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2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown

Tennessee Baseball Recap: Volunteers Defeat Baylor At College Showdown

Tennessee Baseball Recap: Volunteers Defeat Baylor At College Showdown

On the final day of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, the Tennessee offense came alive, and the Volunteers beat Baylor to become the 2024 champion.

Feb 19, 2024 by Matt Cannizzaro
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The Tennessee Volunteers earned some redemption Sunday night at the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas, where they used a complete effort to defeat Baylor in the final game of this year’s event, 11-5.

By virtue of run differential across the six-team competition, Tennessee was crowned as the 2024 champion.

The latest edition of the season-opening Shriners Children’s College Showdown, held at Globe Life Field, home of the World Series-champion Texas Rangers, also included Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas Tech, with each team playing three games over three days. 

Five of the participating teams were 2-1, while Baylor was unable to find the win column. 

Tennessee opened the event, and its 2024 season, with a 6-2 win over Texas Tech on Friday, before falling to Oklahoma in 10 innings Saturday, 5-1. Baylor’s slate included losses to Nebraska (4-1) and Oregon (7-4).

The biggest winners of the weekend, however, were the patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children, as the event raised nearly $300,000.

At times across their three games, the Tennessee pitchers was spectacular. Other times, they weren’t.

At times, the Volunteer offense was electric and exciting. Other times, not so much.

It was a roller coaster ride typically reserved for Six Flags Over Texas, which is just down the street from Globe Life Field, all part of Arlington’s Entertainment District.

Against Baylor on Sunday, Tennessee put all the pieces together, with eight players getting hits, eight scoring runs, two hitting home runs and three pitchers combining to hold off the Bears.

The Tennessee offense followed a quick and quiet first inning with runs in six consecutive frames, while the Volunteer pitchers settled in and kept Baylor scoreless for the game’s final six innings. 

Live Now · Feb 16-18, 5:00 PM UTC

2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown


Kavares Tears and Billy Amick both had home runs, three RBIs and two runs in the finale, while Amick’s blast made him the only player at the event to homer twice. His first came Friday against Texas Tech, his debut with the Volunteers after transferring in from Clemson. 

In all, Tennessee had 12 hits to go along with the 11 runs, while also stranding 10 runners on base.

The pitching trio of Zander Sechrist, Nate Snead and Chris Stamos allowed five runs and eight hits, with most of the damage coming in the first three innings. 

Snead did the majority of the heaving lifting, handling the middle five innings, and he picked up the win. He was touched for four hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out four.

Enzo Apodaca was the only Baylor hitter with more than one hit, though the Bears’ offensive highlight may have been the second-inning solo home run by Harrison Caley that tied the game at 3-3.

Baylor sent eight pitchers to the mound Sunday, with Kobe Andrade taking the loss. Andrade entered the game in the third inning and pitched 1 2/3, giving up three hits and five runs, while striking out two and walking one.

A win against Tennessee on Sunday could’ve helped Baylor head into its busy upcoming week – and nine-game homestand – with some confidence. 

The bright side of falling short, if there is one, is that at least the Bears only have to stew in the disappointment for an hour and a half, since the trip back to Waco, Texas, is less than 100 miles.

The 2023 season was not great for Baylor, as the Bears finished with a 20-35 record, but there was a happy ending and momentum heading into 2024, after they closed last season with four consecutive wins. 

Conversely, Tennessee is coming off a terrific 2023 season that saw the Volunteers turn in a 44-22 record, while making their second trip to the Men’s College World Series in three seasons. 

That feat is even more amazing, given the strength of the Southeastern Conference and the fact that the two teams that ended up battling for the national title – LSU and Florida – also hail from the SEC. That’s right, three of the eight teams at the CWS came from the SEC ranks.

Can Baylor turn things around during its upcoming homestand and use the experience it gained playing against some of the nation’s top teams in Arlington?

Is Tennessee ready to elevate itself in its own conference and make another run at Omaha, Nebraska? 

The six-team Shriners event was the first action of two exciting weeks of college baseball at Globe Life Field. It will be followed by the Kubota College Baseball Series, which includes Mid-Week Games (Feb. 20-21), Weekend 2 (Feb. 23-25) and Weekend 3 (March 1-3).

Follow the action live, as FloBaseball provides news and notes from all of the games at Globe Life Field.

