Tennessee got the bats going on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough. The Volunteers are facing NCAA Tournament elimination after dropping Game 1 of the Hattiesburg Super Regional 5-3 to Southern Miss.

Thanks to Mother Nature, Game 1 took over 22 hours to complete. Play was stopped Saturday with Southern Miss up 4-0 on UT in the bottom of the 5th inning.

Leaving the ballpark did the Tennessee bats well. The Volunteers put up a 3-spot in the 5th inning, but it was all they could manage in Game 1.

Jared Dickey made it a 4-3 game with a 2-run knock.

Tony Vitello’s squad doesn’t have time to dwell on the loss, but plenty of Vols fans are wondering “what if.” Over the final 4 innings, Tennessee left 4 men on base. In the 9th inning, Cal Stark reached after being hit by a pitch with 1 out, but Maui Ahuna struck out and Hunter Ensley grounded into a fielder’s choice.

A positive for UT in Game 1 was Seth Halvorsen’s outing. In 4 innings of relief, Halvorsen allowed just 1 run on 1 hit, striking out 3 of the 13 batters he faced on 40 pitches. Southern Miss added its insurance run in the top of the 6th inning.

Entering Game 2, Tennessee has used pitchers Andrew Lindsey (4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), Camden Sewell (1 IP,1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) and Halvorsen (4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K).

Game 2 of the Super Regional is set for a 3 p.m. ET start, airing on ESPN.