Miami RedHawks Baseball Battles Hard but Ultimately Falls to National Power Tennessee in NCAA Knoxville Regional Showdown Elimination Game

The Miami RedHawks baseball team’s postseason run came to an end on Friday afternoon as they faced the top-seeded Tennessee Volunteers in the opening game of the NCAA Knoxville Regional. Despite a gritty and determined effort, Miami fell short against the powerhouse Volunteers in a game that showcased the RedHawks’ resilience, talent, and ability to compete with the best. Tennessee’s firepower at the plate and depth on the mound ultimately proved too much, as the RedHawks dropped a 9–2 decision that ended their hopes of advancing deeper into the NCAA Tournament.

Coming into the regional as the No. 4 seed, Miami knew the odds were stacked against them. Tennessee, the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament champion, entered as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and one of the nation’s most feared lineups. Still, the RedHawks were not intimidated. They took the field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium with confidence, aiming to make a statement and play spoiler in one of the most hostile environments in college baseball.

The game began with promise for Miami. Starter Tyler Pettorini delivered a clean first inning, working around a leadoff single and striking out two to quiet the home crowd early. In the top of the second, the RedHawks managed to put a runner in scoring position after a single by senior third baseman Cooper Weiss and a groundout that advanced him to second. But Tennessee starter Drew Beam, a junior right-hander with significant postseason experience, buckled down and recorded a strikeout to end the threat.

In the bottom of the second, Tennessee began to assert itself. Back-to-back doubles by Blake Burke and Dean Curley gave the Volunteers a 1–0 lead, and a single later in the inning plated another run to make it 2–0. Miami responded with a leadoff walk in the top of the third, but Beam continued to work efficiently, mixing his fastball and off-speed pitches to keep the RedHawks guessing.

The RedHawks broke through in the fourth. After a two-out double by senior outfielder Zach MacDonald, catcher Jack Bennett followed with a clutch single to right field, scoring MacDonald and trimming the deficit to 2–1. The Miami dugout erupted, sensing a potential shift in momentum. For a moment, it appeared that the RedHawks might be in position to mount an upset.

However, Tennessee quickly seized control again in the bottom of the inning. Christian Moore, one of the top hitters in the SEC, launched a towering two-run home run off a hanging breaking ball from Pettorini to stretch the lead to 4–1. The Volunteers weren’t finished. A walk and a hit batsman set the stage for cleanup hitter Billy Amick, who delivered a sharp RBI single to center to make it 5–1.

Miami went to the bullpen in the fifth, turning to sophomore right-hander Colin Kroskey to stem the tide. Kroskey worked a scoreless inning and kept the RedHawks within striking distance, but the offense couldn’t capitalize. In the sixth, Tennessee added two more runs on a bases-loaded single by Cal Stark that pushed the score to 7–1. Miami’s chances of a comeback began to dwindle as the Vols’ bullpen took over and shut down any attempt at rallying.

Still, the RedHawks refused to go quietly. In the seventh, MacDonald once again ignited the offense with a leadoff walk. He moved to third after a single and a wild pitch, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Bennett to make it 7–2. It was a small dent in the deficit, but it reflected Miami’s refusal to quit, even against a national championship contender.

The final dagger came in the bottom of the eighth, when Moore struck again with his second home run of the day, a solo shot to left that brought the crowd to its feet and all but sealed the RedHawks’ fate. Another RBI double by Curley later in the inning extended the margin to 9–2, capping off an offensive showcase by a Tennessee team that has made a habit of piling on late.

Miami went down in order in the ninth, and with that, their season came to a close. But the story of this game—and this season—wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about a RedHawks team that battled adversity all year long, fought its way into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, and left everything on the field in one of the sport’s most daunting venues.

Head coach Danny Hayden praised his players in the postgame press conference, calling the season one of the most memorable in his tenure. “We knew what we were walking into today,” Hayden said. “Tennessee is the best team in the country for a reason. But our guys came in here and played with heart. They weren’t afraid of the moment. They fought, they competed, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

For the RedHawks, this postseason appearance was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround. Miami entered the season with modest expectations but quickly emerged as a contender in the Mid-American Conference, finishing second in the regular season before storming through the MAC Tournament to earn the automatic bid. The team relied on strong starting pitching, a balanced lineup, and veteran leadership to defy the odds.

Seniors like Weiss, MacDonald, and Bennett were key contributors throughout the year, while underclassmen like Kroskey and shortstop Danny Peterson showed the promise of a bright future. The RedHawks won critical games down the stretch, including a dramatic walk-off win in the MAC semifinal and a dominant performance in the championship game, to secure their place in the NCAA field.

Though the loss to Tennessee stings, there’s little doubt that this season marked a significant step forward for the program. It served as a reminder that Miami baseball can compete on the national stage and that with the right pieces in place, postseason appearances can become a regular occurrence rather than a rarity.

For players like MacDonald, the experience was bittersweet. “Obviously, we wanted to keep going,” he said after the game. “But we’re proud of what we accomplished. We showed a lot of people what Miami baseball is all about. And we’ll always remember this run.”

Tennessee, meanwhile, advances to the winner’s bracket of the Knoxville Regional and will face the winner of the game between Indiana and Southern Mississippi. The Volunteers look every bit the part of a national title favorite, with a potent mix of offense, pitching, and experience that makes them a difficult matchup for anyone.

As the Volunteers march forward, Miami heads home with heads held high. Their performance on Friday may not have resulted in an upset, but it earned them the respect of opponents, fans, and college baseball observers. They gave Tennessee a battle, showed resilience throughout, and reminded the country why postseason baseball remains one of the most thrilling spectacles in sports.

Looking ahead, Miami has reason for optimism. With several key players expected to return and a recruiting class that brings added depth, the RedHawks are poised to build on this year’s success. The experience gained from playing on the NCAA Tournament stage will be invaluable as the program continues to grow under Coach Hayden’s leadership.

Ultimately, while the 2025 season ends in defeat, the legacy of this Miami RedHawks team will endure. They made history, inspired belief, and set a standard that future teams can strive to surpass. In the end, that’s what college baseball is all about—moments that transcend the final score and leave a lasting mark on a program’s journey.