The Tennessee Volunteers baseball program is still fighting for the chance to become back-to-back National Champions. This hasn’t been the most enjoyable year for the Vols, as the last half of the SEC season didn’t see them win a single series. This seemingly knocked them out of contention for the privilege of hosting a super regional.
Tennessee went into a winner-take-all game against Wake Forest in the Knoxville Regional Final. Tempers flared throughout the game, with one incident leading to catcher Cannon Peebles being ejected. The umpire revealed the reason for the ejection following the game.
“NCAA allowed me exactly one question (through text) to home plate umpire Casey Moser. Q: ‘In a big game with lots of chirping from both teams, what did Cannon Peebles do that was different enough to merit an ejection?’ A: ‘Unsportsmanlike behavior toward the opposing catcher,’” Wes Rucker wrote.
In the same game, Vols ace Liam Doyle pitched on very short rest, which garnered attention nationwide, including a shoutout from ESPN’s Chris Low.
“We don't celebrate team like we once did in college sports (coaches/players fixated on cash, opt outs, portal hopping, pro stock), but Liam Doyle, projected top-5 pick, coming back after throwing 104 pitches Friday and closing out @Vol_Baseball's win over Wake is epitome of team,” Low wrote.
When Tennessee lost on Sunday, Doyle was already in head coach Tony Vitello’s ear, insisting he wanted the ball in his hands for the game. Vitello later revealed that Doyle told him during the game he was going in whether he liked it or not.
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“I never told Liam to go to the bullpen. He came up to me and said, ‘I’m going to the bullpen and I’m not going there to just hang out,’” Vitello said.
This shows just how badly Doyle wants to win. The Tennessee ace recorded the final seven outs of the game. Now, the Vols will have to win a series against SEC opponent Arkansas in order to make it back to the Men’s College World Series.