KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee showed why it is the heavy favorite to win the College World Series when it squared off against Indiana on Saturday night. Despite being the designated road team in their home ballpark, Tennessee gave its fans plenty to cheer about as they continued their march to a regional title by thrashing Indiana 12-6.
Tennessee (52-11) made Indiana (33-25-1) ace Connor Foley look like he was throwing batting practice, scoring eight runs in just 2.1 innings against the flame-throwing sophomore. Of Foley’s 91 pitches, 47 were balls — he issued a career-high seven walks. Foley stranded a two-out walk in the first inning but the Volunteers responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the second stanza, taking a 4-0 lead on a pair of home runs. They left the bases loaded but chased Foley in the third after three walks and a base hit.
“That’s not the first time Connor’s allowed some free bases,” Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer said postgame. “He held his composure fine and was competitive, he just has to develop more skill since he’s newer to pitching.”
In high school Foley was primarily a football player and third baseman. He was a relief pitcher for Indiana in 2023 and this is his first season as a starting pitcher.
Lefty Ryan Kraft came out of the bullpen and struck out Tennessee first baseman Blake Burke for the second out of the inning. Indiana pitchers have struggled to finish innings all season long and the trend continued at the most inopportune time, as third baseman Billy Amick thrashed the first pitch he saw into the tent-covered seats in left field.
Although far from perfect, Tennessee starting pitcher Drew Beam worked soundly through 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out five Indiana batters. Outfielder Devin Taylor got the Hoosiers on the board with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third and designated hitter Carter Mathison added an RBI double in the fourth.
Those Indiana runs probably felt like drops in a bucket to Beam after the barrage of runs scored by the Volunteers. They led 12-4 at the halfway point and scored in every inning between the second and the fifth.
Needing to save its pitching for an elimination game versus the University of Southern Mississippi on Sunday, Indiana turned to right-handers Ethan Phillips and Ty Rybarczyk for the lower-leverage innings versus Tennessee after the game was largely decided.
The Tennessee bullpen stemmed any hope of an Indiana comeback, closing out the Volunteer win with 5.1 innings of two-run ball from three different arms. The home favorites now sit in the driver’s seat to advance to the Super Regionals.
“We’re in do-or-die mode now,” Mercer said.
Indiana will face Southern Miss in an elimination game at noon Sunday with the winner advancing to the regional final. If they beat Southern Miss, the Hoosiers will need to defeat Tennessee twice to advance to the Super Regional.
The Hoosiers defeated the Golden Eagles, 10-4, on Friday but will not find things so easy the second time around — Southern Miss has used three pitchers in its first two games of NCAA Tournament play while Indiana has used six. Thus, Southern Miss is better positioned to win what may become a war of attrition on the mound.
Follow reporters Matt Press (@MattPress23) and Nick Rodecap (@nickrodecap) for updates throughout the Indiana baseball season.