Tennessee Defeats Baylor, UT Crowned Shriners Children's College Showdown Champion

Box Score

Team123456789RunsHitsErrorsLOB
Tennessee0332111001112010
Baylor2120000005827

Baylor Fails To Score, Tennessee Wins 11-5

Chris Stamos shuts down the Bears offense in the ninth inning. Tennessee wins and finished the weekend 2-1. Baylor is 0-3.

Ninth Inning Quiet For Tennessee At Globe Life Field

A quick ninth inning for Tennessee is extended when an attempted double play is reviewed and the call is overturned. 

With two outs and runners on first and second, Baylor makes a pitching change. RJ Ruais leaves the game, and junior right-hander Drew Leach comes in to close out the inning.

The Volunteers lead 11-5, and the Bears have one more opportunity to turn the game around. 

Baylor Unable To Score In Eighth Inning Against Tennessee 

Graduate left-hander Chris Stamos comes on to pitch for Tennessee. Stamos is the player who turned the triple play for the Volunteers on Saturday (see below).

Stamos strikes out two and retires the Bears in order to end the eighth inning. 

Tennessee Doesn't Score In Eighth Inning Against Baylor

After a strikeout and a walk, Baylor's Gabe Craig leaves the game. Freshman left-hander RJ Ruais makes his debut on the mound for the Bears. There's one out and a runner on first base.

Ruais gets a strikeout and a pop fly to end the inning. It's the first time since the first inning Tennessee didn't score. 

Volunteers Step Up Defensively To Stop Baylor Baseball In Seventh Inning

Though Baylor's seventh inning started with a single and a walk, Tennessee was able to turn a double play to minimize any potential damage. 

Nate Snead, who has pitched five innings in relief, ended the inning with a strikeout.

Baylor strands two and is held scoreless for the fourth consecutive inning. 

Tennessee Volunteers Threaten, Score One

A pair of singles (Blake Burke and pinch hitter Robin Villeneuve) and a long fly ball by Kavares Tears gives the Volunteers runners on first and third with one out.

Dylan Dreiling gets his first hit off a left-hander this season, a base hit up the middle to score Burke. This knocks out Baylor sophomore LHP Ethan Calder, who had come in to pitch the seventh inning.

Junior right-hander Gabe Craig comes on to pitch for the Bears with runners on first and third and two outs.

Craig strikes out Christian Moore to end the inning. 

Tennessee leads 11-5.

Baylor Held Scoreless For Third Consecutive Inning

The Baylor offense has gone quiet, and Tennessee breezes through the bottom of the sixth.

Tennessee leads 10-5.

Tennessee Baseball Leads Baylor 10-5 In The Sixth Inning

Christian Moore opens the sixth inning with a double to left center. He's 2 for 2 with two doubles and two walks. He also has two RBIs and one run scored.

Moore advances to third on a wild pitch and scores as Billy Amick hits into a double play for the first two outs. Tennessee leads 10-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth. 

Baylor Quiet In Fifth Inning Against Tennessee

Baylor is unable to score for the second consecutive inning against Tennessee, this time getting doubled up on a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

Tennessee Baseball Adds One, Strands Three Against Baylor

Billy Amick opens the fifth inning for Tennessee with a no-doubt home run to the upper deck (425 feet). Tennessee leads 9-5. Amick became the first player at the 2024 Shriners Children's College Showdown with two home runs.

Two singles and a walk later, Tennessee has loaded the bases with no outs. That gets Baylor pitcher Will Glatch the hook, and he's replaced on the mound by freshman left-hander Mason Green.

Green is able to pitch out of the jam without giving up a run. Tennessee leads 9-5 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Baylor Silenced In Fourth Inning Against Tennessee Baseball

Baylor is retired in order in the fourth inning.

Tennessee leads 8-5.

Tennessee Scores Two More Runs Against Baylor In Top Of Fourth Inning

A base hit and an error gave the Volunteers runners on first and second with one out, and Tennessee made Baylor pay again.

Kavares Tears advanced to third on a Dylan Dreiling flyout. 

After the lefty-lefty matchup with Dreiling, Kobe Andrade leaves the game for Baylor. Junior RHP Will Glatch comes on to pitch for the Bears. He takes the mound with runners on first and third and two outs.

