Tennessee entered the NCAA Baseball Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, cruising through the regional round in Knoxville to advance to the Super Regionals, also held in Knoxville.

After losing Game 1 to Notre Dame on Friday, the Vols bounced back with a 12-4 victory on Saturday to force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday afternoon.

Early in the game, things seemed to be going the Vols’ way. Seth Stephenson’s double extended Tennessee’s lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the 5th inning:

https://twitter.com/NCAABaseball/status/1536054795412426754

This bizarre play also helped the Vols keep the Irish in check early:

https://twitter.com/11point7/status/1536048894919987200

But, the Vols couldn’t get anything else going offensively. Meanwhile, Notre Dame came all the way back to win 7-3 and clinch the second of 8 spots in Omaha for the College World Series.

Now, the Vols become the 22nd No. 1 overall seed in a row to fail to win the College World Series title:

  • 2022: Tennessee (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 2021: Arkansas (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 202o: No tournament (COVID-19)
  • 2019: UCLA (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 2018: Florida (lost in College World Series)
  • 2017: Oregon State (lost in College World Series)
  • 2016: Florida (lost in College World Series)
  • 2015: UCLA (lost in regional)
  • 2014: Oregon State (lost in regional)
  • 2013: North Carolina (lost in College World Series)
  • 2012: Florida (lost in College World Series)
  • 2011: Virginia (lost in College World Series)
  • 2010: Arizona State (lost in College World Series)
  • 2009: Texas (lost in College World Series)
  • 2008: Miami (lost in College World Series)
  • 2007: Vanderbilt (lost in regional)
  • 2006: Clemson (lost in College World Series)
  • 2005: Tulane (lost in College World Series)
  • 2004: Texas (lost in College World Series)
  • 2003: Florida State (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 2002: Florida State (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 2001: Cal State Fullerton (lost in College World Series)
  • 2000: South Carolina (lost in Super Regionals)
  • 1999: Miami (won national title)

The Vols finished the 2022 season with an impressive 57-9 overall record. They also won the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover.