SCORE: Vols 9, Gamecocks 3 | FINAL

***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***

Top-ranked Tennessee baseball (43-10, 19-8 SEC) is set to host No. 24 South Carolina (33-18, 13-14 SEC) Thursday night in game one of a three-game series in Knoxville.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. All three games this weekend will be on SEC Network +. 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. You can also watch or listen to the game using the links.

The series serves as the final regular season SEC series for both teams, and it has massive implications for Tennessee as far as the race for the SEC crown goes. If the Vols sweep the Gamecocks and Kentucky doesn’t sweep Vanderbilt, Tennessee will be the No. 1 seed in Hoover and at least share a part of the SEC title.

Read more about how Tennessee can win the SEC here.

Tennessee is coming off a series win at Vanderbilt in which it won games one and two before losing game three in a 3-0 shutout. The Vols were able to eek out a pair of impressive, close wins on Friday and Saturday to clinch the series, but the bats fell flat in the series finale as Tennessee got shutout for the first time this season.

Regardless, Tennessee’s eighth straight SEC series win was impressive and kept them at the top of all polls.

RECAP: Vols take game one in Nashville

RECAP: Vols survive comeback bid to clinch series in Nashville

RECAP: Bats fall flat as Vols fail to sweep Vandy

Most recently, Tennessee is coming off a 10-0 run-rule midweek win over Belmont. Read more about the Vols’ final midweek win of the season here.

TRANSCRIPT: Tony Vitello Recaps Tuesday Win Over Belmont, Previews South Carolina Series

In addition to the Vanderbilt series win, Tennessee owns series sweeps over defending national champions LSU and Missouri in Knoxville, series wins over No. 9 Georgia and Ole Miss at home, and series wins over No. 2 Kentucky, Florida and Auburn on the road.

As for South Carolina, the Gamecocks have kept their head above water this season, owning some impressive wins while also not being among the top teams in the league. South Carolina’s most impressive series win came against Kentucky three weeks ago in Columbia, but the Gamecocks have also lost series to unranked Alabama and Ole Miss. South Carolina has swept one opponent (Vanderbilt) and has gotten swept once (Georgia – last week).

Injury Note

-Sophomore RHP AJ Russell is still not on the active roster as he deals with forearm soreness. There is a good chance he pitches in the postseason.

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including how Christian Moore is nearing a program record, click here.

For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, click here.

More From RTI: Tennessee’s Tony Vitello Sick And Tired Of College Baseball Run-Rules

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

Starting Lineups

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

2B Christian Moore (R)

1B Blake Burke (L)

3B Billy Amick (R)

LF Dylan Dreiling (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

RF Kavares Tears (L)

SS Dean Curley (R)

DH Colby Backus (R)

C Cal Stark (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Backus gets the DH nod. His second career SEC start.
• Other 8 starters the same it’s been as of late in SEC play.
• Dreiling moves up to cleanup spot, Ensley to 5th, Tears down to 6th.

SOUTH CAROLINA STARTING NINE:

CF Austin Brinling (L)

1B Ethan Petry (R)

RF Blake Jackson (L)

C Cole Messina (R)

2B Parker Noland (L)

LF Kennedy Jones (R)

DH Dalton Reeves (L)

SS Talmadge LeCroy (R)

3B Gavin Casas (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Gr-Sr. LHP Chris Stamos (3-0, 3.33 ERA, 16 app., 5 starts, 24.1 IP, 15 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 12 BB, 27 K, .183 opp. batting avg., 1.11 WHIP)

vs.

Gamecocks Gr-Sr. RHP Ty Good (5-1, 3.21 ERA, 18 app., 2 starts, 1 SV, 47.2 IP, 32 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 21 BB, 63 K, .192 opp. batting avg.)

Pitching notes:

• Stamos sees his sixth straight SEC start. Will be used as an opener before giving way to AJ Causey.
• Good has been a dominant reliever for the majority of the season, as this is only his third start. Good is coming off his worst outing of the season (5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K vs. Georgia). Good is a fifth-year senior transfer from the College of Charleston.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Dark Mode

South Carolina: Grey tops, grey bottoms

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*NOTE* There IS a RUN-RULE today. If Tennessee or South Carolina leads by 10 or more runs in the seventh inning or later, the game is OVER.