Tennessee's Christian Moore welcomes Glatch to the game by hitting a two-run double to left field. Tears and Hunter Ensley score. Tennessee leads 8-5.

Baylor Baseball Battles Back In Bottom Of Third Inning Against Tennessee

Sophomore right-hander Nate Snead comes on to pitch for Tennessee. 

After getting the first out, Snead issues back-to-back walks and pays the price, as Ty Johnson hits a two-run triple to left center. Tennessee leads 6-5.

Tennessee Baseball Adds To Lead Over Baylor

Texas A&M transfer Kobe Andrade (LHP) takes the mound for Baylor, replacing Matheson. 

A walk, base hit and throwing error give Tennessee runners at first and third with one out. The Volunteers capitalize on the opportunity, as Billy Amick hits one into the left-field corner for a two-run triple. Tennessee leads 5-3.

Amick is able to score on a sacrifice fly by Cannon Peebles. Tennessee leads 6-3.

Baylor Answers Tennessee With Solo Home Run

Immediately after Tyriq Kemp was picked off in a botched steal attempt, Baylor's Harrison Caley blasts one over the left field wall to even the score with Tennessee, 3-3.

Watch now:

Watch The Home Run By Tennessee's Kavares Tears

Just like that, Tennessee is ahead 3-2:

Tennessee Home Run Erases Early Deficit Against Baylor

Baylor's Ty Johnson robbed Tennessee's Billy Amick of an extra-base hit to start the inning, but a pair of walks by Jared Matheson gave the Volunteers a chance to even the score.

Instead, sophomore Kavares Tears blasts a home run to left center to put Tennessee ahead 3-0, also scoring Cannon Peebles and Bradke Lohry.

Tennessee ahead 3-2 heading into the bottom of the second inning. 

Baylor Baseball Strikes First Against Tennessee

Baylor opens the game with a single (Enzo Apodaca) and a double (Hunter Simmons), with the later allowing Apodaca to score the game's first run.

A diving catch by Hunter Ensley in center field was the first out for Tennessee in the inning and may have saved two runs, though Simmons was able to tag and advance to third base.

Simmons scored on a fielder's choice (an attempted double play), with Mason Greer ending up safe at first. Baylor leads 2-0.

The innings ends on an interference call after a bunt.

Tennessee Baseball Held Scoreless In Opening Inning Against Baylor

Tennessee speedster Christian Moore capitalized on a free pass to first base by stealing second with two outs. He was stranded there, however, as the inning ended with a strikeout. 

Tennessee Baseball Vs. Baylor Underway At Globe Life Field

Baylor is the home team tonight, with senior RHP Jared Matheson on the mound.

First pitch - 8:15 p.m. Eastern

Senior LHP Zander Sechrist will be the starting pitcher for Tennessee.

Tennessee Starting Lineup For Meeting With Baylor

See who is starting tonight against the Bears:

Baylor Starting Lineup For Meeting With Tennessee

See who is starting tonight against the Volunteers:

Time Change For Tennessee-Baylor Game

Check out the new time:

When Is The Tennessee Baseball Vs. Baylor Game?

Tennessee will take on Baylor at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

How To Watch The Tennessee Vs. Baylor Baseball Game

Watch the 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown on FloBaseball and the FloSports app.

Replays, highlights and breaking news from the event will be on both platforms

FloBaseball will be streaming several NCAA Division I college baseball tournaments, including the 2024 Sanderson Ford College Classic and the 2024 Kubota College Baseball Series.

Tennessee’s Dylan Dreiling CRUSHED This Ball

Tennessee’s Dylan Dreiling sent this one into orbit against Oklahoma on Saturday, and that’s what evened the score through four innings. Neither team scored again until the Sooners broke it open in the 10th inning.

Watch Dreiling’s home run now:

History Between Tennessee And Baylor Baseball

Sunday’s meeting between Tennessee and Baylor will be the third in their history. 

Baylor won the first contest in 2005 by a 3-2 margin, and Tennessee evened the score in 2022 with a 10-5 victory. 

Baylor’s Blast

Sure, Baylor may be 0-2 in 2024, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been any highlights for the Bears.

Check out this second-inning blast by Mason Greer against Oregon on Saturday:

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The Tennessee Triple Play

Tennessee may have lost a heartbreaker to Oklahoma on Saturday night, but the Volunteers did make a little bit of history along the way – the program’s first triple play since 1997.

