SCORE: Tennessee 10, Texas A&M 0 | FINAL (7 inn. run-rule win – combined no-hitter)
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No. 1 Tennessee baseball (27-2, 8-1 SEC) is set to battle the Texas A&M Aggies (14-14, 1-8 SEC) Friday night in game one of a three game weekend series in Knoxville.
First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Game two is at 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. Game three will be televised on ESPN2.
Tennessee enters Friday’s matchup coming off a 7-1 midweek win over Tennessee Tech. AJ Russell made his return to action in the win, tossing a scoreless first inning in an opener role.
Prior to the win over the Golden Eagles, Tennessee swept South Carolina on the road. Hunter Ensley and Dalton Bargo raked at the plate, Andrew Fischer had a pair of homers, and Tennessee’s pitching staff was highlighted by great performances from true freshmen Tegan Kuhns and Brayden Krenzel in a 7-2 series-sweeping finale.
Tennessee has been dominant 28 games in to the season. The Vols own two series sweeps in league play so far and five overall. UT’s only losses have come in a 7-6 extra-innings midweek thriller to ETSU and a 6-5 series-opening loss to Alabama
Following the South Carolina series sweep, Tennessee became the consensus No. 1 team in all five polls.
HIGHLIGHT: Ariel Antigua Makes ‘One of the Best’ Plays Tony Vitello Has Ever Seen
In the ETSU loss, star second baseman Gavin Kilen suffered a hamstring injury when an ETSU player slid into him. The star second baseman has not been in the starting lineup since and is once again not in the lineup Friday against the Aggies.
However, Kilen did make his return to action last Saturday, getting a pinch-hit at-bat in the eighth. Expect Kilen to get at least one at-bat this weekend against Texas A&M and potentially a DH start. A start in the infield would be a surprise.
Manny Marin has been Tennessee’s primary second baseman with Kilen sidelined. Ariel Antigua has started at shortstop and Dean Curley has moved to third base in the last seven games. That remains the case Friday.
The worst part of Tennessee’s season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge at the beginning of March.
In response, Osuna penned a letter to the NCAA requesting they make things right and grant him eligibility.
Read more about the court’s decision and its impact on Osuna HERE.
Injury/Availability Notes
- 2B Gavin Kilen is still out of the lineup with a hamstring injury.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- 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
The Aggies have significantly underwhelmed so far this season. After being preseason No. 1, Texas A&M finds themselves 1-8 in SEC play and 14-14 overall. The Aggies have gotten swept by Alabama and Georgia and lost two of three games to Kentucky a week ago.
It’s tough to pinpoint why A&M has struggled so much. Gavin Grahovac’s season-ending injury and the coaching change is certainly a factor, but the Aggies have too much talent at the plate and on the mound for this season to make sense.
The Aggies are entering the Tennessee series with their backs against the wall a bit, and they still have plenty of talent to pull off a surprising upset. While a series win is undoubtedly the expectation and a sweep definitely possible, expect A&M to throw its best punch at the Vols.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said After Midweek Win Over Tennessee Tech
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
VIDEO: Tony Vitello Talks AJ Russell’s Return, Midweek Win Over Tennessee Tech
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:
3B Dean Curley (R)
DH Dalton Bargo (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
3B Manny Marin (R)
LF Jay Abernathy (L)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
SS Ariel Antigua (R)
Lineup Notes:
- With Gavin Kilen still out of the lineup with a hamstring, Manny Marin starts at second base.
- Ariel Antigua stays at shortstop where he has started the last seven games. Curley stays at third.
- Dalton Bargo gets the nod at DH. Jay Abernathy in left. As it was all three games against SC.
- Cannon Peebles behind the plate to open the series, as it’s been for Tennessee.
TEXAS A&M STARTING NINE:
RF Terrence Kiel II (R)
CF Jace LaViolette (L)
3B Wyatt Henseler (R)
DH Caden Sorrell (L)
C Bear Harrison (R)
SS Kaeden Kent (L)
1B Blake Binderup (R)
2B Ben Royo (R)
LF Sawyer Farr (S)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (4-1, 2.95 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 36.2 IP, 24 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 12 BB, 73 K, 7 XBH, .185 opp. batting avg., 0.98 WHIP)
vs.
Aggies R-Jr. LHP Ryan Prager (2-1, 3.35 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 1 CG, 40.1 IP, 33 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 13 BB, 38 K, 13 XBH, .226 opp. batting avg., 1.14 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Doyle stays in a game one role. He’s been imperfect but resilient in his last two starts. Doyle will look to have a more ebb-free outing against the Aggies.
- Ace vs. Ace pitching matchup. Prager hasn’t been as good as he was last year but still a difficult matchup for the Tennessee offense.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Friday Whites
Texas A&M: TBD
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Texas A&M leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Terrence Kiel II strikes out looking.
-Jace LaViolette strikes out swinging after a six-pitch at-bat.
-Wyatt Henseler pops up to SS after a eight-pitch at-bat.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Aggies 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Caden Sorrell strikes out swinging.
-Bear Harrison reaches on a fielding error by SS.
- Unusual error from Antigua. Late with his glove and it went under him.
-Kaeden Kent strikes out looking.
-Blake Binderup reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Harrison out at second, 6-4.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Andrew Fischer smokes a solo homer to right field.
- Fischer’s 12th HR of the season.
- 371 feet, 108 mph.
- Tennessee has hit a homer in 12 straight games.
- Fischer’s 5th HR in his last nine games.
-Reese Chapman pops up to CF.
-Manny Marin singles to left field.
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B. Marin advances to second.
-Cannon Peebles grounds out to P unassisted.
- Little dribbler to Prager, who tagged out Peebles.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Aggies 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Ben Royo flies out to LF at the warning track.
-Sawyer Farr grounds out to 3B.
- Curley’s arm is on much better display when he’s at third. Absolute lasers from No. 1 the last couple weeks.
-Terrence Kiel II strikes out swinging
- 5 Ks for Doyle through three. Yet to allow a walk or hit. Dominant a third of the way through.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Ariel Antigua lines out to 3B.
- A rocket right to Henseler.
-Dean Curley singles to right center.
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 1B unassisted. Curley to second.
- Really hard-hit ball. Unlucky ending to a great AB.
- Bargo fouled off five 2-2 pitches (nine-pitch AB)
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielding error by 3B. Curley to third.
- Ricocheted off Henseler’s glove. Bad mistake on what could’ve been an inning-ending groundout.
-Andrew Fischer hammers a three-run homer off the videoboard.
- 13th HR of the season and 2nd of the game. Back-to-back jacks in Fischer’s ABs to start tonight.
- 6th HR for Fischer in his last nine games.
- 355 feet, 107 mph.
- 2nd multi homer game for Fischer at Tennessee and first in SEC play.
-Reese Chapman knocks a single into left-center.
- Just got over the shortstop’s glove.
-Manny Marin grounds out to P.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Aggies 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Jace LaViolette flies out to LF.
-Wyatt Henseler strikes out swinging.
-Caden Sorrell works a walk.
-Bear Harrison HBP. Sorrell to second.
-Kaeden Kent grounds into a 4-6 fielder’s choice.
END OF TOP HALF.
B4
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.
-Cannon Peebles lines out to LF.
- Really great over shoulder catch by the left fielder. No-look snared it out of the air.
-Ariel Antigua lines out to SS.
- Diving catch from Kent. Some elite defense from the Aggies in the fourth.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Aggies 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Blake Binderup strikes out swinging.
-Ben Royo flies out to CF.
-Sawyer Farr lines out to 3B.
- Nice catch by Curley. Was a rocket off of Farr’s bat.
- A&M still yet to get a hit tonight.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Dean Curley smacks a solo homer to right field.
- Opposite field shot.
- 9th HR of the season for Curley. Tennessee’s third of the game.
-Dalton Bargo doubles to left-center.
-Hunter Ensley singles through the left side. Bargo out at home, 7-2.
- Heck of a throw but the send wasn’t great. With Fischer coming up keeping Bargo at third should have been the move.
-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.
-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Aggies 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Terrence Kiel II strikes out looking.
-Jace LaViolette is walked.
- Worked his way back from being down 0-2. Four straight balls from Doyle.
Trainer Jeff Wood coming out to look at Doyle. He’s staying in the game. Doyle has kept looking at his left finger, especially during the LaViolette at-bat.
-Wyatt Henseler HBP. LaViolette to second.
-Caden Sorrell grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Manny Marin grounds out to 3B.
-Jay Abernathy ropes a double to right field.
Abernathy advances to third on a passed ball.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: LHP Caden McCoy (0-1, 4.66 ERA) on to pitch for Prager*
-Ariel Antigua sends an RBI single to 3B.
- Hard-hit ball that was fielded well by Henseler. His throw was wide left and Binderup was unable to catch it.
Antigua advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.
-Dalton Bargo slaps an RBI single to center. Antigua scores.
-Hunter Ensley launches a three-run homer to right field.
- Ensley’s 5th HR of the season.
-Andrew Fischer flies out to LF at the warning track.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 10, Aggies 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (4-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Doyle*
-Bear Harrison grounds out to 2B.
-Kaden Kent flies out to RF.
-Blake Binderup grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 10, Aggies 0
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Texas A&M Aggies 0 (7 inn. Run-Rule Win – Combined No-Hitter)
