Tag: ncaa tournament

Charlie Beilinson and Zac Morris named NCBWA All-Americans

Two of Duke baseball’s best senior contributors earn All-America honors.

While Duke’s season was far from what they wanted it to be, Chris Pollard, his staff, and his players had one heck of a baseball season. They reached new heights in the polls, had a historic offensive season, and won the second ACC Tournament title in program history. Bowing out before making it to Omaha in the NCAA Tournament will sting and inevitably serve as fuel for next year’s squad.

Replicating some of this year’s team’s magic will be difficult, considering the Blue Devils must replace some significant contributors in the offseason.

Two of those contributors are major holes because they were good players, great leaders, and all-American caliber players.

Charlie Beilenson was one of the nation’s best relievers and was named a National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association first-team All-American. His 2024 was remarkable. In 2024, he appeared in 34 games on the mound, posting a 7-3 record with a 2.01 ERA. He worked 62.2 innings, allowing 14 earned runs and striking out 92 of the 226 batters he faced. Beilenson held opponents to a .181 average and walked just 18 batters. Earlier this week, he was named a Perfect Game First Team Relief Pitcher and an ABCA/Rawlings First Team Relief Pitcher. If that wasn’t enough, he’s a Stopper of the Year finalist. Whenever Chris Pollard needed outs from the seventh inning onward, Beilenson was available and almost always answered the call. He was as consistent a player as Pollard had all year.

If Beilenson was the most consistent pitcher Pollard could depend on, Zac Morris was the bat his coaches could believe in every time he came to the plate. It shouldn’t be surprising that he was named NCBWA third-team All-American. The former transfer from VMI, Morris, was named the third team’s second baseman. He was an All-ACC First Team second baseman during the 2024 campaign. In his 60 games played, Morris produced a .343 average at the plate, posting a robust OPS of 1.068. He registered 245 at-bats, scoring 69 runs and collecting 84 hits to lead the Blue Devils. Morris added 12 doubles, two triples, a career-high 18 home runs, 59 RBI, and walked 39 times.

He was a walking offensive powerhouse at the top of the Duke lineup. He played a terrific second base in the field, too.

Both players are set to move on to professional endeavors and will look to be drafted in the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft.

Sooners matchup for ACC-SEC Challenge revealed per report

The Oklahoma Sooners will face a familiar face when they participate in the ACC-SEC Challenge in 2024-2025.

Moving to the SEC brings new challenges for the Oklahoma Sooners. In addition to the conference schedule, the Sooners will participate in the ACC-SEC challenge for the first time in 2024.

According to a source of college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, the Oklahoma Sooners will face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Dec. 3, 2024.

Across the floor from the Sooners will be a player they’re very familiar with, former OU guard [autotag]Javian McCollum[/autotag].

McCollum transferred this offseason to Georgia Tech after the Sooners failed to reach the [autotag]NCAA Tournament[/autotag] for the third straight season under [autotag]Porter Moser[/autotag].

The Sooners are hoping this year will be different. To get to the tournament, they have to come through in this matchup with Georgia Tech, a team that went 14-18 and 7-13 in ACC play.

Other notable matchups slated for the first week in December include Alabama traveling to Chapel Hill to take on the UNC Tar Heels, Texas playing at North Carolina State, Kentucky taking on Clemson and Auburn facing Duke in Durham.

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Wes Carroll congratulates Tennessee winning Knoxville Super Regional

Evansville baseball head coach Wes Carroll congratulates Tennessee for winning the Knoxville Super Regional.

Evansville advanced to its first NCAA Tournament Super Regional in program history. The Purple Aces lost a best-of-three series to Tennessee, 2-1, in the Knoxville Super Regional.

Evansville head coach Wes Carroll met with media following the Purple Aces’, 12-1, loss to Tennessee in game No. 3.

“I’d like to congratulate Tennessee, coach (Tony) Vitello and his entire coaching staff,” Carroll said. “What an accomplishment to go to Omaha once again. It was a hard-fought series, but they definitely earned today, so I definitely want to congratulate them and all their players.

“It’s been an incredible run by our Aces, by this senior group, by each and every guy on the roster that believed in this place. We made some history along the way, and yes, the outcome didn’t go our way today, but I couldn’t be more proud of our seniors and our team really setting the standard at the University of Evansville for many years to come.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee advances to College World Series after defeating Evansville

Wes Carroll. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Dalton Bargo discusses Tennessee playing in Omaha

Dalton Bargo discusses returning to Omaha to play in the College World Series.

Tennessee sophomore Dalton Bargo hit two home runs in the Vols’, 12-1, win against Evansville on Sunday to advance to the College World Series.

The College World Series will be contested June 14-24 at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

Bargo is a native of Omaha and discussed what it means for him to play in the College World Series.

“It means everything to me,” Bargo said. “Ever since I was six years old, I’ve been going to games. It’s been a dream of mine to go since I was a little kid. Being a part of a team and being one of the reasons we are going back to Omaha is everything I could ever ask for. I’m just thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given and made the most of them.”

READ: Everything Tony Vitello said after winning Knoxville Super Regional against Evansville

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Photos of Vols winning Knoxville Super Regional

Photos of Tennessee baseball winning the Knoxville Super Regional and advancing to the College World Series.

No. 1 national seed defeated Evansville on Sunday, 12-1, to clinch a best-of-three series win in the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Super Regional.