Watch Tennessee pitcher Chris Stamos set it all in motion – with a glove that wasn’t even his.

What Teams Are Playing In the 2024 College Baseball Showdown And Kubota College Baseball Series?

Here are the teams: 

  • University of Oklahoma
  • Texas Tech University
  • Baylor University
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Nebraska
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Arkansas
  • Oklahoma State University
  • University of Michigan
  • Oregon State University 
  • TCU 
  • Texas A&M
  • University of Southern California 
  • Arizona State University

2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown Schedule

All times Eastern

Friday, Feb. 16 

  • Noon. – Nebraska vs. Baylor 
  • 4 p.m. – Oregon vs. Oklahoma 
  • 8 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Texas Tech

Saturday, Feb. 17 

  • Noon – Baylor vs. Oregon 
  • 4 p.m. – Texas Tech vs. Nebraska 
  • 8 p.m. – Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

Sunday, Feb. 18 

  • 11:30 a.m. – Nebraska vs. Oklahoma 
  • 3:30 p.m. – Oregon vs. Texas Tech 
  • 7:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Baylor

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 2 Schedule 

Feb 23-25, 9:00 PM UTC

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 2


All times Eastern

Friday, Feb. 23 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oklahoma State 
  • 8 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Arkansas

Saturday, Feb. 24 

  • 4 p.m. – Michigan vs. Oregon State 
  • 8 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State

Sunday, Feb. 25 

  • 2 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Michigan 
  • 6 p.m. – Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series Weekend 3 Schedule 

Mar 1-3, 8:00 PM UTC

2024 Kubota College Baseball Series - Weekend 3


All times Eastern

Friday, March 1 

  • 3 p.m. – USC vs. TCU 
  • 7 p.m. – Arizona State vs. Texas A&M

Saturday, March 2 

  • 3 p.m. – Texas A&M vs. USC 
  • 7 p.m. – TCU vs. Arizona State

Sunday, March 3 

  • 12 p.m. – Arizona State vs. Texas A&M 
  • 4 p.m. – USC vs. TCU

FloBaseball Archived Footage

Video footage from past seasons is archived and stored in a video library for FloBaseball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

College Baseball Rankings 2024: Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll

  1. Wake Forest, 751, 15
  2. LSU, 731, 11
  3. Florida, 727, 5
  4. Arkansas, 672, 0
  5. TCU, 643, 0
  6. Vanderbilt, 576, 0
  7. Oregon State, 543, 0
  8. Tennessee, 529, 0
  9. Clemson, 484, 0
  10. Texas A&M, 468, 0
  11. Virginia, 431, 0
  12. East Carolina, 391, 0
  13. Texas, 381, 0
  14. Duke, 351, 0
  15. North Carolina, 342, 0
  16. North Carolina State, 289, 0
  17. Alabama, 197, 0
  18. UC Santa Barbara, 187, 0
  19. Coastal Carolina, 187, 0
  20. Iowa, 186, 0
  21. South Carolina, 169, 0
  22. Texas Tech, 157, 0
  23. Stanford, 121, 0
  24. UCLA, 80, 0
  25. Northeastern, 71, 0

Others Receiving Votes: Kansas State 65; UC Irvine 51; Oregon 42; Oklahoma State 41; Auburn 35; Southern Miss 21; Dallas Baptist 21; Troy 19; Ole Miss 16; Florida State 13; UNCW 12; Arizona 10; Oral Roberts 9; Indiana State 8; Connecticut 7; USC 6; Georgia 6; Campbell 6; Kentucky 5; West Virginia 4; Indiana 4; Georgia Tech 4; Maryland 3; Hawaii 3.

Tennessee Baseball In The Lone Star State

In three visits to Texas under Tony Vitello’s leadership, Tennessee is 8-3 overall, including a 2-1 mark in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Houston in 2022 and a 1-1 effort so far in Arlington in 2023.

When on the big stage in professional stadiums, the Volunteers are 10-4 under Vitello. 

The Baylor Bears And Shriners Children’s

The 2024 Shriners Children’s College Showdown is the fifth Shriners event for Baylor. Including this year’s first two games, the Bears are 8-6 all-time, including tournament titles in 2020 and 2022.

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