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Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said After The Vols Took Series Opener At Georgia

Photo via Arkansas Athletics

Tennessee earned its second true road win of the season Friday night knocking off Georgia 12-3 at Foley Field in Athens.

It was a low scoring affair for the first six innings of the game before Tennessee’s offense exploded for 10 runs in the final three innings to take the series opener.

Tennessee coach Tony Vitello discussed the late game offensive explosion, the Vols’ outfield defense and more following the win.

Here’s everything Vitello said after the series opening victory.

More From RTI: Everything To Know About Tennessee’s Series Opening Win At Georgia

On what changed for Tennessee offensively to score 10 runs on 11 hits over the final three innings

“I think the at-bats were pretty solid going into that, but we were able to kind of piece things together and I think when our guys — you know, each year each team has their own different style. And I think when this team is relaxed, it allows them to be true to who they are and as the game got on, I think our team actually got loose. It works out the opposite way very often. Again, regardless of the scoreboard, as the game goes on guys seem to get tense, but our guys seemed more and more into and more and more loose as the game went on.”

On how rewarding it is to see Christian Scott have the success he’s had the last month

“It’s awesome. I don’t say it to him, but his old teammates and I have texted back and forth a bunch about him. You’d like to think the world is fair and you get what you deserve, but it doesn’t always work out that way. But I think a kid that is really matured a lot and has always done what we’ve asked to him and he’s relishing in the opportunity to be out there every day. The cool thing is he’s not trying to be a superhero or do too much. He’s just trying to do his part because we’ve got a pretty good set up with the 10 guys we use consistently and then the other guys that are available. Good sign that we may have (Kavares Tears) back, so if everyone does their piece and you get it into one big puzzle, it’s a pretty good puzzle.”

On Kirby Connell and Camden Sewell being able to work out of the jam in the fifth inning

“The guy — it’s never easy no matter what’s going on. Our team, their team is dealing with all kinds of stuff this time of year and (Andrew) Lindsey had some congestion issues like everybody that’s in America right now probably with pollen and everything. Then also some tightness in some areas. The fact that he got us to that point was rewarding for us and again, anytime I go out there, I can feel his energy and wants to stay in the game because that’s the competitor he is.  But hand the ball off to the next guy, trust him and we did a nice job in a bunt situation. Then after that, Cam (Sewell) came in and did a great job. That was a dangerous situation. It’s a good lineup. They obviously can cause damage one through nine, but the table-setters had got on and we were able to wiggle out of it.”

On Hunter Ensley’s impact both in the field and at the plate

“It’s been huge. He makes two sliding catches in the outfield, too. So, I think the form in which he’s become a catalyst — I’ve said a few times to the media — just being himself. Being that personality that he is. I’d like to focus on my answer, but these guys are knuckleheads (Griffin Merritt and Jared Dickey were standing off to the side). Just because we won a game they think they can try and distract me. Tomorrow awaits.

“But the kid (Ensley) is a tough kid. And like Cal (Stark), both those guys have added the hit by pitch to our repertoire on offense where we didn’t have that. We didn’t have bunting, we didn’t have good base running, we didn’t have aggressive things going on early in the year. And now it’s an offense where you say, we’ve got a multitude of ways we can have success.”

On what Christian Moore is doing differently in the last week

“Normally when something happens physically and you’re a little out of sync you can maybe start to create a bigger monster there or something that’s not really there. I think his frustration caused a little bit of a downward spiral which it’s hard as a baseball player. There’s a lot of repetitions, so when it’s not going well for more than a few in a row that can happen to these kids— they get frustrated but once he kind of shed that frustration, got in the cage and got to work a little bit and then just kind of started playing I believe on that Sunday like he did against Mississippi State with that loose attitude. Again, our guys have their own personalities so I don’t think he’s ever going to be as goofy as Blake Burke but it is nice to see him have his intent focus but at the same time relax and play a kids game here.”

On if they anticipated Ensley being as good defensively as he has been

“No. Don’t tell him I said that but he’s worked hard at it. Now it kind of comes easier to him but he’s worked really hard at it. He played the infield, he kind of played all over. He played a lot of football. Because of football he had an arm injury. He also had a hand injury at one point with us. Being a guy from not necessarily in the deep south as far as baseball reps adding up— he just needed reps but to make them count you have to have some intent behind them and he’s definitely got that and it’s nice he’s stacked a bunch of those and he’s become more than just a good defender.”

On what he’s liked about Cal Stark

“We work on that popup but you can’t simulate that deal where it’s so high in a tough sky and it’s kind of in the perfect spot where nobody else can get there. It was chaos and a really big part of the game and a really good hitter so taking charge. A lot of the guys on our team have started to take charge instead of like in the fall — Gilbert, Russell, Beck — these guys aren’t here I’ve got to be a leader. They’ve just started to take charge of what their situation is. So if I need to be good at bunting or I need to be good at umpire reporte like Chuck and Cal have done, Dickey getting good in left field— whatever it is just take charge of your situation and that’s what he did on that play but also that’s kind of what he’s done in various ways and has made him a strong personality in our lineup.”

On what he saw from Andrew Lindsey

“You don’t want to put a premise out there so much that it happens. I don’t know how much there is to that book “The Secret” but you don’t want to keep saying something, we had to discuss it and I’ll be danged if he doesn’t go out there and kind of not look like he’s looked himself the last couple weeks because he’s been in a nice little rhythm, but as he does he kind of gritted it out and got the more competitive the situation the better he competed and he got us into that middle part of the game. That was huge because it’s a long weekend for everybody in this league that’s playing three games so for him to eat up as many outs as he did and put us in the situation he did was huge.”

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