Virginia defeated Tennessee, 6-0, in its opening game of the College World Series Sunday at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.
Tennessee squandered three scoring opportunities against the Cavaliers in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Tennessee (50-17) saw its first chance to score evaporate after the first two Vols’ hitters reached base with Liam Spence drawing a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single by Max Ferguson.
Virginia (36-25) took a 1-0 lead when catcher Logan Michaels hit his first home run of the season during the top of the third inning.
The Vols stranded two runners in scoring position during the bottom of the fifth inning as Jordan Beck walked to open the frame. He advanced to second when Pete Derkay singled.
Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Pavolony. Virginia starter Andrew Abbott, however, adverted damage as he retired the side.
The Vols had runners at the corners with one out in the sixth. Tennessee, however, did not score as Luc Lipcius and Beck struck out to end the inning.
Virginia scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The Cavaliers, who advanced to the College World Series by winning six elimination games in the postseason, sent nine hitters to the plate, four scored as Virginia collected six singles in the frame.
Michaels had three hits, scored three runs and produced two RBIs in the contest.
The Vols now face elimination on Tuesday at 2 p.m. EDT.
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