SCORE: Tennessee 3, Ole Miss 2 | FINAL
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No. 5 Tennessee baseball (29-4, 9-3 SEC) is set to battle the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (26-7, 8-4 SEC) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Oxford.
First pitch at Swayze Field is at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
For a full preview of the series, including how to watch all three games, pitching matchups and a prediction, click HERE.
The Vols enter the series coming off their first series loss of the season last weekend against Texas A&M. After securing a run-rule no-hit win over the Aggies in game one, Tennessee got swept in a Saturday doubleheader to drop the series.
It wasn’t pretty either, as A&M recorded 11 home runs across the two games and capped off the doubleheader with a 17-6 run-rule win in eight innings. It was by far the worst day for Tennessee’s pitching staff this season and the offense did minimal damage in 17 innings.
However, it’s important to note that Tennessee has still had a great season to date. The Vols own series sweeps over South Carolina and Florida and also won two of three on the road against a Top-15 Alabama team. Looking at the season as a whole, last Saturday is a major outlier but certainly is the first true cause for concern so far this season.
Tuesday, Tennessee bounced back from the A&M series loss with a 10-2 win over Alabama State.
RETURN: Tennessee Baseball Stars Readying For Return To Ole Miss This Weekend
The series loss to Texas A&M marked Tennessee’s first in over a year, snapping Tennessee’s streak of 12 straight SEC series wins dating back to March 2024.
After the series loss, Tennessee dropped four spots in D1 Baseball’s Top 25 poll from No. 1 to No. 5. Read about where Tennessee is ranked in all five major polls below.
RANKINGS: How Far Tennessee Baseball Fell In Rankings Following First Series Loss Of The Season
Tennessee is the healthiest they’ve been in a while entering the Ole Miss series. Star junior infielder Gavin Kilen was not on the injury report heading into game one and is starting at DH for the Vols Friday. Whether Kilen will be able to run the bases or not if he gets on remains to be seen, but he has clearly made some significant progress in the last week.
Additionally, RHP AJ Russell was not on the injury report, meaning he can pitch for the Vols this weekend if called upon. He has started each of the past two midweek games and pitched three total innings.
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 BACK in the lineup after a multi-week absence, starting at DH.
- OF Chris Newstrom is OUT for the series opener with an illness.
- 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
Ole Miss’ great season has been a little surprising thus far.
Picked to finish 15th in the SEC Preseason Poll, the Rebels are off to a 8-4 start in league play with series wins over Florida and Kentucky and a series sweep over Missouri on the road. The Rebels lone SEC series loss came to Arkansas on the first weekend of conference play.
Ole Miss also owns a big, run-rule win over Clemson in opening weekend.
Head coach Mike Bianco’s squad hasn’t had the toughest of schedules though, as Missouri, Florida and Kentucky have all been bottom tier or mid-tier at best in the SEC so far.
The Rebels boast just one Preseason All-Conference selection in starting LHP Hunter Elliott, who is starting Friday night’s game.
Prediction: This will be a hard-fought series, but given Ole Miss’ pitching concerns beyond Friday, Tennessee takes two of three in Oxford.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said Post Alabama State Win, Previewing Ole Miss
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass, discussing the biggest takeaways from Tennessee’s series loss to Texas A&M, click HERE.
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 Gavin Kilen (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
LF Dalton Bargo (L)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
2B Manny Marin (R)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
SS Ariel Antigua (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Gavin Kilen makes his return to the lineup for the first time since the ETSU game in which he injured his hamstring.
- We’ll see if Kilen runs the bases if he gets on.
- Dalton Bargo moves to left with Kilen at DH, bumping Jay Abernathy out.
- Marin stays at second and Antigua stays at short, which has mostly been the case in SEC play as of late with Kilen not at second.
- Cannon Peebles behind the plate to open the series.
OLE MISS STARTING NINE:
3B Luke Hill (R)
LF Mitchell Sanford (L)
RF Ryan Moerman (R)
2B Judd Utermark (R)
1B Will Furniss (L)
DH Hayden Federico (S)
CF Isaac Humphrey (L)
C Austin Fawley (R)
SS Luke Cheng (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (5-1, 2.53 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 42.2 IP, 24 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 14 BB, 81 K, 7 XBH, .162 opp. batting avg., 0.89 WHIP)
vs.
Rebels R-Jr. LHP Hunter Elliott (5-0, 3.63 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 39.2 IP, 29 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 17 BB, 51 K, 9 XBH, .212 opp. batting avg., 1.16 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Doyle makes his highly-anticipated return to Oxford in the series opener. Another great pitching matchup between lefties Doyle and Hunter Elliott.
- Elliott is Ole Miss’ ace. By far the Rebels’ best weekend starter.
