Latest news with #KnoxvilleRegional
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Why did Liam Doyle transfer from Ole Miss? Tennessee ace leading Vols into super regionals
Why did Liam Doyle transfer from Ole Miss? Tennessee ace leading Vols into super regionals Show Caption Hide Caption Miami coach Brian Smiley, Tennessee's Tony Vitello on Vols NCAA win Miami coach Brian Smiley, Tennessee's Tony Vitello on Vols NCAA win Tennessee baseball's Liam Doyle has been the best pitcher in college baseball this season, but it wasn't always easy for the southpaw. Doyle, a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and the nation's leader in strikeouts, is a rare three-time transfer. He started his career at Coastal Carolina, before transferring to Ole Miss and then the Vols. It was in 2025 he developed into a likely top-10 pick in the upcoming 2025 MLB Draft. The 21-year-old from Derry, New Hampshire tossed 6 2/3 innings against Miami (Ohio) in the Knoxville Regional, allowing one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts. Three days later, he pitched 2 1/3 innings for Tennessee in relief, striking out five hitters and allowing no runs. REQUIRED READING: 2025 MLB draft prospects: Top college players in NCAA baseball tournament Doyle will almost certainly receive the ball for Game 1 of the Fayetteville Super Regional against Arkansas, looking to get the Vols back to the College World Series after the Vols won the national championship last season. Here's a look at Doyle's path in 2025, including why he transferred from Ole Miss in the offseason: Why did Liam Doyle transfer from Ole Miss? To put it in simplest terms, Doyle didn't showcase his best stuff for the Rebels in 2024. The left-hander served as Ole Miss' Saturday starter in 2024, but turned in a 5.73 ERA in 55 innings, despite possessing high-end strikeout numbers with 84 punchouts. His transfer to Ole Miss came after spending his freshman season at Coastal Carolina, where he had a 4.15 ERA in 56 1/3 innings. Doyle transferred to Tennessee alongside former Ole Miss teammate Andrew Fischer, with Fischer also potentially being a first-round pick alongside Doyle in 2025. Fischer and Doyle were roommates at Ole Miss, and Fischer has slugged 24 home runs at Tennessee this season. "We transferred out of Ole Miss together trying to just better our careers and success in the future," Doyle told GoVols247 after Tennessee played Ole Miss earlier this season. "We both feel as if we did that." Doyle added: "It is what it is. College sports are how they are nowadays, and I had to do what was best for me to better my career. It sucked. I loved Oxford. It was cool. But I'm so blessed and fortunate to be where I am now, knowing I made the right move for my career and this season." Doyle was electric in his lone start against Ole Miss this season, allowing two runs on three hits across 8 1/3 innings, striking out 14. Liam Doyle stats
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee baseball announces starting pitcher vs Arkansas in Fayetteville Super Regional
Tennessee baseball announces starting pitcher vs Arkansas in Fayetteville Super Regional Marcus Phillips is starting for Tennessee baseball in its opener against Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional . Phillips (4-4, 3.71 ERA) will have a full week's rest entering the start for the Vols (46-17) against the Razorbacks (46-13) on June 6 (5 p.m. ET ESPN) in Game 1 of the super regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He made his most recent start on May 31 against Cincinnati. Phillips threw 98 pitches against Cincinnati, striking out eight and allowed three runs in 6⅔ innings. Phillips started Tennessee's opener during its regular-season series at Arkansas, which was UT's first win at Baum-Walker Stadium under coach Tony Vitello. He allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks in 4⅓ innings. He struck out three in the 10-7 win on May 15. Liam Doyle likely is lined up to start Game 2 against the Razorbacks on June 8 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN). Doyle (10-3, 2.84 ERA) has been Tennessee's Game 1 starter in all but two instances this season, but he pitched twice in the Knoxville Regional including in the June 2 final against Wake Forest. The SEC pitcher of the year threw 135 pitches between his 104-pitch start against Miami (Ohio) in the May 30 regional opener and his 31-pitch save against Wake Forest to seal UT's fifth straight regional title. Doyle had his rockiest start of the season at Arkansas on May 16. He allowed eight runs with six earned runs on 11 hits and two walks in 4⅔ innings. He struck out 10. The Vols will have a fully loaded bullpen ready to go behind Phillips in the first game and again behind Doyle in the second game. COMMIT: Bo Rhudy commits to Tennessee baseball as Kennesaw State transfer pitcher 'Day 3 doesn't exist until it comes," Vitello said June 5.. If the super regional reaches a third game, the likely options to start are AJ Russell (2-1, 3.52 ERA), Tegan Kuhns (2-4, 5.40 ERA) and Brandon Arvidson (2-0, 4.34 ERA). UT used Dylan Loy (4-0, 3.98 ERA) as an opener against Wake Forest on June 1 in the third game of the Knoxville Regional. Russell, Arvidson and Loy all likely will be key bullpen pitchers in the first two games in the super regional. Russell has pitched in games Phillips has started the past two weekends. Arvidson has been a long reliever in back-to-back outings and was outstanding in both. Kuhns did not pitch in the regional. Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson or Bluesky @ If you enjoy Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee, Arkansas baseball by the numbers ahead of 2025 Fayetteville Super Regional
Tennessee, Arkansas baseball by the numbers ahead of 2025 Fayetteville Super Regional The NCAA Tournament Fayetteville Super Regional will begin Saturday, hosted by No. 3 national seed Arkansas (46-13). The Razorbacks will face No. 14 national seed Tennessee (46-17) for a best-of-three series at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Tennessee enters super regional play ranked No. 13 in RPI and No. 15 for strength of schedule. The Vols have compiled a 9-6 road record in 2025, including 1-2 in games at Arkansas during a regular-season series finale. Arkansas ranks No. 3 in RPI and No. 19 for strength of schedule following regional play. The Razorbacks are 35-4 at home during the 2025 season. Arkansas lost to Missouri State (10 innings), Texas A&M twice and one contest to the Vols. Arkansas was undefeated (3-0) in the Fayetteville Regional, while Tennessee went 3-1 in the Knoxville Regional, losing one contest to Wake Forest. Below are team statistics for Tennessee and Arkansas ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament Fayetteville Super Regional. More: Tony Vitello discusses returning to Arkansas for Fayetteville Super Regional Tennessee, Arkansas baseball by the numbers ahead of 2025 Fayetteville Super Regional Category Tennessee Arkansas Batting average .304 .313 Home runs 128 120 Stolen bases 53 (17 caught stealing) 47 (15 caught stealing) ERA 3.93 3.95 Fielding percentage .969 .984 Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tony Vitello discusses returning to Arkansas for Fayetteville Super Regional
Tony Vitello discusses returning to Arkansas for Fayetteville Super Regional No. 14 national seed Tennessee (46-17) advanced to a super regional after winning the Knoxville Regional. The Vols will face No. 3 national seed Arkansas (46-13), Saturday-Monday, in the NCAA Tournament Fayetteville Super Regional. The Fayetteville Super Regional will mark the Vols' second series at Arkansas in 2025. Arkansas won a regular-season series finale against Tennessee, 2-1, May 15-17, at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Since playing at Arkansas to conclude regular-season play, the Vols have compiled a 5-2 record in the SEC Tournament and Knoxville Regional. Tennessee defeated Alabama and Texas, while losing to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament. More: How to watch NCAA Tournament baseball super regionals: Times, TV channels Ahead of the Game 1 between the Vols and Razorbacks, eighth-year head coach Tony Vitello discussed Tennessee returning to Arkansas for a second time this season. 'I think every game we've played since we've been there has been basically cut-throat,' Vitello said. 'I know it's double elimination format once you get to the regional. Different type of format going to Hoover this year, and we've had some good appearances or runs in Hoover, but we've also had a couple times, whether it went good or bad, the first day wasn't great. Our guys were tremendous against Alabama right out of the chute, and then the Texas game. I haven't rewatched it, but I'm going to wait and we'll rewatch the whole regular broadcast, not just our scouting report one, because it was an ESPN classic. I don't see how that one didn't help both teams in some way, shape or form, or at least I can say that it helped ours. Didn't go the way we wanted in game three, and then, you know, we go to the regional, but all those scenarios, whether they were positive or negative on the scoreboard, were great for our team. 'So, little more experience, little more maturity, and then I think as the years gone on, blame the coaches or me for taking too long, but I think it's been a year where you're kind of sorting out what do you want the lineup to be, where you want certain pitchers to go, and I think we have a better understanding of that now than maybe we did back then, or definitely prior to that.' More: Tennessee baseball versus Arkansas 2025 Fayetteville Super Regional game times, TV Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
03-06-2025
- General
Wake Forest baseball coach apologizes for apparent homophobic slur at NCAA regional vs. Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Wake Forest and baseball coach Tom Walter apologized on Tuesday for what appeared to be a homophobic slur caught by television cameras during an NCAA regional game against Tennessee. 'I am very sorry for my outburst in frustration last night and I recognize the hurt and disappointment it has caused,' Walter said in a statement issued by the school. 'I own the consequences and I apologize to the University of Tennessee, to Wake Forest University, and the SEC & ACC.' Walter said he has watched the video and doesn't remember the specific moment but acknowledged 'that language doesn't reflect my values or the standards of this program.' Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said he was 'surprised and deeply disappointed' and said he spoke with Walter after the game and again Tuesday morning. 'I feel badly for those most hurt by such words,' Currie said. 'This incident … is completely out of character for him and does not meet the standards of Wake Forest Athletics, Wake Forest University or the Atlantic Coast Conference.' Tennessee beat Wake Forest 11-5 on Monday night to win the Knoxville Regional and earn a best-of-three super regional matchup with Arkansas for a chance to advance to the College World Series.