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Austin Brinling grounds out to SS.

-Ethan Petry smokes a solo homer to left field.

-Blake Jackson out at first 1B to P.

-Cole Messina is walked on four pitches.

-Parker Noland is walked on four pitches. Messina advances to second.

-Kennedy Jones strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Christian Moore smacks a leadoff solo homer to CF.

• Moore has broken the UT single-season program record with 25 home runs this season. 52 for Moore now on the career.

-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.

-Billy Amick knocks a single to LF.

Amick advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.

Amick advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley is walked.

Ensley steals second.

-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 1

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Dalton Reeves strikes out looking.

-Talmadge LeCroy flies out to RF.

-Gavin Casas flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Dean Curley grounds out to SS.

-Colby Backus strikes out looking.

-Cal Stark flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 1

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP AJ Causey (9-3, 4.13 ERA) on to pitch for Stamos*

-Austin Brinling HBP.

-Ethan Petry strikes out looking.

-Blake Jackson strikes out swinging.

Brinling steals second.

-Cole Messina strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Christian Moore drives a solo homer to CF.

• ANOTHER homer. 53rd of his career. 26 for the season.

-Blake Burke flies out to CF.

-Billy Amick lines out to CF.

-Dylan Dreiling is walked.

Dreiling advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley is walked on four pitches.

-Kavares Tears launches a three-run homer to left field.

• Big, big swing for KT.

-Dean Curley grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 1

4th Inning: 

T4

-Parker Noland is walked.

-Kennedy Jones grounds into a 1-4-3 double play.

-Dalton Reeves doubles down the RF line.

-Talmadge LeCroy strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Colby Backus strikes out swinging.

-Cal Stark is walked.

-Christian Moore lines out to 2B. Stark ruled safe at first after review.

-Blake Burke smacks an RBI double to left center to score Stark.

-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 6, Gamecocks 1

5th Inning: 

T5

-Gavin Casas grounds out to 2B.

-Austin Brinling strikes out swinging.

-Ethan Petry HBP.

-Blake Jackson grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: RHP Tyler Pitzer (4-1, 4.29 ERA) on to pitch for Good*

-Dylan Dreiling flies out to LF.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to LF.

-Kavares Tears grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 6, Gamecocks 1

6th Inning: 

T6

-Cole Messina sends a solo homer to CF.

-Parker Nolan’s grounds out to P.

-Kennedy Jones strikes out swinging.

-Dalton Reeves strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.

*Reese Chapman pinch-hitting for Colby Backus*

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 6, Gamecocks 2

7th Inning: 

T7

-Talmadge LeCroy pops up to P.

-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.

-Austin Brinling singles to 1B.

-Ethan Petry singles up the middle. Brinling advances to second.

-Blake Jackson flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Christian Moore singles to RF.

-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.

Moore steals second.

-Billy Amick rips an RBI double down the LF line to score Moore.

-Dylan Dreiling obliterates a two-run homer to right center.

-Hunter Ensley works a walk.

-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.

-Dean Curley pops up to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Gamecocks 2

8th Inning: 

T8

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Curley*

-Cole Messina singles to LF.

-Parker Noland singles through the left side. Messina advances to second.

-Kennedy Jones flies out to LF.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell on to pitch for Causey*

-Dalton Reeves knocks an RBI single up the middle.

-Talmadge LeCroy flies out to RF.

-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: RHP Drake Quinn (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) is in to pitch for South Carolina*

-Chapman singles off the right field wall.

-Stark strikes out swinging.

-Moore is hit by a pitch. Chapman advances to second.

-Burke grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

Score: Vols 9, Gamecocks 3

9th Inning: 

T9

-Brinling flied out to right field.

-Petry strikes out swinging.

-Jackson grounds out to the pitcher.

B9

FINAL: Tennessee Vols _9_, South Carolina Gamecocks _3_