It’s a tough way for the season to end, going 0-2 in regionals, as the Vols fall 5-4 to VCU to end its season. If there’s one thing Tennessee fans will be thinking about all offseason, it’s the team’s struggles with runners in scoring position. The Vols went just 1-for-17 in their two postseason games, and that simply isn’t going to get the job done. A few timely hits could have Tennessee sitting at 2-0 and advancing, but instead, the season is over, and the team is heading home to Knoxville.
Tegan Kuhns was sick and had to leave the game after four innings, allowing three earned runs. He struck out five of the first six batters he faced, and it looked like Tennessee was on its way to a comfortable win after an early two-run homer from Reese Chapman. The bats looked on, and Kuhns looked like he was going to dominate, but it wasn't the case.
The bats went cold. The Vols struck out 13 times, and that proved to be the difference. VCU's Elias Holbert went six innings and struck out ten. Tennessee couldn't catch up to him on their second and third trip around. It’s one thing not to get hits, but when you’re not even putting the ball in play, it becomes very difficult to generate offense. Then, when the Vols did get runners on, they couldn't capitalize.
Not to mention, Henry Ford went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, while Blake Grimmer went 0-for-4 with a walk. Simply put, you can’t have performances like that from players in the middle of your lineup. It makes winning much more difficult. The bullpen was solid today, not great, but certainly not terrible. The bats are what really let Tennessee down this weekend, and that is ultimately why the Vols are heading home.
Josh Elander needs a big offseason
Josh Elander had a pretty good first season leading Tennessee, but there are definitely areas that need to improve with this team. Becoming the first coach in program history to win 30-plus games in his first year is nothing to overlook. But at the end of the day, this team wasn't consistent enough to be a true threat to Omaha, as when the bats were on, the pitching was off, and vice versa. However, the Vols still have a lot to be proud of, they grinded all year long.
Still, this offseason will be important. The bullpen was mediocre for much of the season, and the offense struggled to deliver big hits when it mattered most. Those are issues that need to be fixed if Tennessee wants to get back to the College World Series.
The good news is that Tennessee has a very big recruiting class in the works, and the Vols also have a big budget to grab some quality players out of the portal. Although it hurts, the future of the program is very bright, and letting Elander have a full opportunity to make the adjustments he needs ot make will be fun.
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