Tennessee's 4-3 loss to Arkansas is not ideal, as the Vols are now on the brink of having their season end as early as tomorrow if the Vols can't beat the Razorbacks in Game 2 of the Fayetteville Super Regional.
Tony Vitello used a different strategy than what Tennessee fans are used to seeing during weekend series this year, putting Marcus Phillips on the mound to start the series.
Vitello and the Vols were hoping Phillips could do enough to help the Vols get a big Game 1 win and set up the best pitcher in the country with an opportunity to end Arkansas' season, but Tennessee wasn't quite able to get it done.
Phillips pitched 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs on the day. His performance set up the Tennessee offense to strike and overcome an early deficit, but the Vols' bats were silent throughout the day.
Tennessee scored three runs on only two hits in one of its most disappointing team performances at the plate this season.
This was a complete flip from Tennessee's offensive experience a few weeks ago against Zach Root, Arkansas' starting pitcher for the first game of the series, where he didn't make it through four innings against Tennessee.
As a result of Root's dominant performance, the Razorbacks are set up nearly perfect for Game 2. Arkansas only used one bullpen arm to relieve Root, while Tennessee used four arms for the game's final three innings.
Tennessee will look to get revenge on the Razorbacks in Game 2 on Sunday. Liam Doyle will be the Vols' starting pitcher, and the game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN.