Tennessee

Tennessee baseball weakness exposed by Evansville even if Vols make it to Omaha | Estes

Published

1 year ago

June 8, 2024

Tennessee baseball weakness exposed by Evansville even if Vols make it to Omaha | Estes

KNOXVILLE – It may feel like it, but the worst hasn’t yet befallen Tennessee baseball. All Saturday did was provide reason to start considering such a demise.

Which was already happening long before Game 2 of this weekend’s NCAA Super Regional ended with Evansville celebrating in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. You could sense that the vibe had shifted. And the Vols were playing tighter. And an atmosphere of quiet tension suggested a gathering of minds at the same destination:

Is this really happening?

Is Tennessee, as the No. 1 overall seed in the country, about to blow another super regional at home? Only this time against a mid-major opponent who opened this NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed in its regional?

Might tiny Evansville actually be pulling off one of the biggest postseason upsets ever in college baseball, making it all the way to the College World Series?

Can’t say it’s impossible. Not anymore.

Not after Saturday’s 10-8 victory over the Vols evened the series and forced Sunday evening’s deciding Game 3.

“Hands down, the greatest win in our school’s history,” said Evansville coach Wes Carroll. “… We’re in rare air. We’re in unchartered waters. But we’re going to come to the yard loose (on Sunday).”

Any notion in Knoxville of Evansville (39-25) as this wide-eyed, charming super regional underdog story no longer applies after the past two days. The Aces have repeatedly been knocked around by the Vols, and they haven’t backed down at all, scrapping and swinging and hanging in there. In Game 1, Tennessee simply had too much.

So in Game 2, when the Vols hinted at more of that, belting three first-inning home runs and chasing Evansville’s starter Donovan Schultz after only 1⅓ innings, it seemed a prelude to the kill.

Who would Tennessee have rather had out there protecting an early 4-0 lead than pitcher Drew Beam?

Except Beam stumbled. He allowed five runs in 4⅔ innings, and his replacements weren’t any better. Vols relievers Kirby Connell, Nate Snead and Andrew Behnke collectively faced 15 batters and allowed eight hits. The Aces scored 10 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

This tournament, sooner or later, exposes the vulnerabilities of any team.

Saturday was that moment for Tennessee.

Evansville exposed its lack of reliable pitching depth, and even if the Vols advance to Omaha on Sunday, Saturday’s mid-inning stretch is a serious warning flag about their title chances.

Dig Deeper: Tennessee baseball bullpen melts down as Evansville forces super regional Game 3

It was troubling to see Beam – Tennessee’s lone true starting pitcher – fail to make it past the fifth inning for his third start in a row. It was troubling, too, to see hard-throwing Snead hit soundly by the Aces, and for Behnke to enter and promptly give up a two-run homer.

The weight of pitching uncertainty has been there all season for the Vols, though it has been easily carried by the best batting lineup in college baseball.

Except the Vols’ hitters didn’t save this Saturday. After a run-scoring double by Kavares Tears in the fifth inning, Tennessee didn’t get another hit until a bloop single by Billy Amick in the ninth.

Meantime, the Vols went down in order in the seventh and eighth. Cue that quiet tension in the stadium I’d referenced, broken only by the cheers of the purple-clad visitors.

The place did liven up in the ninth inning, when the Vols, trailing 10-5, scored three runs. The late push fell short, but it looms significant for a couple of reasons. There’s momentum for Sunday, of course, but Tennessee also forced Carroll to do something he didn’t want to do. Evansville had to bring in Shane Harris – who’d pitched Friday – to finish Game 2 rather than save him for Game 3.

“Obviously, the game ended in the ninth inning,” Vols coach Tony Vitello said, “but I think (the rally) helped more than our players would even know.”

There was positivity to be taken from Tennessee’s finishing kick. But acute disappointment, too. Because who else would they have wanted at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs than Christian Moore?

Except Moore popped up.

Tennessee left 11 runners on base in Game 2, and nine were credited to the top four hitters in that fearsome lineup: Moore, Blake Burke, Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling. The Vols were .182 (2-of-11) with runners in scoring position Saturday, while the Aces were .667 (4-of-6) and a sizzling .500 (8-for-16) with two outs.

Days like these happen in baseball. The Vols just can’t have another.

And if pressure was on their shoulders Saturday afternoon, just wait for Sunday night.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @Gentry_Estes.

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Tennessee

Tennessee provides $5 million emergency food funding during government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits

Published

2 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee provides million emergency food funding during government shutdown affecting SNAP benefits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee is providing $5 million in emergency funding to food banks as the government shutdown continues to block federal food assistance for low-income families across the state.

The funding comes from TennCare reserve funds and will go to Second Harvest Food Bank, which will distribute the money to food banks statewide based on the number of SNAP recipients in each community.

“It’s an initial response to an immediate need,” Gov. Bill Lee said.

The emergency measure comes as food pantries report overwhelming demand. The Well’s food pantry in Spring Hill served as many families in one hour as they typically see in an entire day.

“It’s hard to see hungry families, senior citizens who have no other alternatives except to wait in the long line at a food pantry,” said Shelly Sassen, CEO of The Well.

SNAP benefits, the federal program that helps low-income families buy groceries, stopped during the shutdown, creating a food emergency across Tennessee.

“They ought to open the government now,” Gov. Lee said.

Even if the Trump administration follows a judge’s order to unlock emergency funds that could provide at least half the normal SNAP amount, Gov. Lee warns the process won’t be immediate.

“But if they release partial funding, the complexity of loading cards with a different formula than before is going to be difficult,” Gov. Lee explained.

The state’s emergency funding represents “the sort of most streamlined way to get dollars to people out, even in rural areas,” Gov. Lee added.

Food pantry volunteers describe the emotional toll of seeing increased need firsthand.

“We’re telling some folks to come back later in the day,” said one volunteer at The Well.

“When you’re here looking people in the eyes and see that they are hungry, that they need some help. That’s what really hits,” another volunteer said.

You are invited to make monetary donations, but Second Harvest Food Bank would also greatly appreciate food donations. Here is a list of suggested items:

Peanut Butter
Canned Meat (Chicken or Tuna)
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Canned Meals (Entree or Soup)
Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Cereal
Rice
Beans (Canned or Dry)

You can drop off food donations at the following locations:

Second Harvest Nashville — 331 Great Circle Road Nashville, TN
Second Harvest Symrna — 1958 Almaville Road Smyrna, TN
Second Harvest Camden — 69 Benton Industrial Road Camden, TN
Any Middle Tennessee Kroger location

You can find your nearest Kroger location by clicking here.

Are you someone being affected by not receiving SNAP benefits? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@Newschannel5.com

Vandy’s band of misfits turns heads with 7-1 start

This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys – young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team’s success has stolen the spotlight – what I love about Steve Layman’s story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, “we all have scuff marks.” This team proves perseverance pays off!

– Carrie Sharp

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