Chase Burns pitched six innings of scoreless relief and Tennessee remained alive in the Men’s College World Series with a 6-4 victory over Stanford on Monday in an elimination game at Omaha, Neb.
Maui Ahuna and Jared Dickey each had three hits, while Zane Denton had two hits and a go-ahead RBI groundout in the seventh inning as the Volunteers (44-21) came back from an early 4-0 deficit.
After Tennessee starter Chase Dollander gave up four runs on four hits with two walks over three innings, Burns came on to settle down the Volunteers. The right-hander did not walk a batter and struck out nine, looking poised after the final out while his teammates celebrated.
“I think excitement comes in all different shapes, sizes and forms,” Burns said on the ESPN broadcast afterward. “Inside, I’m really excited but I had to keep that energy balled up a little bit. The job’s not done yet but I’m excited.”
Stanford (44-20) scored twice in the opening inning against Dollander and added two more runs in the third on a single by Braden Montgomery and a fly ball from Alberto Rios for a 4-0 advantage.
Tennessee got back in the game with a four-run fifth inning, with Christian Moore delivering the big blow with a clutch two-out, two-run single. After Denton’s groundout put the Volunteers up 5-4 in the seventh, Blake Burke scored on a wild pitch for the game’s last run.
Stanford left-hander Quinn Mathews allowed four runs on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
Tennessee advances to another elimination game Tuesday against the loser of the contest between Wake Forest and LSU later Monday.
–Field Level Media