BASEBALL ACES’ MAGICAL POST-SEASON RUN ENDS IN SUPER REGIONAL FINAL AT #1 TENNESEEE

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –  The magical post-season run for the University of Evansville baseball team came to an end on Sunday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, as the overall #1 national seed, Tennessee, played like the nation’s top team with a 12-1 win in game three of the best-of-three Super Regional series.
“I want to congratulate Tennessee, Coach (Tony) Vitello, his staff and his team on a tremendous accomplishment of going to Omaha once again,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “This was a hard-fought series, and they definitely earned the right to go to Omaha today with the way that they played.
“It has been an incredible run by our team in this post-season.  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 of really setting the standard at the University of Evansville for many years to come.”
Evansville struck first on Sunday night, as graduate third baseman Brent Widder came through with a two-out RBI single in the top of the first inning to score senior shortstop Simon Scherry and give UE a 1-0 lead.  The lead would be short-lived, however, as Tennessee lead-off man Christian Moore belted a solo home run four pitches into the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at 1-1.
Tennessee would break things open in the second inning with four runs, including back-to-back solo home runs by shortstop Dean Curley and designated hitter Dalton Bargo, to grab a 5-1 lead.
The game would remain 5-1 until the fourth inning, when Evansville threatened to answer back, loading the bases with two outs, thanks to singles from junior second baseman Cal McGinnis and junior outfielder Ty Rumsey, and an infield error by Tennessee.  But, UT starter Zander Sechrist (4-1) got out of the jam with a ground out to second base on a pay-off pitch to keep UE off the scoreboard.  The Volunteers then quickly launched three home runs in the fourth inning, and another home run in the fifth inning to provide the final margin of victory.  Overall, Tennessee hit seven home runs in the contest.
McGinnis and Rumsey had two hits each to lead the Purple Aces.
With the victory, Tennessee improves to 55-12 overall and advances on to the 2024 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.  Evansville, meanwhile, sees its 2024 season conclude with a 39-26 overall record.  The 39 victories are the sixth-most in UE program history.  With the close of the season, Evansville will say good bye to 11 Purple Aces, as graduate players Brendan Hord, Chase Hug, Jace Kressin, Mark Shallenberger and Brent Widder, along with seniors Kip Fougerousse, Shane Harris, Jakob Meyer, Simon Scherry, Donovan Schultz and Nick Smith wrapped up their collegiate careers on Sunday.  That group has combined to win 141 games over the last five years at UE, including winning UE’s second-ever Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title this season, and the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament title as well.