Tennessee Baseball ‘Pizza Series’ Game Three Stats And Notes

Let’s start on the injury front where there was an update. Andrew Fischer did not swing the bat but did play a good bit of first base on Sunday. He didn’t participate at all during the first two days of the series. The Ole Miss third baseman transfer was overall solid at first. He did fail to make a pretty manageable scoop when Dean Curley skipped one to him.

Things were all the same for Cannon Peebles who served as designated hitter but did not work any behind the plate. Peebles had a fantastic day at the plate, reaching base in three of four at-bats, hitting a home run and leading off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single.

The way the teams are divided generally puts the starting batting lineup with pitchers further down the depth chart while the top pitchers are teammates with the second team lineup.

After Ariel Antigua was with the starters on Friday, freshman Manny Marin took his place the final two days of the series. Marin played third base on Sunday and was smooth defensively while struggling at the plate.

Dean Curley and Gavin Kilen continued to alternate between second base and short stop every inning which was the case for most of the weekend. Both were good at shortstop though Curley committed a fielding error while playing second base.

At the plate, those two guys continue to look like the top dudes in Tennessee’s lineup. Curley went deep and had a game-tying RBI double on Sunday. Kilen had another casual two-hit day. He makes those look ordinary.

Last notes at the plate, Chris Newstrom, Jaxon Walker and Brennon Seigler each hit home runs for the orange team, helping them jump out to an early lead.

On to some pitching notes. Tennessee used 10 different pitchers and three of the pitchers I’m highest one threw just an inning. The orange team jumped all over junior college LHP Brandon Arvidson in the first inning, scoring four runs on him including the long balls from Newstrom and Walker.

Sophomore LHP Dylan Loy threw just one inning as a starter. He was in trouble early when two hits and a walk loaded the bases with one out. But Loy limited the damage, allowing just one run on a sac fly.

The third pitcher was freshman RHP Tegan Kuhns coming out of the bullpen. I was surprised he threw just one inning but he made the most out of it, retiring the side in order while striking out one batter.

RHP Nic Abraham and RHP Austin Hunley each pitched long relief and had solid outings. I was particularly impressed with Hunley. The redshirt sophomore got hit hard to start his outing but settled in and turned in four strong innings despite some shaky defense behind him. Abraham allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings of relief.

Finally, let’s get to how the exhibition finished. Ryan Combs, who closed out game one on Friday, came in to pitch the ninth inning trying to hold on to a 7-6 lead. Peebles led off the inning with a single then Combs struck out Reese Chapman and induced a fly out from Jay Abernathy.

That set the stage for Combs vs. Curley with the weekend series on the line. Curley won the battle, doubling to left-center field and driving Peebles home. Combs got Kilen to fly out to keep the game tied.

Tennessee did not play extra innings but had “1v1” competitions instead. A pitcher from one team faced a batter from another with no fielders. Here are the results that ended with a Orange win.

RHP Brayden Krenzel (White) struck out Colby Backus (Orange).

RHP Aaron Combs (Orange) got a fly out from Hunter Ensley (White).

RHP Brayden Krenzel (White) gave up a double to Blake Grimmer (Orange).

RHP Aaron Combs (Orange) struck out Dalton Bargo (White).

Those results are not included in these stats below.

Stats