Tennessee baseball’s offense fell flat in its series loss against Kentucky combining to score just three runs while dropping the final two games of the series. It was the fewest runs Tennessee has scored over a two game stretch since it’s SEC opening series at Auburn in 2019, and the fewest runs Tennessee has scored over a two game stretch at home during Tony Vitello’s tenure.
“Over-swinging and not making adjustments in a very bad theme of swinging at pitches that were not in the zone,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said of the offensive issues. “And taking some pitches that appear to be in the heart of the zone, from where I was standing. And went up against two very good starters. Two of the better starters in the league, too.”
The number of Vols that had offensive weekends up to or exceeding their season numbers were few and far between so there’s plenty of blame to go around. However, the top three spots in Tennessee’s order were solid throughout the series.
Dean Curley and Gavin Kilen hit in the top two spots all three games while Andrew Fischer and Hunter Ensley rotated as the three-hole and cleanup hitters. Those four combined to reach base 19 times in the three games.
Those four are capable of reaching base at a higher clip but they were solid in the final two games, combining to record 12 of Tennessee’s 16 hits and walks. The biggest complaint about the top four spots in the lineup would have been the lack of power. They combined for just three extra-base hits in the series.
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The bottom five spots in the lineup totaled just eight hits and reached base just 13 times in the three-game series. Cannon Peebles and Manny Marin totaled six of those hits with all of Peebles’ coming on Friday night. Outside of Marin, the bottom five hitters in Tennessee’s lineup reached base just twice in the final two games of the series.
As things went poorly for Tennessee, its offense was unable to get out of the funk and flip the momentum of the series.
“For whatever reason, us not playing catch I think bled into a little bit of frustration at the plate,” Vitello said. “And if you’re frustrated at the plate, it affects the scoreboard and what’s going on there. A laundry list that would fall under the category of team.”
Perhaps the biggest x-factor for Tennessee’s offense is Dalton Bargo and Reese Chapman in the middle of the lineup. Both have been breakout bats for the Vols this season but have been a bit streaky, particularly Bargo. The two combined to go just two-for-22 at the plate with two walks.
The Vols offense is looking to bounce back this week when they face Lipscomb on Tuesday night before traveling to LSU for a three-game set this weekend. It’s the first of four straight challenging series to close the regular season along with home sets with Auburn and Vanderbilt as well as a road trip to Arkansas.
