*SCROLL DOWN in article for LIVE update thread*
It’s officially baseball time in Tennessee, as the third-ranked Vols (1-2) will begin their 2023 home season on Tuesday against Alabama A&M (3-0). First pitch will take place at 4:30 p.m. ET in Knoxville, and SEC Network + has the call.
Reminder that the online broadcasts can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
The Vols are looking to achieve their second win of the season on Tuesday, as Tennessee went 1-2 to begin the season in the MLB Desert Invitational, losing to Arizona and Grand Canyon and defeating UC-San Diego.
Lineups and starting pitchers for both teams and additional pre-game notes are below.
Tennessee Starting Lineup
DH Jared Dickey
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
RF Griffin Merritt
3B Zane Denton
C Cal Stark
LF Kyle Booker
SS Austen Jaslove
CF Christian Scott
Lineup notes:
-Merritt starting as an outfielder for the first time this season
-Dickey moves to DH as Merritt takes over at RF, LF and CF stay the same as Sunday with Kyle Booker and Christian Scott
-Still no starting SS Maui Ahuna, who awaits clearance from the NCAA, so Austen Jaslove continues to start.
-Second game Cal Stark will serve as starting catcher. Charlie Taylor started at catcher last Friday and Saturday.
Alabama A&M Starting Lineup
DH Tommy Easley
2B Chevalier Dorris
C Jared Tribett
1B Blake Martin
RF Jalen Parker
LF Brycen Hammonds
3B Christian Soto
SS CJ Mervilus
CF Mekhi Lloyd
Pitching Matchup:
*2022 stats listed*
Vols Jr. RHP Hollis Fanning (0-0, 2.70 ERA, 5 appearances, 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, .467 opp. bavg., 1 HBP, 19 batters faced)
vs. Alabama A&M Sr. LHP Roman Sorrell (No stats found)
More From RTI: WATCH: Tennessee Baseball Releases Epic Video Ahead of Home Opener
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Hollis Fanning plunks A&M’s leadoff hitter Tommy Easley.
-Cal Stark throws behind Easley at first after Chevalier Dorris fails to lay a bunt down.
-Dorris strikes out swinging.
-Fanning walks Jared Tribett.
-Fanning picks off Tribett at first to end the inning.
B1
-Jared Dickey singles to 2B
-Christian Moore cracks a double to LF. Dickey advances to third.
-Blake Burke is walked. Bases loaded for Griffin Merritt with no outs.
-Merritt pops up to RF for the first out of the inning.
-Zane Denton cracks a sac fly to right center. Dickey narrowly scores. Runners on second and third with two outs. Play is under further review.
-Call overturned. Dickey is out to end the inning.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Blake Martin singles into shallow center field. Alabama A&M’s first hit of the evening.
-Jalen Parker pops up to 2B.
-Brycen Hammonds lines out to LF.
-Christian Soto strikes out looking.
B2
-Cal Stark flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Kyle Booker works a one-out walk.
-Austen Jaslove pops up to catcher.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jake Fitzgibbons on to pitch for Hollis Fanning*
Hollis Fanning final line: 2IP, 1H, 0ER, 1BB, 2K
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 21, 2023
-Fitzgibbons strikes out CJ Mervilus.
-Mekhi Lloyd strikes out swinging.
-Tommy Easley flies out to the warning track in deep left center. 1-2-3 inning for Fitzgibbons.
B3
-Jared Dickey rips a double down the RF line.
-Christian Moore works a walk.
-Blake Burke delivers a three-run homer over the left center wall. Burke made it look easy.
-Griffin Merritt pops up to 2B.
-Zane Denton grounds out to SS.
-Cal Stark flies out to deep right center.
Score: Vols 3, Bulldogs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Fitzgibbons walks Chevalier Dorris.
-Dorris steals second.
-Jared Tribett is walked.
-Blake Martin strikes out swinging.
-Jalen Parker pops up to 1B.
-Brycen Hammonds strikes out swinging.
B4
-Kyle Booker works a leadoff walk.
-Austen Jaslove grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
-Christian Scott flies out to the warning track in CF.
Score: Vols 3, Bulldogs 0
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP AJ Russell on to pitch for Jake Fitzgibbons*
Final line for Jake Fitzgibbons: 2IP, 0H, 0ER, 2BB, 4K
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 21, 2023
-Christian Soto flies out to LF.
-CJ Mervilus strikes out looking.
-Mekhi Lloyd strikes out swinging.
B5
*Pitching change: So. LHP Gabe Nicholson on to pitch for Sorrell*
-Jared Dickey works a leadoff walk.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging, taking an ill-advised swing for the third strike.
-Blake Burke rips a single to RF and advances to second on the throw home. Dickey avoids the tag and scores.
-Burke steals third on a wild pitch.
-Griffin Merritt is plunked. Runners on the corners with one out for UT.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Jason Marono on to pitch for Nicholson*
-Zane Denton lays down an RBI groundout to 1B unassisted. Burke scores. Merritt advances to second.
-Cal Stark grounds out to 3B.
Score: Vols 5, Bulldogs 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Tommy Easley pops up to catcher.
-Chevalier Dorris singles to SS.
-Dorris advances to second on a passed ball.
-Dorris steals third.
-Jared Tribett strikes out swinging.
-Blake Martin grounds out to 1B unassisted.
B6
-Kyle Booker grounds out to 2B.
*Kavares Tears pinch-hitting for Austen Jaslove*
-Kavares Tears knocks a double to center field in his first at-bat as a college player.
-Christian Moore grounds out to 2B.
-Jared Dickey sends a two-run homer off the foul pole in the Tennessee bullpen. His first homer of the season.
*Logan Chambers pinch-hitting for Christian Moore*
-Chambers works a two-out walk.
*Ethan Payne pinch-hitting for Blake Burke*
-Payne hits an RBI double to center field, as the Alabama A&M center fielder can’t catch it. Chambers scores.
-Griffin Merritt lines out to SS.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jacob Bimbi on to pitch for Russell*
*Payne to 1B for Burke*
*Chambers to 2B for Moore*
*Fr. Jake Kendro to SS for Jaslove*
-Jalen Parker flies out to RF
-Miles Jackson grounds out 1B to P.
-Christian Soto is plunked.
-Bimbi strikes out pinch-hitter Jalen Ford to end the top of the frame.
B7
*Hunter Ensley pinch-hitting for Zane Denton*
-Ensley flies out to right center.
*Charlie Taylor pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Charlie Taylor pops up to 1B.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Kyle Booker*
-Dreiling ropes a triple into the left center gap, also displaying his speed to get to third.
-Jake Kendro strikes out.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 0
8th Inning:
T8
*Merritt to LF*
*Ensley to 1B*
*Dreiling to CF*
*Reese Chapman to RF*
*Taylor to C*
-Devin Tonkins strikes out swinging
-Tommy Easley singles to 2B
-Dorris strikes out looking.
-Tribett is walked.
-Easley steals third.
-Blake Martin strikes out, reaches first on WP. Taylor gets the throw in time to Bimbi, who tags Easley for the final out at home.
B8
*Freshman RHP Kobe Stokes on to pitch for Marono*
-Chapman is walked.
*Ryan Miller pinch-hitting for Jared Dickey*
-Chapman advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Miller hits a moonshot two-run homer over the right field wall.
Score: Vols 10, Bulldogs 0
*Due to the new 10-run rule implemented by the NCAA, the game is over.*
FINAL: TENNESSEE VOLS 10, ALABAMA A&M BULLDOGS 0
