Vols baseball embracing final regular season home stand with postseason around the corner

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — The end of the regular season road has finally arrived as the college baseball season inches towards postseason play - and Tennessee Vols baseball is ready to embrace it as the No. 1 team in the country.

After a final non-conference win over Belmont on Tuesday night, the Vols now enter their final SEC regular season series in a meeting in Knoxville with No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks.

For the Vols, while the postseason is in their sights and their minds, they are looking to appreciate their final home stand of the regular season and take care of business before the postseason comes to life.

"I think each time we put on the uniform we want to compete and do well. You do want to look for reasons, kind of like the Michael Jordan thing, searching for motivation - and Thursday is an opportunity to get back at a conference game, whereas the last one was very frustrating," said head coach Tony Vitello. "I think the easiest and best thing to do for the staff and players is to hone in to Thursday."

Regardless of their No. 1 ranking and sitting atop the SEC, the Vols are eager to end the regular season on a high note and build momentum into the postseason without looking too far ahead.

"School is out as of Thursday, so there's another reason for you. There are a lot of reasons to come to the park with some energy, be grateful an make sure you compete your butt of," added Vitello. "And you're doing those things because you do want to win that game and then after that game, we'll assess what's going on."