By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Tennessee Volunteers are 2-0 in the Men’s College World Series for the first time in program history after knocking off the North Carolina Tar Heels, 6-1, Sunday night.

With the win, the top-seeded Vols earned two days off and moved into the semifinals. The Tar Heels will play the Florida State Seminoles in a battle of 1-1 teams on Tuesday, with the loser eliminated and the winner moving on to meet Tennessee on Wednesday.

Tennessee won in dramatic fashion in its opening game, beating Florida State 12-11 by scoring four runs in the ninth inning. Beating North Carolina was much less stressful as Kavares Tears and Reese Chapman both hit home runs and starting pitcher Drew Beam allowed one run in five innings.

Kirby Connell and Nate Snead both pitched two scoreless innings to finish off the Tar Heels, who managed only five hits on the day.

Records

Tennessee 57-12
North Carolina 48-15

Coming up

Monday: Florida vs. NC State, 1 p.m., elimination game. Texas A&M vs. Kentucky, 6 p.m. winners bracket.

Tuesday: Florida State vs. North Carolina, 1 p.m., elimination game. Late game, TBA.

Wednesday: Tennessee vs. either Florida State or North Carolina, 1 p.m., semifinals. Late game, TBA.