Super Regional Preview: Tennessee hits the road to take on Golden Eagles of Southern Miss
Tennessee baseball is alive and well, about to embark on their third-straight Super Regional and fifth in program history. The Vols and Eagles get going Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock eastern time and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
Super Regionals is the best of a three-game series and Monday’s game three will only be played if necessary. Tennessee (41-19) cruised through the Clemson Regional – two Charlotte wins sandwiched around a 14-inning thriller over Clemson. Southern Miss (45-18) took home the Auburn Regional title, having climbed out of the loser’s bracket to defeat Penn twice.
The Golden Eagles claimed the Sun Belt Tournament title in its inaugural season in the league, knocking off Louisiana 6-2 last week as a 2-seed. The squad is making back-to-back trips to Super Regionals and advancing to this round for the third time ever. Stanford is the only other team in the country to host consecutive Super Regionals this year and last.
Scott Berry’s club has won 23 of their last 26 ballgames. The skipper is set to retire at the end of the season. Both these programs won their respective regionals as 2-seeds, but the NCAA announced on Tuesday that Hattiesburg earned the Super Regional host bid.
Tennessee will be playing in its fifth Super regional in program history and has come out on top in its only two road treks at this stage.
“You get to this time of year, no one is not going to be pouring their heart and soul out on to the field,” Tony Vitello said this week. “You can come up with whatever set of circumstances you want. For coaches, players, fanbases. Everyone is going to give it their best go. It is a baseball game, so there’s a lot of crazy things that can happen.”
Who are these Golden Eagles? Let’s take a look.
Quick Notes & Links
VIDEO: Tony Vitello previews Southern Miss in Super Regionals
VIDEO: Griffin Merritt previews Southern Miss in Super Regionals
VIDEO: The Porch w/ VFL Luc Lipcius
RPI: Tennessee (12), Southern Miss (17)
SOS: Tennessee (19), Southern Miss (44)
STATS: Tennessee overall statistics
STATS: Southern Miss overall statistics
COLUMN: Vitello’s best work has Vols in familiar place
COLUMN: Newcomers no more – Tennessee transfers becoming VFLs
Record against SEC teams: Tennessee (16-15), Southern Miss (1-3)
The Golden Eagles Staff
Right-handed starter Tanner Hall is the program’s best player. He’s a 2023 Golden Spikes Semifinalist and the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year. Hall was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year in 2022 when Southern Miss competed in that league as well. Last week, the hurler was named first-Team Collegiate Baseball All-American and was named to the Auburn All-Regional team after starting two games in a span of four days, totaling 153 pitches.
On the season, the ace owns a 12-3 record with a 2.12 ERA. He’s tossed 106 innings and accumulated 118 strikeouts to just 32 walks. Hall has thrown two complete games this year and opponents are hitting only .199 against him.
“He takes advantage of hitters who are overzealous. Really preys on hitters who are overzealous,” Vitello said of the Golden Eagles’ ace. “Then he’s looking for you to beat the ball into the ground. His stuff matches up with that approach and it’s worked well for him to get ground balls, in particular against Samford in the regional outing he had.”
The staff is filled with right-handers and their No. 2 is no different. Former Division III national champion – Billy Oldham – has contributed a 7-3 record to date with a 4.52 ERA. Over 16 appearances, the hurler has started 12 games, throwing 69.2 innings with 82 strikeouts to 23 walks. Opponents are hitting .228 against him and he’s surrendered six home runs, eight doubles and five triples. That totals 19 extra-base hits.
Righty Matthew Adams has been the Sunday starter of late, starting all 14 of his appearances on the year with a 4.95 ERA. The righty owns a 3-2 record while opponents are hitting .274 against him. RHP Niko Mazza (5-1, 4.13 ERA) started a game last weekend at the Auburn Regional and RHP Will Armistead can start if needed, though the right-handed reliever is great out of the bullpen with a 2-0 record and a 1.80 ERA on the season across 14 appearances.
Lefty Justn Storm (6-2, 2.61) leads the team with eight saves and 28 appearances while fellow southpaw Kros Sivley (4-1, 4.02 ERA) is also used in high-leverage situations with four saves.
The Golden Eagles Lineup
Shortstop Dustin Dickerson took home the Auburn Regional MVP last weekend after belting six home runs over five games. The No. 2 hitter in the lineup launched four home runs prior to the postseason and just two over his previous three seasons with the program. Dickerson is leading the club with a .327 batting average (amongst those with over 100 AB) and has scored a team-high 54 runs. He’s also racked up double digit steals, swiping 13 of his 16 attempts.
Third baseman Danny Lynch joined Hall and Dickerson as All-Conference players this season. Hitting sixth in the order, the infielder owns a .256 average with 13 home runs and 52 RBI on the year. Leadoff man and centerfielder – Matthew Etzel – is hitting above .300 on the season and has stolen a team-high 22 bags.
Designated hitter Slade Wilks provides the power as he’s launched a team-high 20 homers with 58 RBI this year. The No. 3 hitter also leads the team with 58 strikeouts as well. Cleanup hitter and first baseman Christopher Sargent is also in the double-digit home run camp with 13. He’s driven in 43 on the season.
Right fielder Carson Paetow, catcher Rodrigo Montenegro and second baseman Nick Monistere (.333) were named to the All-Regional team last weekend, along with Hall, Dickerson and Lynch.
“The park tends to play a little offensive, so they’ve always had good offenses,” Vitello concluded. “If you watch the way they ae done things since he’s been there, there’s a well-rounded offense. It all stems from guys being competitive.”
The Hattiesburg Super Regional Schedule
Saturday: Tennessee vs. Southern Miss | 3 pm ET | ESPNU
RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-2, 2.40 ERA) vs. RHP Billy Oldham (8-3, 4.33 ERA)
Sunday: Tennessee vs. Southern Miss | TBA | TBA
RHP Chase Dollander (6-5, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner hall 912-3, 2.08 ERA)
Monday (if necessary): Tennessee vs. Southern Miss | TBA | TBA
TBA vs. TBA
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