Tennessee

Vols pull off comeback effort to walk it off over Florida State

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2024

Vols pull off comeback effort to walk it off over Florida State

OMAHA, Neb. (WATE) – Florida State was just three outs away from a day one win in the College World Series when a four-run comeback effort in the bottom of the ninth flipped the script in the Vols favor. With Tennessee’s 12-11 walk-off win, the Vols will now face North Carolina on Sunday.

Florida State got two runners on early in the first with no outs. Max Williams started things off with a single and then Cam Smith drew a four-pitch walk. After James Tibbs advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, Tony Vitello decided Chris Stamos’ day was done.

AJ Causey took over on the mound with runners on the corners and one out. Causey struck out the next batter he faced but Williams scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Seminoles the early 1-0 lead. Daniel Cantu then drew another walk as FSU loaded the bases. Causey got Alex Lodise swinging to leave all three runners stranded.

Christian Moore started things off in the bottom of the inning with a bang, hitting a ball back to the center field wall that was good enough for a triple. Blake Burke then brought Moore home on a single to left to tie the game at one. Billy Amick drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs.

The Vols then took their first lead of the game on a Dylan Dreiling RBI single. Blake Burke slid home from second for the 2-1 advantage with still no outs in the inning. However, the Seminoles got a quick three outs as Hunter Ensley grounded out into a double play and Kavares Tears grounded out to third to end the inning.

FSU threatened in the second with runners on the corners and one out, but Cam Smith grounded out into an inning-ending double play to leave the Vols with the lead.

Tennessee added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. After Dean Curley and Dalton Bargo both struck out for the first two outs, Cal Stark reached first on a walk. Moore followed up with a double and Stark was sent to home from first. FSU catcher Jaxson West had Stark beat, but West dropped the ball and Stark scored to make it 3-1. Moore then scored on a throwing error to extend Tennessee’s lead to 4-1.

The Seminoles answered right back in the third. After back-to-back singles, a Jaime Ferrer 2-RBI double pulled FSU within a run. Things then went from bad to worse as Florida State quickly loaded the bases with no outs, sparking a pitching change for the Vols. Causey’s day was done after just 1.2 innings of work, his second shortest outing of the season.

Kirby Connell took over on the mound and struck out the first batter he faced, but then walked West as FSU tied the game at four. Things went downhill quickly as the Seminoles put up a six-spot in the inning to take a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the inning.

FSU extended its lead to 9-4 in the fourth on a two-run homer from Jaime Ferrer.

The Vols had a prime opportunity to cut the deficit in the fourth, loading the bases with two outs. However, a Billy Amick fly out to center left all three runners stranded and the Vols trailing by five.

Tennessee pulled back within three runs thanks to a two-run shot into the right field stands from Kavares Tears. It marked the junior’s first ever hit in the College World Series after two trips to Omaha.

Christian Moore then brought the Vols within two, thanks to a solo shot in the sixth. After a single, double and triple, that home run made it official. Moore is the just the second player in the history of the College World Series to hit for the cycle. Jerry Kendell accomplished the feat all the way back in 1956. To make matters more impressive, he did in just four at-bats.

The Seminoles then took back their four-run lead in the seventh. Andrew Behnke walked two batters before Marco Dinges hit a two-RBI double to take a 11-7 advantage with two outs. Nate Snead replaced Behnke on the mound and forced a groundout to end the inning.

Tennessee added a run in the eighth on Dylan Dreiling’s third hit of the night. After back-to-back singles from Burke and Amick, Dreiling got one to drop in left to bring home Burke. However, Hunter Ensley grounded out to leave two runners stranded and the Vols trailing by three.

Kavares Tears started off a ninth inning rally with a triple. Dean Curley brought him home on a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to two runs with two outs.

Florida State put together two outs with the Vols still down two runs. Even though Moore already hit for the cycle, his night wasn’t done. A double from the junior put Cannon Peebles in scoring position, and Moore on base. Burke followed Moore in the order, drilling one straight up center field, scoring both Peebles and Moore to tie the game up at 11. A hit from Amick but Burke on second and a single from Dreiling brought the junior in for the walk-off win, 12-11.

The Vols roll on to face North Carolina at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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Tennessee

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

Published

11 hours ago

May 12, 2026

Press Room

Memphis voters file federal lawsuit against new congressional map, claiming discrimination: ‘White control over Tennessee politics’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WSMV) – Three Memphis voters, through the American Civil Liberties Union, have filed a federal lawsuit against Tennessee leaders, claiming the state’s new congressional maps are discriminating against Black voters.

The ACLU announced the lawsuit on Monday, saying that three organizations — the Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Equity Alliance, are also part of the lawsuit that was filed against Sec. of State Tre Hargett, Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins and several others.

“In May 2026, over the course of mere days, a White-dominated supermajority of the Tennessee General Assembly redrew Tennessee’s congressional map to crack the predominantly Black city of Memphis into three pieces and destroy the only district in which Black voters are able to elect representatives of their choice, shutting Black voters completely out of power in federal elections in Tennessee,” the filing states.

The ACLU and the other plaintiffs echo arguments made by Democrats while the maps were being debated during last week’s special session: “The cracking of Memphis unlawfully targeted Black voters.”

“The new plan carves through the center of Tennessee’s second largest city, dividing neighborhoods that have voted together for decades, splitting numerous counties and precincts, and cutting the Black population into thirds with suspect precision,” the lawsuit says. “The districts then run hundreds of miles east towards the Nashville suburbs, snaking through predominantly White and rural counties to dilute the voting power of now-divided Black Memphians.”

Gov. Bill Lee signed the new congressional map into law last week. The new map splits Shelby County, home of Memphis, into three districts.

Republicans have said the map modernizes the districting process and removes “racial data from the mapmaking process entirely.” Democrats, on the other hand, say that the move is meant to dismantle the Black-majority district.

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton (R) told WSMV that Republicans “have been very clear” on their intention to secure a ninth Republican seat in the state. He has said the map would help “ensure the state’s representation in Washington reflects its conservative values.”

The lawsuit draws significant attention to the racial makeup of Tennessee lawmakers, describing, “White control over Tennessee politics.” Plaintiffs allege that a white majority “faction” of state leaders “gave bizarre, robotic answers to the most basic questions about the map they were sponsoring.”

“None of the sponsors of the plan would admit who actually drew it, and the lead Senate sponsor—a White legislator with over a decade of service in the Tennessee General Assembly who had attended law school in Memphis — would not say whether Memphis was predominantly Black and claimed not to know that Congressional District 9 was a majority- Black district,” the filing says.

They seem to be referencing Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), who was asked during the special session if he was aware that the majority of the residents in the ninth district are Black.

“I’m not aware,” he responded. “I know how the map is divided, but I don’t know the racial makeup of the map.”

Stevens got his juris doctorate from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

The three Memphis residents who took part in the lawsuit are Amber Sherman, a lifelong resident of Memphis and the lead Tennessee regional organizer for Black Voters Matter Fund, Rachael Spriggs, a Memphis resident for more than 20 years who is the director of Power Building for the Equity Alliance, and Kermit Moore, a nearly lifelong resident of Memphis who is the president of the Memphis A. Philip Randolph Institute.

The lawsuit claims intentional discrimination in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments, as well as retaliation for protected expression and association in violation of the First Amendment.

Plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that the newly drawn map is unconstitutional and restore district lines before primary elections proceed.

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Tennessee

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Published

23 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

New Tennessee law allows K9 officers to be transported by helicopter, ambulance to vet

Tennessee State Senators Michele Reneau of Signal Mountain and Bo Watson of Hixson spoke today about the new law supporting police K-9’s.

The act allows injured dogs to get stabilization services on-site and then be transported via ambulance or helicopter to a vet hospital.

“In the past, officers were basically putting the k9 in their car and transporting them in their in their own vehicle, they didn’t have an ambulance or an air ambulance,” said Senator Watson. “This allows for an air ambulance. It also allows for a educational program for those in EMS, who will be taught how to manage canines emergency medical condition, which is different than a human’s.”

In April, Erlanger flew a K9 officer from Clay County, to North Carolina.

It was the first time the program was used for a live transport after several training runs.

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Tennessee

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

What You Need to Know About Tennessee Softball’s Path to Another WCWS | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee softball’s path back to the Women’s College World Series is set. On Sunday night, the Lady Vols were named the No. 7 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will host the regional stage in Knoxville as it looks to return to the WCWS in back-to-back seasons.

The Lady Vols are matched up with Virginia, Indiana and Northern Kentucky in the regionals. It would play Georgia, Clemson, UNC Greensboro or Charleston in the super regionals.

Ahead of the tournament, here’s a look at each team in the Knoxville Regional and potential matchups for the ensuing best-of-three super regional if Tennessee advances.