Tennessee baseball needs to slow down.
The messaging on why the Vols succeeded in Starkville was to take a breath and not let the moment get too big inside college baseball’s 15,000-seat cathedral at Dudy Noble Field. Yet two games into a home series against Ole Miss — both losses — the Vols have sped up their approach and punched in putrid offensive showings.
Saturday’s near-shutout loss to the Rebels served as the most recent, posting two hits in a game they had been no-hit for 5.1 innings.
“Two very frustrating days in a row,” head coach Josh Elander said. “Credit to Mississippi’s pitching staff, they’ve done a good job. But again, whether it be approach or process, we’ve had some good days with that, but we’re not getting the results that we want. So going to have to make some adjustments. I think a lot of it is guys just trying too hard.”
Tennessee’s 2-for-29 (.069) day at the plate is a season-worst outing, just one base knock worse than a three-hit day against LSU the last time the Vols played a weekend series at home.
Garrett Wright posted an important infield single in the sixth inning, which held as the Vols’ only hit until Trent Grindlinger broke up the shutout with a solo blast one out into the ninth.
“At some point, those guys have to – when they get in those big moments – just relax and compete for their teammates instead of trying to get the big hit,” Elander said. “We had chances against Townsend a few times. Same narrative as last night. We don’t have a way to get it done. So, it’s frustrating, but it is baseball and it’s good arms we’re facing. So again, a lot of baseball left. We just need to continue to make adjustments because what we’ve been doing the last two nights has not worked for us.”
For the other 27 at-bats, the Vols went down 10 times via strikeout, nine by flyout and eight by groundout.
The day was highlighted by uncompetitive at-bats at the plate — speeding up the approach. Tennessee recorded a trio of three-pitch strikeouts, including two by cleanup hitter Blake Grimmer. The Vols had 12 total outs of three pitches or less at the plate.
“Definitely frustrating,” Elander said. “I wish there was a button you could press to get them to, ‘Hey, relax.’ But I think it’s because it means a lot to these guys. And our fans were amazing today. They created an unbelievable environment, and they’re playing to win. They just have to relax and play ball. It should be just at any point, regardless of the pressure of the situation; this is a kids’ game. They should be having fun and competing and be excited for challenges.”
And it seems to be the home atmosphere, or lack thereof, that is getting to the Vols. Tennessee is now 3-5 in home conference games this season, a year removed from going 7-8 with one series win in five tries on home turf.
Tennessee has a game left to salvage the series with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
“My challenge to them is, when you look back at the night when the game’s over with, why are we having success or why are we not?” Elander said. “And let’s make sure that we’re looking at those habits and those decisions. So when we are in that spot again, we don’t continue to make the same mistake again.”
