SCORE: Tennessee 5, Arizona 1 | FINAL

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

Third-ranked Tennessee baseball (10-0) is set to battle the Arizona Wildcats (7-3) Sunday in the Astros Foundation College Classic.

First pitch at Daikin Park is set for 11:05 p.m. ET (10:05 a.m. local)

All games can be watched on Astros.com this weekend.

Tennessee is looking to remain undefeated on the season and in Houston after a 5-2 win over Oklahoma State Friday and 13-3 win over Rice. Pitching has been tremendous once again this weekend, and Gavin Kilen’s power surge has continued, as the junior has hit a whopping four home runs on the weekend.

ROLE DEVELOPING?: Dylan Loy Crucial Relief Outing a Sign of Things to Come?

Before the win over OSU, Tennessee swept Samford last weekend and defeated North Alabama in the midweek.

After the sweep of Samford, Tennessee moved up one spot in D1 Baseball’s rankings from No. 4 to No. 3. Additionally, Tennessee claimed the No. 1 spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Tennessee is the highest-ranked of the four undefeated teams in D1’s Top 10.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Various Rankings Following 7-0 Start

Vitello has experimented plenty with the lineup so far this season and will moving forward in non-conference play in efforts to find the best nine. Vitello is also still experimenting with the day three starting pitcher role. Nate Snead started game three of the Hofstra series but then came out of the bullpen in game two of the Samford series, leading to Brandon Arvidson getting the nod in the series finale in an opener role.

Sunday’s starter is freshman Tegan Kuhns, who is getting his first career start. Kuhns made his season debut Tuesday against North Alabama, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one baserunner via walk.

AJ RUSSELL’S ROLE: What’s Next For AJ Russell After He Made His Return For Tennessee Baseball

Injury/Availability Notes

Tennessee is at 100% with Russell, Kuhns and Dylan Loy back, but a few players of note are sidelined.

• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna has not yet been granted eligibility from the NCAA. Osuna figured to be Tennessee’s opening day starter at first base, and it is unknown when or if he will be able to take the field as a Vol this year.
• Infielder Alex Perry, who was in competition to start at first base before Osuna’s arrival, left the program in January to tend to a personal matter. It remains to be seen when or if Perry will return. He is in his second season at Tennessee.

Opponent Scout

Arizona enters today’s game with a 7-3 record and on a seven-game winning streak.

Arizona has had an amazing weekend so far, beating Texas A&M Friday and Mississippi State Saturday.

Like Oklahoma State, the Wildcats opened the season in Arlington at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, losing all three games to Ole Miss, Clemson and Louisville. Arizona battled Ole Miss close but was blown out by the Tigers and and Cardinals.

Since, the Wildcats have swept San Diego in a weekend series and picked up midweek wins over New Mexico and Rice along with the pair of wins in Houston.

Like Oklahoma State, Arizona was ranked in D1 Baseball’s Preseason Poll, coming in at No. 21. Also like OSU, Arizona hosted an NCAA Regional last postseason but did not advance.

Head coach Chip Hale is in his 4th year at Tucson and boasts two Preseason All-Big 12 selections in infielder Mason White and outfielder Brendan Summerhill.

The reigning Pac-12 Tournament Champions will be a tough out for Tennessee on Sunday, and given their hot streak, they’re probably the toughest team Tennessee has faced to date.

This is the second time Tennessee will play Arizona in program history. The first meeting came just two years ago in Scottsdale, Arizona, when the Wildcats won 3-1.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Beat Rice

For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, including more on Tennessee’s three opponents this weekend in Houston, click here.

For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep of Samford, click here.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Recaps Tennessee Baseball Win Over Rice

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

SS Dean Curley (R)

2B Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

DH Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

3B Manny Marin (R)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

LF Jay Abernathy (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Abernathy in left all three games this weekend.
• Fischer and Clark swap DH and 1B duties from yesterday.
• Marin at third all three games this weekend.
• Peebles back behind the plate after Lawless started Saturday.

ARIZONA STARTING NINE: 

RF Brendan Summerhill (L)

CF Aaron Walton (R)

SS Mason White (L)

2B Garen Caulfield (R)

DH Maddox Mihalakis (L)

C Adonys Guzman (R)

LF Easton Breyfogle (L)

1B Tommy Splaine (R)

3B Mathis Meurant (S)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 app., 0 starts, 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0.00 opp. batting avg., 0.75 WHIP)

vs.

Wildcats Fr. RHP Smith Bailey (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 app., 2 starts, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, .200 opp. batting avg., 0.78 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• First career start for Kuhns.
• Bailey has been one of Arizona’s best arms of the season. Very efficient in his two starts.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange shirts grey pants

Arizona: TBD

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*NOTES*

• There IS a run-rule today and for all games this weekend. If Tennessee or Arizona leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
• Tennessee is the ROAD team.
• Tennessee’s No. 3 ranking refers to D1 Baseball’s poll.
  • Tennessee is No. 1 in the USA Today Poll, No. 2 in the NCBWA and Baseball America polls and No. 4 in the Perfect Game poll.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to RF.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Brendan Summerhill strikes out looking.

• Summerhill thought it was ball four. Fortunate call for Tennessee.

-Aaron Walton grounds out to 3B.

-Mason White grounds out to SS.

• Not a great throw from Curley. Good job by Fischer to scoop it.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Levi Clark pops up to 2B.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Garen Caulfield strikes out swinging.

-Maddox Mihalakis strikes out swinging.

• Great breaking ball from Kuhns for strike three.

-Adonys Guzman doubles to right-center.

• Ensley’s dive comes up just short.

-Easton Breyfogle smacks an RBI triple to left-center to score Guzman.

-Tommy Splaine flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 1

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Manny Marin flies out to RF.

-Cannon Peebles pops up to SS.

-Jay Abernathy singles through the right side.

Abernathy advances to second on a fielding error by 1B. Pickoff attempt went off the top of Splaine’s glove.

-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: R-So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (0-0, 7.20 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*

-Mathis Meurant strikes out swinging.

-Brendan Summerhill works a walk.

-Aaron Walton strikes out swinging on three pitches.

Summerhill steals second.

• Peebles was unable to get the ball out of his glove. Easy steal for Summerhill.

-Mason White strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 1

4th Inning: 

T4

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

-Andrew Fischer smokes a solo homer to right field.

• 2nd HR of the season for Fischer.
• 369 feet, 102 mph

-Levi Clark crushes a no-doubter solo homer to left field.

• Went OUT OF THE STADIUM.
• 5th HR of the season for Clark.
• 388 feet, 106 mph

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Garen Caulfield is walked.

-Maddox Mihalakis grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (1-0, 1.08 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*

-Adonys Guzman is walked.

-Easton Breyfogle strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 1

5th Inning: 

T5

-Manny Marin singles to left field.

Marin caught stealing second, 2-6.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Tommy Splaine strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Mathis Meurant grounds out to 2B.

• Great defensive play by Gavin Kilen. Back-handed the ball.

-Brendan Summerhill works a walk.

Summerhill caught stealing second, 2-4.

• Great throw by Peebles. Call was reviewed and STOOD.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 1

6th Inning: 

T6

-Dean Curley bloops a single down the RF line.

-Gavin Kilen pops up to SS in shallow center.

• Curley just safe at first coming back to the bag.

*Pitching change: RHP Raul Garayzar (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Bailey*

-Hunter Ensley drops a single into shallow center. Curley to second.

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.

• Third-base ump said he went around. Questionable call.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Aaron Walton grounds out to P.

-Mason White grounds out to SS.

-Garen Caulfield singles up the middle.

-Maddox Mihalakis singles to 3B. Caulfield to second.

• Marin tried to barehand it and make the throw but failed to pick it up.

-Adonyz Guzman singles through the left side. Caulfield thrown out at home, 7-2.

• Great throw by Jay Abernathy. Had him by a long shot. Can’t blame Arizona for going for it, though.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 1

7th Inning: 

T7

-Reese Chapman singles through the right side.

-Manny Marin strikes out looking.

-Cannon Peebles launches a two-run homer to right field.

• 2nd HR for Peebles this season.
• Landed in the upper deck.
• 403 feet, 102 mph.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to P on a bunt.

-Dean Curley singles through the right side.

-Gavin Kilen singles up the middle. Curley to third.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Easton Breyfogle grounds out to SS.

-Tommy Splaine grounds out to SS.

-Mathis Meurant bounces a single up the middle.

-Brendan Summerhill strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Wildcats 1

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: LHP Jack Berg (0-0, 45.00 ERA) on to pitch for Garayzar*

-Andrew Fischer works a walk.

-Levi Clark works a walk. Fischer to second.

*Pitching change: RHP Julian Tonghini (0-0, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Berg*

-Reese Chapman bunts the runners over, out at first 5-3.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging, out at first 2-3.

-Cannon Peebles out at first, 1B to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Aaron Walton flies out to the warning track in RF.

• Nice job by Chapman to run back to the wall and catch it.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Snead*

-Mason White strikes out looking.

-Garen Caulfield flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Wildcats 1

9th Inning: 

T9

-Jay Abernathy works a leadoff walk.

-Dean Curley singles up the middle. Abernathy to third.

-Gavin Kilen rips an RBI single through the right side. Curley to second. Abernathy scores.

*Pitching change: RHP Tony Pluta (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Tonghini*

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.

• Curley stays put at third.

-Andrew Fischer strikes out looking.

-Levi Clark flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

*Pitching change: RHP Ryan Combs (0-0, 2.45 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*

*Curley to 3B*

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Andrew Fischer*

*Marin to 1B*

-Maddox Mihalakis strikes out swinging.

-Adonys Guzman grounds out to 3B.

• Laser from Curley.

-Easton Breyfogle strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Wildcats 1

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Arizona Wildcats 1