Tennessee advances to its third College World Series appearance in four years (2021, 2023-24).

Senior Zander Sechrist started for Tennessee and pitched 6.1 innings and recorded six strikeouts. He allowed six hits, one unearned run and zero walks. Sechrist totaled 102 pitches, including 70 strikes, against 27 batters.

Tennessee’s offense recorded 12 hits in the series finale, including seven home runs. The Vols also set a postseason single-game record with seven home runs.

Below are photos of Tennessee’s win against the Purple Aces on Sunday in game No. 3.

Updated first pitch time for Tennessee-Evansville series finale

Tennessee announces a time change for Sunday’s series finale against Evansville baseball.

Tennessee and Evansville baseball were slated to play a series finale on Sunday at 6 p.m. EDT (ESPNU).

Tennessee released the following announcement regarding a time change for game No. 3.

“After the current rain/lightning storm clears the area, Tennessee vs. Evansville NCAA Baseball Super Regional Game 3 is expected to start at 7:06 p.m. EDT,” Tennessee announced.

The Purple Aces tied the best-of-three series on Saturday, defeating Tennessee, 10-8.

“We say it in our conference, you’re in a three-round bout, and you’re going to have to take blows and give blows,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said after game No. 2 on Saturday.

READ: A look at Tennessee’s starting lineup on Sunday against Evansville

Vols announce uniform combination for Knoxville Super Regional finale

Tennessee baseball announces uniform combination for game No. 3 against the Purple Aces.

Tennessee will look to advance to the College World Series on Sunday. The Vols are one win away from winning the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Super Regional.

Tennessee and Evansville are tied, 1-1, in a best-of-three series and Sunday’s game No. 3 will take place at 6 p.m. EDT (ESPNU).

The Vols will wear dark mode uniforms in the series finale.

Evansville is competing in its first NCAA Tournament Super Regional in program history and would advance to a first College World Series appearance. The Vols are playing for a third appearance in the last four seasons in Omaha.

PHOTOS: Evansville baseball wins first Super Regional game

‘Stakes are high’ in Tennessee-Evansville series finale

Evansville baseball head coach Wes Carroll discusses the stakes being high in game No. 3 at Tennessee on Sunday.

A winner-take-all game will be contested on Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee (54-12) will host Evansville (39-25) in game No. 3 of the NCAA Tournament Knoxville Super Regional. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT (ESPNU).

The Purple Aces tied the best-of-three series on Saturday, recording its first Super Regional victory in program history.

Evansville head coach Wes Carroll met with media and discussed Sunday’s contest for the right to advance to the College World Series.

“The stakes are as high as they can get for an opportunity to go to Omaha,” Carroll said. “A dream that every kid wants to do. I know UT has been there a couple of times, but I guarantee there are people in that dugout that haven’t been. As a coaching staff, this is why we work, and this is why we are in this business to play at the highest level.

“We are in rare air and uncharted waters, but we are going to come to the yard loose. We are going to really pick each other up, and we are going to need some big efforts on the mound in order to stay in the game and let our offense hopefully keep us in it and go win it.”

PHOTOS: Evansville baseball wins game No. 2 at Tennessee

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tony Vitello details status of Zander Sechrist for Evansville series finale

Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello discusses the status of pitcher Zander Sechrist against Evansville on Sunday.

No. 1 national seed Tennessee and Evansville will conclude a best-of-three series on Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch between the Vols and Purple Aces is slated for 6 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPNU.

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello discussed pitcher Zander Sechrist’s status for game No. 3 in the Knoxville Super Regional. Sechrist’s last appearance was June 2 against Southern Miss in the Knoxville Regional. He was hit in the back of his leg by a line drive during the contest.

“He’s good,” Vitello said. “He, obviously, took that shot pretty good and was bruised the next day, but that Monday it was all laughs. I don’t think it was laughs for him when it occurred, and I’m sure it stiffened up at some point. That’s kind of been a non-issue for the week.

“That’s our guy in the locker room. That’s our guy on the field. He has the ball, and we’ll worry about the rest later. I don’t think we’ve done anything to gas anybody out this particular weekend.”

Sechrist pitched 4.2 innings in Tennessee’s win against Southern Miss. He recorded three strikeouts and allowed three hits, four hits and three walks. Sechrist totaled 70 pitches, including 45 strikes, against 21 batters.

PHOTOS: Vols defeat Southern Miss to win Knoxville Regional

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Christian Moore’s role in series finale defined versus Evansville

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello details Christian Moore’s role in game No. 3 versus Evansville baseball.

No. 1 national seed Tennessee (54-12) will look to advance to its third College World Series appearance in four seasons on Sunday.

The Vols will face Evansville (39-25) in a series finale at Lindsey Nelson Stadium (6 p.m. EDT, ESPNU).

Christian Moore started at second base for the Vols in the series opener against Evansville, while serving as Tennessee’s designated hitter in game No. 2.

Seventh-year Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello met with media following Saturday’s contest. He discussed whether Moore will play in the field or not in Sunday’s series finale.

“No, he’ll play second base tomorrow,” Vitello said of Moore. “His leg was sore, was a little iffy, and that was the decision. It was 100 percent the way to go today, and the decision tomorrow will be to play him at second base. That’ll be 100 percent the way to go.”

PHOTOS: Purple Aces tie series against Tennessee baseball in Knoxville Super Regional

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire