The Longhorns sent the game to extras, but the Volunteers’ pitching kept Texas down late
After going to Norman to secure the SEC Regular Season title, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns were unable to hold off the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, losing 7-5 in 12 innings.
Texas jumped out to a 4-0 lead, thanks in large part to a big third inning, with Jaylin Flores driving in the first run — his lone bright spot in an 0-4 outing. After a pair of singles from Will Gasparino and Casey Borba, Ethan Mendoza sent a triple down the right field line to bring both home and take a 4-0 lead. Texas looked to be in control at that point, but self-inflicted wounds in the next half-inning opened the door for the Tennessee comeback.
After a double and a hit batter put two on base, Flores mishandled a double-play ball that would have ended the inning; instead, the Volunteers loaded the bases with just one out on the board. Four pitches later, Cannon Peebles sent a single into center that scored two, cutting the lead in half.
Flores handled the double-play ball in the next at-bat to end the inning, but the damage was done, and the Texas meltdown was on.
In the top of the sixth, after the Volunteers loaded the bases with a pair of singles, Texas sent Thomas Burns to the mound to try and stem the tide. Instead, his first pitch hit a batter to load the bases, and he walked the next batter to move Tennessee within one. The Vols capitalized on the extra out with a sac fly to tie the game, setting up the late-stage dramatics.
After three scoreless innings, the Volunteers seemingly scored the winning run with a solo shot from Gavin Klien, but Texas responded thanks to Ryan Galvan’s wheels and Kimble Schuessler’s bat to extend the game. In this one, however, Tennessee wouldn’t be denied, stringing together a leadoff walk and a single, setting up the go-ahead two-run double in the 12th.
Despite the disappointing exit from the tournament, a regular-season conference crown in the toughest conference in baseball should position the Longhorns for one of the top eight seeds when the tournament bracket is drawn. If that is indeed the case, then Texas is guaranteed to host the first weekend of the tournament and position themselves to host the Super Regional if they advance.