*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 9, Bruins 5 | FINAL
Tennessee baseball (35-17, 14-13 SEC) is set to host the Belmont Bruins (23-29, 8-16 MVC) inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday for the final midweek game of the season and regular season home finale.
First pitch on Tuesday, which will serve as a Senior Day for the Vols, is at 5:35 p.m. ET after a pair of weather delays. First pitch time was moved up from 6:30 p.m. ET to 5 p.m. ET due to inclement weather coming Knoxville’s way later in the night and now has been pushed back twice.
SECN+ has the stream for Tuesday’s game.
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.
Senior Night highlight videos from LNS are below.
#Vols baseball seniors are honored on Senior Night inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
🔘Kirby Connell
🔘Zane Denton
🔘Seth Halvorsen
🔘Griffin MerrittEthan Payne and Logan Chambers were also recognized. pic.twitter.com/bmZi5DKFEV
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) May 16, 2023
As said in the tweet, Kirby Connell, Seth Halvorsen, Zane Denton, Griffin Merritt, Ethan Payne and Logan Chambers were the six seniors recognized. Super seniors such as Camden Sewell and Christian Scott were recognized last year.
Tennessee is entering the midweek coming off of a series win over Kentucky. For all of RTI’s coverage leading into the midweek battle with the in-state opponent, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
CF Hunter Ensley
1B Blake Burke
LF Griffin Merritt
2B Christian Moore
3B Zane Denton
RF Christian Scott
C Charlie Taylor
DH Ethan Payne
Lineup Notes:
–Ethan Payne gets the senior day start at DH.
–Merritt gets his first outfield start in a while.
–Charlie Taylor gets the midweek start behind the plate.
–Still no Jared Dickey in the lineup. Christian Scott and Hunter Ensley rounds out the outfield rotation.
BELMONT STARTING NINE:
2B Jack Rando
3B Mason Landers
1B Brodey Heaton
RF Sam Slaughter
LF Max Blessinger
C Blake Barton
SS Sam Kirkpatrick
CF Jeff Clarke
DH Ethan Harden
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. LHP Zander Sechrist (0-1, 2.22 ERA, 20 app., 11 starts, 28.1 IP, 26 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 29 K, .245 opp. batting avg., 1.07 WHIP)
vs.
Bruins Jr. LHP Jalen Borders (0-2, 12.38 ERA, 4 app., 2 starts, 8.0 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 8 BB, 16 K, .303 opp. batting avg., 2.25 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Pinstripes
Belmont: Red on White
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Jack Rando strikes out swinging.
-Mason Landers strikes out swinging.
-Brodey Heaton strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Maui Ahuna singles up the middle to leadoff the inning.
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice as Ahuna is out at second 6-4. First baseman cannot make the scoop to complete the double play so Ensley is on at first.
-Blake Burke grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bruins 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Sam Slaughter doubles to left center.
-Max Blessinger flies out to RF. Slaughter advances to third.
*Pitching matchup: RHP Bryce Jenkins (1-0, 5.87 ERA) on to pitch for Sechrist*
-Blake Barton strikes out swinging.
-Sam Kirkpatrick strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to SS.
-Christian Moore is walked on a full count.
-Zane Denton strikes out looking.
-Christian Scott is walked on four pitches.
-Baserunners steal second and third.
-Charlie Taylor singles to CF as Belmont’s right fielder or center fielder can make the catch. It’s a 2 RBI single as Scott and Moore score.
-Ethan Payne works a walk.
-Maui Ahuna ropes a RBI double down the RF line to score Taylor. Payne advances to third.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 3, Bruins 0
***WEATHER DELAY at E2. The game will resume at 8 p.m. ET***
3rd Inning:
T3
*The game has resumed after a 1 hr. 27 min. delay*
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jacob Bimbi (2-0, 3.46 ERA) on to pitch for Jenkins*
-Jeff Clarke is walked on four pitches.
-Ethan Harden doubles into deep left field. Clarke advances to third.
-Jack Rando strikes out looking.
-Mason Landers strike out looking.
-Brodey Heaton is walked.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 3.21 ERA) on to pitch for Bimbi*
-Sam Slaughter slaps a two-run double through the right side to put Belmont on the board. Heaton advances to third.
-Max Blessinger knocks a two-run double to right center.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Zach Joyce (0-0, 4.00 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Blake Barton flies out to CF.
End of Top Half.
B3
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Jake Timbes (0-0, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Borders*
-Blake Burke singles through the right side.
-Griffin Merritt grounds into a 6-3 double play. Burke out on the play.
-Christian Moore is hit in the head by a pitch. He is down on the turf in pain. After being checked out by the trainer, Moore jogs to first.
-Zane Denton cranks a two-run homer to right center. His 12th HR of the season.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Bruins 4
4th Inning:
T4
-Sam Kirkpatrick grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Jeff Clarke singles to RF.
-Clarke advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Clarke advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Ethan Barden strikes out swinging.
-Jack Rando smokes an RBI single to 3B. Clarke scores.
-Rando steals second.
-Mason Landers strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Charlie Taylor lines out to SS.
-Ethan Payne strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna doubles to left center.
-Hunter Ensley drills an RBI double to left field to score Ahuna.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Bruins 5
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Hollis Fanning (0-0, 0.90 ERA) on to pitch for Joyce*
-Brodey Heaton singles to RF.
-Heaton advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Sam Slaughter strikes out swinging.
-Max Blessinger strikes out swinging.
-Blake Barton strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B5
*Pitching change: So. RHP Cade Granzow (1-1, 7.97 ERA) on to pitch for Timbes*
-Griffin Merritt doubles down the RF line.
-Christian Moore is walked on a full count.
-Zane Denton flies out to LF.
-Christian Scott smacks an RBI single to RF. Merritt scores and Moore advances to third.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Charlie Taylor*
-Dreiling is walked. Scott advances to second. Bases loaded for Kavares Tears.
*Kavares Tears pinch-hitting for Ethan Payne*
-Tears strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 7, Bruins 5
6th Inning:
T6
*Cal Stark to c for Taylor*
-Sam Kirkpatrick strikes out swinging.
-Jeff Clarke strikes out swinging.
-Ethan Harden strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B6
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Will Pryor on to pitch for Granzow*
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.
-Blake Burke triples down the RF line.
-Griffin Merritt lays down an RBI groundout to 3B to score Burke.
*Logan Chambers pinch-hitting for Christian Moore*
-Logan Chambers singles to RF.
-Zane Denton flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Bruins 5
7th Inning:
T7
*Chambers to 2B for Moore*
-Jack Rando strikes out swinging. His seventh straight K.
-Mason Landers grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Brodey Heaton singles through the left side.
-Sam Slaughter fouls out to 3B.
End of Top Half.
B7
*Pitching change: So. RHP Caleb Guisewite (1-1, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Pryor*
-Christian Scott smokes a triple down the RF line.
-Cal Stark knocks a sac fly to CF.
-Kavares Tears grounds out to 2B.
-Maui Ahuna flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 9, Bruins 5
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Andrew Behnke (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Fanning*
-Max Blessinger singles up the middle.
-Blessinger steals second.
-Blake Barton strikes out swinging.
-Sam Kirkpatrick pops up to 2B.
-Jeff Clarke strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B8
*Ryan Miller pinch-hitting for Hunter Ensley*
-Miller strikes out swinging.
*Reese Chapman pinch-hitting for Blake Burke*
-Chapman strikes out swinging.
*Austen Jaslove pinch-hitting for Griffin Merritt*
-Jaslove fouls out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 9, Belmont Bruins 5
