Even the most casual of college baseball fans knew that the Tennessee Volunteers were having a special season. They went into their Super Regional matchup against Notre Dame with a ridiculous 56 wins on the season. They have a pitcher — Ben Joyce — who can throw close to 106 mph. The Vols have simply been dominant all season.
Well, that season is ending shy of a trip to Omaha.
Tennessee lost in Sunday’s Super Regional Game 3, 7-3, to Notre Dame, which brought a stunning close to the Volunteers’ season. This was a team with three projected first-round picks in the upcoming MLB draft to go along with several other MLB prospects. But when Notre Dame closed out the game with a double play, that pro pedigree didn’t matter.
Upset complete! @NDBaseball dances on to Omaha!#MCWS pic.twitter.com/uWf0REhT6f
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 12, 2022
It marked the third straight season where the top-ranked college baseball team lost in the Super Regional. Yet, given Tennessee’s historic dominance in 2022, this loss felt especially surprising.
No wonder college baseball fans had plenty of thoughts on the upset.