The LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers are set to clash in the 2023 NCAA Men’s College World Series on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Tigers are coming off a thrilling 4-3 win over Virginia on Sunday, which eliminated the Cavaliers from the tournament. The Volunteers, meanwhile, suffered a 6-0 loss to Texas on Saturday, their first defeat in the College World Series.
LSU and Tennessee have met three times this season, with the Volunteers sweeping the Tigers in a regular-season series in Knoxville in March. The Volunteers outscored the Tigers 23-7 in those games, hitting seven home runs and holding LSU to a .194 batting average.
However, the Tigers have shown resilience and improvement since then, winning 16 of their last 21 games and advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2017. The Tigers have relied on their pitching staff, led by ace Landon Marceaux and closer Devin Fontenot, as well as their clutch hitting, especially from freshman phenom Dylan Crews.
The Volunteers, on the other hand, have been one of the most consistent and dominant teams in the country this year, winning their first SEC East title since 1997 and reaching the College World Series for the first time since 2005. The Volunteers have a balanced offense that ranks among the national leaders in home runs, runs scored and stolen bases, as well as a solid pitching staff that features All-American Chad Dallas and closer Sean Hunley.
The winner of Tuesday’s game will face Texas on Thursday, while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET.
