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Tennessee-Evansville baseball weather updates: Lightning delays Vols' super regional game

john leuzzi, usa today network
·5 min read

Mother Nature has made an appearance in Knoxville for No. 1 Tennessee baseball's pivotal Game 3 of the Knoxville Super Regional against Evansville — and it isn't a good one.

Due to lightning detected in the Knoxville area, along with rain at the stadium, first pitch between the Vols and Purple Aces will not start on time at 7:06 p.m. ET, according to Tennessee's account on X (formerly Twitter). The team told fans that had already made their way into Lindsey Nelson Stadium to seek shelter.

REQUIRED READING: Has Tennessee baseball ever won College World Series? Vols history in NCAA baseball tournament

The winner of Sunday's game will advance to the College World Series. Tennessee took Game 1 on Friday, 11-6, before allowing the Purple Aces to get back into the series with a 10-8 victory on Saturday.

Follow along here for live weather updates:

Tennessee vs. Evansville baseball live weather updates

This section will be updated. All times Eastern

7:07 p.m.: Game is underway in Knoxville as Zander Sechrist throws a first pitch strike. Play ball!

7:03 p.m.: The start of Tennessee vs. Evansville is starting on ESPNews and ESPN+. It will move to ESPNU at the conclusion of Florida-Clemson.

7:00 p.m.: The conclusion of Florida-Clemson in the Clemson Super Regional is heading to ESPNU now due to Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN. More to come on any TV change for the Vols-Purple Aces.

6:50 p.m.: Tennessee tweeted out about a half hour ago that both teams have returned to the field and pregame warm ups are underway. First pitch is now 15 minutes away!

6:45 p.m.: ABC6's Chief Meteorologist Ken Weathers has tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) that the storms have moved out of the Knoxville region, but wind will be a factor tonight.

6:30 p.m.: Rain looked to have been coming down pretty hard at the stadium in Knoxville as fans squeezed under tents to stay dry. First pitch is still on time to start around 7:06 p.m. ET.

6:10 p.m.: Tennessee tweeted out that gates are now open at the ballpark.

6:00 p.m.: NCAA weather rules state that once lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, action must be halted for 30 minutes. For every lightning strike after the initial strike, 30 more minutes are added to the delay. Here's more from the NCAA:

"To resume athletics activities, lightning safety experts recommend waiting 30 minutes after both the last sound of thunder and after the last flash of lightning is at least six miles away, and moving away from the venue. If lightning is seen without hearing thunder, lightning may be out of range and therefore less likely to be a significant threat. At night, be aware that lightning can be visible at a much greater distance than during the day as clouds are being lit from the inside by lightning. This greater distance may mean that the lightning is no longer a significant threat. At night, use both the sound of thunder and seeing the lightning channel itself to decide on when to reset the 30-minute return-to-play clock before resuming outdoor athletics activities."

5:49 p.m.: Here's a look at the most recent radar from ABC6's Chief Meteorologist Ken Weathers. Looks like lightning is making its way through the Knoxville area.

5:24 p.m.: First pitch between the Vols and the Purple Aces is now slated for 7:06 p.m. ET. ESPNU will still handle the broadcast duties.

5:20 p.m.: Mother Nature delaying baseball from happening on Rocky Top Sunday. Due to lightning detected near Knoxville and rain at the stadium, Tennessee vs. Evansville will begin in a weather delay per the Vols Twitter account.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee-Evansville baseball weather updates: Lightning delays game