No. 12 Tennessee baseball is set to take on the No. 21 Texas A&M Aggies for game one of a three-game series on Friday in Knoxville. The game will serve as Tennessee’s home SEC opener.
–D1Baseball.com rankings used–
First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. SECN+ will have the stream. 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 still searching for their first SEC win of the season after getting swept by Missouri on the road to open the season. The Aggies enter the series having gone 1-2 against LSU last weekend in College Station.
For a full preview of the Vols’ upcoming series against the Aggies, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
C Jared Dickey
DH Griffin Merritt
RF Kavares Tears
LF Hunter Ensley
CF Christian Scott
Lineup Notes:
–Scott gets the start in CF after hitting a HR Tuesday. Scott has been pretty efficient as of late and has been given praise by Tony Vitello for his leadership qualities during tough times.
–Dickey makes his first start at catcher this season. Dickey saw three innings at catcher Tuesday against WCU.
–Hunter Ensley continues to see increased opportunities, getting his second SEC start in four conference games.
–Hard-blowing winds more than likely also helped cause Ensley and Scott to earn spots in the starting lineup.
TEXAS A&M STARTING NINE:
CF Kasen Wells
SS Hunter Haas
1B Jack Moss
2B Austin Bost
DH Ryan Targac
3B Trevor Werner
RF Jace LaViolette
LF Kaeden Kent
C Hank Bard
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Chase Dollander (3-2, 3.90 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 27.2 IP, 26 H, 12 R, 12 Er, 6 BB, 45 K, .248 opp. batting avg., 3 HP, 1.19 WHIP)
vs.
Aggies Jr. RHP Nathan Dettmer (1-2, 3.24 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 25 IP, 20 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 11 BB, 29 K, .215 opp. batting avg., 1 HP, 1.24 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Icy Whites
TAMU: Grey on Grey
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Dollander walks Kasen Wells.
-Wells steals second.
-Hunter Haas is walked. Ball four was called due to pitch-clock violation.
-Wells takes third on a passed ball.
-Jack Moss hits an RBI single to CF to score Wells.
-Haas scores, Moss advances to second on a balk.
-Austin Bost pops up to SS.
*Camden Sewell is warming up in the bullpen*
-Ryan Targac strikes out swinging.
-Trevor Werner strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Maui Ahuna triples off the left field wall. Wind carried it almost to the foul line from left-center.
-Christian Moore lays down an RBI to 2B to score Ahuna.
-Blake Burke HBP.
-Zane Denton is walked.
-Jared Dickey takes advantage of the shift and ropes an RBI single down the third-base line.
-Griffin Merritt lines out to 1B.
-Kavares Tears smokes a two-run double to right-center.
-Hunter Ensley cracks an RBI double down the LF line to score Tears.
-Ensley advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Aggies 2
2nd Inning:
T2
-Jace LaViolette triples to RF. Tears dove for it but significantly misjudged where the ball was going to land. Wind likely a factor.
-Maui Ahuna blatantly drops a foul ball in shallow left field.
-Then Ahuna makes up for it with a circus catch in shallow left-center for out number one.
-Hank Bard grounds out to first 1b to p. LaViolette scores.
-Kasen Wells strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Maui Ahuna knocks a leadoff double to left-center.
-Christian Moore sends an RBI single to center field to score Ahuna.
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS. Moore advances to second.
-Zane Denton delivers an RBI single through the left side to score Moore.
-Jared Dickey grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 7, Aggies 3
3rd Inning:
T3
-Hunter Haas singles through the left side.
-Jack Moss lines out to deep LF. Great hustle and catch by Hunter Ensley.
-Austin Bost flies out to deep RF. Terrific catch by Kavares Tears. Runner at first thought Tears dropped it and is tagged out by Ahuna at second. A 9-6 double play.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to 3B.
-Kavares Tears is walked on a full count.
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice. Tears out at second.
-Christian Scott grounds out to 2B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 7, Aggies 3
4th Inning:
T4
-Ryan Targac strikes out swinging.
-Trevor Werner grounds out to 2B.
-Jack LaViolette is HBP.
-Kaeden Kent pops up to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to SS.
-Christian Moore HBP.
-Blake Burke grounds out to LF.
-Christian Moore over-slides second and is tagged out.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 7, Aggies 3
5th Inning:
T5
-Hank Bard strikes out swinging.
-Kasen Wells grounds out 1b to p.
-Hunter Haas strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Zane Denton works a leadoff walk.
-Jared Dickey lays down a beautiful bunt for a single. Runners on first and second with no outs for Griffin Merritt.
-Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Merritt flies out to RF.
-Runners advance on a wild pitch. Denton scores.
-Kavares Tears knocks a sac fly to CF to score Dickey.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 9, Aggies 3
6th Inning:
T6
-Jack Moss strikes out looking,
-Austin Bost grounds out to 2B.
-Ryan Targac grounds out to SS.
End of Top Half.
B6
*Pitching change: Ty Sexton on to pitch for Dettmer*
-Christian Scott pops up to 2B.
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to 2B.
-Christian Moore lines out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 9, Aggies 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Trevor Werner strikes out looking.
-Jace LaViolette flies out to RF. Diving catch by Tears who nearly misjudged it.
*Jr. RHP Seth Halvorsen (1-1, 2.70 ERA) on to pitch for Dollander*
-Kaeden Kent grounds out to p. Nice nab by Halvorsen on the mound.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Blake Burke smashes a 443 ft., 113 mph solo homer over the scoreboard to break out of his slump.
-Zane Denton is walked.
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
-Denton caught stealing.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Aggies 3
8th Inning:
T8
-Hank Bard is walked.
-Kasen Wells reaches on a fielder’s choice. Bard advances to second and third on a throwing error by Burke, as well. Runners on the corners with no outs.
-Hunter Haas grounds into a 6-3 double play as Wells is out at second. Bard scores.
-Jack Moss grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B8
-Kavares Tears singles off the pitcher’s foot. Kyle Booker comes in to pinch-run after Tears was gimpy running to first.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Hunter Ensley*
-Dreiling pops up to 3B.
-Christian Scott strikes out looking.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 10, Aggies 4
9th Inning:
T9
*Charlie Taylor to c for Dickey*
*Dickey to RF for Tears*
*Booker to LF for Ensley*
-Bost flies out to CF.
-Targac strikes out swinging.
-Werner pops up to 1B.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Texas A&M Aggies 4
