into a double play, and Hunter Ensley flew out. The Vols didn’t leave empty haded though, as when Andrew Fischer grounded out, Cannon Peebles scored. This made the score 1-2 Razorbacks.
The game then became out of reach for the Vols, as in the top of the fourth inning, Liam Doyle gave up two singles, and a walk, and got substituted for Brayden Krenzel. “Monday was a factor” is what Tony Vitello said about pulling Doyle early. Cam Kozeal scored early on a wild pitch, and Wehiwa Aloy got hit by a pitch to load the bases. AJ Russell then came up to replace Krenzel. With two outs, Logan Maxwell hit a grand slam into left field to extend the Razorbacks’ lead, 7-1.
The Vols couldn’t get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, despite two walks to Dalton Bargo and Reese Chapman.
There was then two scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth for both teams.
The Hogs added on three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh off of a Kuhio Aloy RBI single, and two separate bases loaded walks to Reese Robinett and Justin Thomas Jr., to add on to their lead, 10-1.
Dean Curley got an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to bring home Gavin Kilen, but that was still not enough as Arkansas still lead 10-2.
Arkansas then added on to the lead in the top of the ninth, to go up 11-2.
The scoring wasn’t done though, as Jay Abernathy came into the bottom of the ninth for Gavin Kilen, and he hit a two run home run to make the final score 11-4 to end Tennessee’s season.
What’s next?
The offseason has officially arrived for Tennessee, and the first thing in line is the transfer portal. One of the biggest acquisitions already happened with JUCO infielder Tyler Myatt from Walters State. Myatt batted a historic .484, with 31 home runs, and 110 RBIs, and a 1.597 OPS.
Tennessee also has returning talent, including Jay Abernathy, Chris Newstrom, Manny Marin, Tegan Kuhns, Levi Clark, and Stone Lawless among others.
One of the final statements Tony Vitello made in game two’s press conference was “The future is not bleak.”