Your Daily Briefing: Road to Omaha begins today for Vanderbilt, Tennessee

Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

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Good morning Nashville, I'm Em Poertner and welcome to your daily briefing.

The NCAA baseball tournament begins today.

Vanderbilt will open the Nashville Regional against Eastern Illinois (7 p.m. CT, SEC Network). The Commodores have momentum coming into the tournament after unexpectedly winning the SEC Tournament over Texas A&M on Sunday while dealing with an ailing pitching rotation.

Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Vanderbilt beat writer Aria Gerson caught up with Greysen Carter. In 2021, the Vanderbilt pitcher and his family lost their home in a Colorado wildfire. The wildfire was only the start of a turbulent year for Carter that included being cut from the team before getting an unexpected invite back. Read Aria's full story on how Carter overcame tragedy to become a pitcher who earned his spot.

Vanderbilt pitcher Greysen Carter sets up for a pitch against Georgia State during the fourth inning at Hawkins Field in Nashville on May 2.
Vanderbilt pitcher Greysen Carter sets up for a pitch against Georgia State during the fourth inning at Hawkins Field in Nashville on May 2.

Tennessee opens play against Charlotte in the Clemson Regional today (5 p.m. Central, ESPNU). The Vols made a swift exit from the SEC Tournament, losing their first game to Texas A&M. Despite this, columnist John Adams argues you can't count the Vols out in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee beat writer Mike Wilson dug into the Vols' "lightbulb moment" this season. After a pitcher erupted in the dugout during a game, Tony Vitello took the opportunity to rearrange the pitching rotation. The daring decision altered Tennessee baseball's season and helped them reach the NCAA Tournament.

And let's not forget Lipscomb. After winning the ASUN Tournament, it clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Bison, who are also part of the Clemson Regional, will face host Clemson today (Noon CT, ESPN+). Vanderbilt and Tennessee fans may even recognize one of Lipscomb's pitchers: Ethan Smith. After three years playing for Vanderbilt and a year with the Vols, Smith is now pitching in relief for the Bison.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Daily Briefing: Road to Omaha begins today for Vanderbilt, Tennessee