Tennessee Baseball (8-2) is set to take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-7) in game on of a three-game series Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.
SECN+ 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 enter the game on an eight-game winning streak and have allowed just seven runs in their past seven games. Most recently, the Vols swept Charleston Southern in a midweek series, winning both games 6-1 and 8-2, respectively.
For RTI’s most recent Tennessee Baseball coverage, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
LF Jared Dickey
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
DH Griffin Merritt
SS Maui Ahuna
CF Hunter Ensley
RF Christian Scott
C Charlie Taylor
Lineup Notes:
-Tennessee going with solid defensive players in the outfield such as Ensley and Scott due to high winds in Lindsey Nelson.
-With starting Scott and Ensley, Merritt moves to DH.
-Taylor gets the series-opening start at catcher over Cal Stark.
GONZAGA STARTING NINE:
SS Connor Coballes
CF Enzo Apodaca
3B Cade McGee
1B Brian Kalmer
DH Tommy Eisenstat
LF Sam Stem
2B Savier Pinales
RF Logan Johnstone
C Ezra Samperi
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Chase Dollander (1-1, 3.48 ERA, 2 app., 2 starts, 10.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 19 K, .216 opp. batting avg., 2 HP)
vs.
Gonzaga Jr. RHP Owen Wild (0-1, 3.97 ERA, 2 app., 2 starts, 11.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 11 K, .209 opp. batting avg., 2 WP, 1 HP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: White on White
Gonzaga: All Baby Blues
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Connor Coballes singles up the middle.
-Enzo Apodaca singles through the right side. Coballes advances to third.
-Chase Dollander strikes out Cade McGee, Gonzaga’s best hitter.
-Dollander strikes out Brian Kalmer.
-Tommy Eisenstat grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Jared Dickey grounds out to SS.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke smokes a double to the right center wall.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Sam Stem’s single hits Dollander in the foot and ricochets toward Christian Moore. Stem beats the throw.
-Savier Pinales strikes out looking.
-Logan Johnstone strikes out looking.
-Ezra Samperi strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Griffin Merritt reaches on a fielding error by the Gonzaga SS.
-Maui Ahuna rips a single to RF. Merritt advances to second.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
–Refs reviewing if Gonzaga committed catcher’s interference during Christian Scott’s at-bat–
—-Called a foul ball—-
-Christian Scott strikes out.
-Charlie Taylor strikes out swinging. Bottom of the order all strikeout to strand a pair.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Connor Coballes singles to RF.
-Enzo Apodaca grounds into a 6-3 double play.
-Cade McGee strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Jared Dickey strikes out.
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Brian Kalmer strikes out swinging on four pitches.
-Tommy Eisenstat singles up the middle on the first pitch.
-Sam Stem strikes out swinging.
-Savier Pinales fouls out to LF.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Zane Denton is walked.
-Griffin Merritt singles through the left side.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
*Kyle Booker pinch-hitting for Christian Scott*
-Kyle Booker strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Logan Johnstone strikes out swinging.
-Ezra Samperi flies out to right field.
-Connor Coballes lines out to CF. Low line drive right into Ensley’s glove.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Charlie Taylor strikes out looking. Bad strike call on the third strike, was definitely outside.
-Jared Dickey grounds out to p with a bunt. Great play by Wild to barehand it and fire it to first.
-Christian Moore gets ahold of one and homers to left field. Huge play to get Tennessee on the board.
-Blake Burke flies out to deep right field. Wind kept it in. Probably gone any other night.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Bulldogs 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Enzo Apodaca grounds out to 2B.
-Cade McGee is plunked in the wrist.
-Brian Kalmer strikes out swinging.
-Tommy Eisenstat singles up the middle.
-Dollander strikes out Sam Stem. Huge K.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Zane Denton homers to the left field porches on his first pitch of the at-bat. First homer as a Vol.
-Griffin Merritt strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna is walked.
-Ahuna steals second.
-Hunter Ensley is walked.
-Kyle Booker strikes out swinging.
-Ahuna and Ensley steal third and second, respectively.
-Charlie Taylor is walked. Bases loaded for Jared Dickey with two outs.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Jack Moffitt (0-0, 7.88 ERA) on to pitch for Wild*
-Moffitt’s first pitch hits Jared Dickey to bring in a run. Ahuna scores.
-Christian Moore works a walk to bring in another run. Ensley scores. Bases loaded for Blake Burke.
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Bradley Mullan (0-1, 9.53 ERA) on to pitch for Moffitt*
-Blake Burke knocks a two-run single up the middle. Advances to second on the throw home, Moore scores on throw to second.
-Zane Denton is walked. Tennessee has now gone through the order and then some.
-Griffin Merritt is walked. Bases loaded for Maui Ahuna.
-Ahuna grounds out to 2B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 7, Bulldogs 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Dollander)
-Savier Pinales grounds out to SS.
-Logan Johnstone strikes out looking.
-Ezra Samperi grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Hunter Ensley lines out to RF.
-Kyle Booker doubles down the third base line.
-Charlie Taylor smokes an RBI double into left field.
-Jared Dickey flies out to deep right center. Wind stopped it. Taylor advances to third.
-Christian Moore strikes out to end the inning.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 0
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Zach Joyce (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Kirby Connell*
-Connor Coballes grounds out at first 1B to p.
-Enzo Apodaca grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Tyler Griggs grounds out to SS.
End of Top Half.
B8
-Blake Burke smacks a line drive single to center.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
*Jake Kendro pinch-hitting for Griffin Merritt*
-Kendro reaches on a fielder’s choice. Burke out at second.
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to 2B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 0
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: So. RHP Aaron Combs (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Joyce*
-Brian Kalmer homers to left center on the first pitch.
-Tommy Eisenstat doubles to LF.
-Sam Stem strikes out swinging.
-Savier Pinales cranks an RBI double into LF. Eisenstat scores.
-Logan Johnstone strikes out swinging.
-Ezra Samperi strikes out swinging.
End of Game.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 2
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 8, Gonzaga Bulldogs 2
