Tennessee suffered its first loss of the 2021 NCAA Baseball Tournament, falling 6-0 to Virginia in the College World Series opening round. The Volunteers will face either Mississippi State or Texas on Tuesday in the losers’ bracket, needing a win to avoid leaving Omaha “0-2 and Q.”

UVA struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. It stayed a pitchers’ duel between Tennessee’s Chad Dallas and Virginia’s Andrew Abbott for the next few innings.

Down 1-0, Tennessee had two on with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Pavolony moved the runners up to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Liam Spence had poor luck, lining out on a rope to second base for the second out of the inning. Max Ferguson then grounded out to short to end the frame, stranding two.

The Vols again put two on to start the bottom of the sixth. It was runners on the corners with one out after Evan Russell hit into a fielder’s choice. Luc Lipcius struck out looking and Jordan Beck went down swinging to end the frame, leaving two more stranded. The Vols left eight men on base in Sunday’s loss.

The Hoos broke the game wide open with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Volunteers starter Chad Dallas left the game with the score 3-0 in the top of the seventh. Reliever Sean Hunley was unable to immediately stop the bleeding, allowing two more runs to score before getting the final out.

Tennessee had runners reach base in the seventh and eighth innings but Vols batters were unable to bring them home.

Virginia added another insurance run in the top of the ninth, making it 6-0. UT went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Dallas’ final line was 6.1 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 K, BB on 63 pitches. Abbott went 6 shutout innings, striking out 10 Vols while allowing 5 hits.