- Most of Elliott’s lines have been similar. He hasn’t been overly dominant but has been very solid. Safe floor.
- Longest Elliott has gone is 5.2 innings. He has not thrown more than 95 pitches.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
Ole Miss: Dark blue shirts and white pants
*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
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
-Gavin Kilen flies out to RF.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Luke Hill flies out to CF.
-Mitchell Sanford strikes out swinging.
-Ryan Moerman strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Andrew Fischer works a leadoff walk.
-Dalton Bargo is walked.
-Reese Chapman bunts the runner over, out at first 5-3.
- 6th sac bunt of the year for Tennessee. Chapman has three of those six.
-Manny Marin drives a two-run double down the LF line.
- Big hit for Manny, who hasn’t had a big double in a while.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.
-Ariel Antigua flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Judd Utermark strikes out swinging.
-Will Furniss grounds out to 2B.
- Nice defensive play by Manny at second.
-Hayden Federico grounds out to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Rebels 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Dean Curley fouls out to RF.
-Gavin Kilen singles down the RF line.
- Still running gingerly a bit. Would’ve been a double if he was 100%.
- Kilen is staying in to run the bases.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to LF.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk. Kilen to second.
- Andrew Fischer has worked 37 walks this season. Next closest on the team is Curley and Kilen with 20.
-Dalton Bargo pops up to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Isaac Humphrey strikes out looking.
-Austin Fawley strikes out swinging.
-Luke Cheng strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Rebels 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Reese Chapman HBP.
-Manny Marin strikes out looking.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.
-Ariel Antigua flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Luke Hill singles to SS.
- Not an error but Antigua got his glove on it. Most wouldn’t have had the speed to even make it to the ball.
Hill advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Mitchell Sanford strikes out swinging.
-Ryan Moerman strikes out swinging.
-Judd Utermark strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Rebels 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Dean Curley works a walk.
*Pitching change: RHP Mason Morris (3-1, 2.81 ERA) on to pitch for Elliott*
-Gavin Kilen ropes a stand-up double down the RF line. Curley to third.
- No-doubt double for Kilen this time. Jogged to second still but didn’t need to get in a hurry.
-Hunter Ensley sends an RBI groundout to 3B.
Kilen advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Andrew Fischer strikes out looking.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Will Furniss grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Hayden Federico works a walk.
-Isaac Humphrey strikes out swinging.
- 10 Ks for Doyle.
- He’s logged double digit strikeouts in 5 outings this season.
-Austin Fawley knocks a two-run homer to left field.
- Wallscraper. Got the barrel on the off-speed.
-Luke Cheng grounds out to 3B on a bunt.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Rebels 2
6th Inning:
T6
-Reese Chapman singles to 1B.
- Rope down the line that ricocheted off of Furniss’ glove into right field.
-Manny Marin flies out to LF at the warning track.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.
-Ariel Antigua grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Luke Hill grounds out to C.
- Nice play by Peebles. Bare-handed the ball and fired to first all in one motion. Really smooth.
-Mitchell Sanford grounds out to P.
- Check swing put the ball in play. Delayed reaction from Sanford made for an easy out.
-Ryan Moerman flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Rebels 2
7th Inning:
T7
-Dean Curley strikes out looking.
- Really strange strike zone from the home plate ump all night. It’s been big. But he doesn’t ring up Curley on an 0-2 pitch that was barely outside, and then rings him up on a 1-2 pitch that was clearly low.
-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Judd Utermark fouls out to RF.
-Will Furniss strikes out swinging.
Liam Doyle calls a mound meeting with the infield.
-Hayden Federico strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Rebels 2
8th Inning:
T8
-Andrew Fischer doubles to left field.
- Almost a homer. Hit off the top of the wall.
- Big time double from Fisch after Morris got the best of him his last at-bat.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Collin Reuter pinch-hitting for Isaac Humphrey*
-Collin Reuter grounds out to 2B.
-Austin Fawley singles up the middle.
-Luke Cheng strikes out swinging.
-Luke Hill strikes out looking.
- Doyle has tied a career high with 14 Ks in a career-long
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Rebels 2
9th Inning:
T9
*Utermark for CF*
*Randle to 2B for Reuter*
-Cannon Peebles flies out to SS in shallow left field.
-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 2B.
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
-Mitchell Sanford flies out to CF.
-Ryan Moerman is walked.
- Winning run on deck.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (2-0, 3.21 ERA) on to pitch for Doyle*
-Judd Utermark flies out to RF at the warning track.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (4-0, 0.63 ERA) on to pitch for Snead*
-Will Furniss works a walk.
-Hayden Federico flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Rebels 2
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 3, Ole Miss Rebels 2
