Tim Corbin addresses heated end of series between Vanderbilt, Tennessee

A testy series between Tennessee and Vanderbilt took a turn, nearly turning sour at the conclusion of a 7-5 Commodores win on Sunday. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed.

But after the Commodores came out to celebrate on the field, the Volunteers took exception. There was nearly a big dust-up.

After the game, Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin addressed the situation. He downplayed its significance.

“I don’t know. I didn’t know what happened really until I was in the middle of it,” Corbin told reporters. “But it was just, it’s two emotional teams. That’s all. Played hard. Boys will be boys. That’s really all it is.”

Vanderbilt took the series after Ethan McElvain stranded the trying and winning runs, working out of a jam with the bases loaded by striking out Cannon Peebles. That’s when the teams both flowed toward the playing area.

There was a mass of humanity around the first-base side between the pitcher’s mound and the line, but no punches were thrown. Sanity prevailed after a tense minute or two.

Then Corbin could be seen talking with Tennessee coach Tony Vitello. The Vanderbilt head man once again tamped things down.

“I talked to Tony throughout the series,” Corbin said. “Very cordial and appreciate that. Yeah. I mean, you know, both teams going at one another, you see it. It’s a tough conference.”

The final home game of the regular season is on Tuesday for the No. 15 Volunteers as Tennessee plays host to Belmont at 5 p.m. ET. That’ll be ahead of the final weekend in the regular season at Arkansas.

Vanderbilt, on the other hand, will not have a midweek game. The team will host Kentucky starting on Thursday in Nashville.