The Volunteers will hit Hoover today.
The postseason has arrived. Tennessee will make the short trip down to Hoover, Alabama on Wednesday, set to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama survived the SEC’s new single-elimination format on Tuesday, beating the 16-seed Missouri to advance.
They’ll run into 8-seed Tennessee on Wednesday, who took two of three in the regular season series between the two back in March. The Volunteers are looking to stop the bleeding after dropping six of their last seven SEC series to close the season. They’re likely looking at going on the road for the NCAA Tournament regional round, but the Vols have a small glimmer hope to host if they can get hot this week.
“I think it makes it a lot more intense,” Tony Vitello said of the new single-elimination format. “I don’t know how it’s going to affect the fan bases or anything else, or how the weather will affect it. Because there’s always lightning or rain delays here. It’s just part of the beast, but I think it’s just going to make everything a little bit more crucial. It’s sudden death right out of the chute.
“It’s got a little bit more of a March Madness feel to it.”
Tennessee will turn to Marcus Phillips on the mound. This game was originally slated for 10:30 am ET, but weather delays forced it to the afternoon.
How to watch Tennessee vs. Alabama in the SEC Baseball Tournament
Location: Hoover, Alabama
Time: (Approximately) 2 p.m. ET
TV Channel: SEC Network
Streaming: SEC Network+, ESPN App
Odds: Tennessee ML -210 (Tennessee -1.5 -120)