Pitcher Zander Sechrist was given the start for the Tennessee Volunteers in Game 3 of the College World Series final. That turned out to be the right choice, as he was excellent and set the Volunteers up to win the national championship.
Following the game, Sechrist met with the media. There, he explained his feeling of getting the job done this season and winning the national championship.
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“Just surreal,” Zander Sechrist said. “I mean, that guy has been here for five years in this program, and it’s basically come from the ground up. I was blessed to get an opportunity to play here for the last four years, along with the guy next to me as well.”
Zander Sechrist pitched 5.1 innings in the win over Texas A&M. He struck out seven while walking one. He also gave up just six hits and one earned run during the game. Four pitchers then came in to replace him from the bullpen, which was when Texas A&M began its comeback attempt but it was too late thanks to the effort from Sechrist.
Game 3 was Sechrist’s second time getting to pitch in Omaha. The first was another excellent start in a game against Florida State.
“And Coach V [Tony Vitello] said it earlier, just grit,” Sechrist said. “We had unfinished business, especially this being the third time we’ve been here in the last four years. ’21 we didn’t do well. ’22 you could arguably say that was the best college baseball team ever. ’23 we got to experience winning at least a game here, but the job wasn’t finished. And ’24 just felt a little different. And I’m just blessed today [to] get the job done.”
A senior, Zander Sechrist finished his fourth season at Tennessee with a career ERA of 2.52 over 68 appearances and 42 starts in 161 innings. He also struck out 165 batters.
Tony Vitello on Zander Sechrist
Following the win in Omaha, Tony Vitello praised Zander Sechrist for his performance and how he competed.
“I think just the way he’s competing,” Vitello said.
“That’s an overly simple answer, but he’s like anybody that’s out here. He’s got good enough stuff to compete. Both these lineups are good so when you get out there, you’ve gotta compete with the best version of whoever you are. He’s a quirky fellow, so I’m just gonna go with I assume this is what he’s got for us.”
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