Tennessee’s chances for advancement in the NCAA Knoxville Regional took a hit as they fell to Wake Forest, 7-6, despite staging a comeback after trailing by four runs. The game, held at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, saw the Vols claw back with significant contributions from their hitters. Among these, one standout player went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including a critical two-run homer in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit. Another freshman also played a vital role, tying the game with his own two-run shot in the sixth.
The pitching was marked by a strong performance from Tennessee’s bullpen, which struck out a program-record 17 batters during the contest. Notably, one pitcher emerged with a career-high 12 strikeouts over 5.1 innings of relief, demonstrating the team’s resilience despite the loss.
This defeat snapped a 14-game NCAA regional winning streak for the Vols and marked their first home loss in a regional since 2001. Tensions are set to rise as Tennessee prepares for a decisive game seven against Wake Forest on Monday evening. The winner of this matchup will secure a spot in the NCAA Super Regional round next weekend. Both teams are aware of the stakes and will be gunning for victory to advance in the tournament.
With one last game remaining, Tennessee has a chance to rally and showcase their competitive spirit, hoping to continue their journey in the NCAA tournament.