SCORE: Tennessee 11, Lipscomb 1 | FINAL (Run-Rule)

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

No. 4 Tennessee baseball (33-7, 12-6 SEC) is set to battle the Kentucky Wildcats (18-20, 11-7 ASUN) Tuesday in a midweek matchup in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Tennessee enters the contest coming off a disappointing series loss to Kentucky. After winning game one 8-2, the Vols’ offense fell flat in back-to-back games, losing 4-1 and 8-2.

The series loss marked Tennessee’s second straight at home, a first in the Tony Vitello era. Additionally, three runs in a two-game span was the worst mark in the Tony Vitello era at home and worst since the 2019 SEC-opening series at Auburn.

Read recaps of all three games from the Kentucky series below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Takes Series Opener Against Kentucky

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Offense Falls Flat As Kentucky Evens Weekend Series

GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Falls Against Kentucky In Finale To Drop Weekend Series

With the series loss, Tennessee dropped two spots in this week’s D1 Baseball Top 25 rankings. See where Tennessee landed in all five major polls below.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Ranks Following Series Loss Against Kentucky

In Saturday’s game, a foul ball unfortunately hit Tennessee relief pitcher Tanner Wiggins in the mouth. Tony Vitello said there were teeth involved in Wiggins’ injury, and the sophomore underwent surgery over the weekend on his jaw.

Read more about Wiggins’ status HERE.

STRUGGLES: Struggles From Back Half Of Lineup Amplifies Tennessee’s Offensive Issues Against Kentucky

Injury/Availability Notes

• Tanner Wiggins underwent jaw surgery after getting hit by a foul ball and is in the recovery stage.
• Don’t expect Brayden Krenzel to pitch as he dealt with an illness last weekend.
• Gavin Kilen’s first start on defense since March 18 vs. ETSU, when he injured his hamstring.
• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.

Opponent Scout

Lipscomb has had an up and down season as a middling team in the ASUN.

The Bisons have struggled against P4 competition this year, winning just one game against a P4 team. They split a doubleheader with Kentucky to open the season. Lipscomb did take Vanderbilt to extras last Tuesday, losing 5-4 in 10 innings.

Head coach Jeff Forehand’s 19th team at Lipscomb boasts just one Preseason All-Conference selection in 3B David Coppedge. Lipscomb was picked to finish 4th in the ASUN Preseason Poll.

The Vols will look to get revenge on the Bisons for last year’s loss, when Lipscomb upset Tennessee in a 9-6 midweek contest nearly a year ago, April 30, 2024.

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 6-8 runs

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Dropped Series At Kentucky

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, including a full reaction of Tennessee’s series loss to Kentucky and what it means, click here.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Reacts to Series Loss to Kentucky

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

3B Dean Curley (R)

2B Gavin Kilen (L)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

LF Dalton Bargo (L)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

DH Blake Grimmer (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Cannon Peebles behind the plate for the midweek. He started 2/3 games last weekend vs. Kentucky.
• Blake Grimmer continues to start at DH in the midweek but occupies the nine-hole tonight rather than the two-hole.
• Gavin Kilen returns to the field for the first time since his injury vs. ETSU. He has been the Vols’ DH in the last 6 SEC games.
• With Kilen back at second, Curley moves to third. Dalton Bargo moves to left field as a result.
• Ariel Antigua gets the shortstop start over Manny Marin.

LIPSCOMB STARTING NINE: 

RF Aaron Stelogeannis (R)

2B Brady Miller (R)

LF Parks Bouck (R)

3B David Coppedge (R)

SS Kai Holm (R)

1B Damion Kenealy Jr. (R)

C Jake Berg (L)

DH Jacob Tobias (L)

CF Collin Goda (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP Austin Breedlove (2-0, 1.29 ERA, 14 app., 1 start, 14.0 IP, 12 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 17 K, 1 XBH, .226 opp. batting avg., 1.00 WHIP)

vs.

Bisons G-Sr. RHP Ryan Kutz (0-0, 7.71 ERA, 4 app., 4 starts, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, 2 XBH, .087 opp. batting avg., 1.00 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Second start of the season for Breedlove. He’s been really good as an upper-level bullpen arm on midweeks. Has gotten three total outs across two appearances against SEC competition.
• Kutz made his season debut March 25 so doesn’t have a ton of innings under his belt after missing the first part of the season.
  • Did not allow a hit in 3.0 innings in his start against Vanderbilt last week. Did give up two earned runs, though. Walked two.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Dark Mode (first time this season)

Lipscomb: Grey shirts and pants with black caps

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*NOTES*

• There IS a run-rule tonight.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Aaron Stelogeannis grounds out to SS.

-Brady Miller singles to left field.

Miller caught stealing second, 2-4.

-Parks Bouck flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley grounds out to P.

• Look what I found moment. Really hard-hit ball right to Kutz.

-Gavin Kilen singles up the middle.

-Andrew Fischer golfs a two-run homer into the bullpen.

• 369 feet, 106 mph
• Fischer’s 16th HR of the season.

-Hunter Ensley doubles to left field on the first pitch of the AB.

-Dalton Bargo smacks an RBI single to center field.

Bargo caught stealing second, 2-6.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Bisons 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-David Coppedge strikes out swinging.

-Kai Holm flies out to RF.

-Damion Kenealy Jr. strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 2B.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF in left-center.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Bisons 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Jake Berg singles to right field.

-Jacob Tobias strikes out swinging.

-Collin Goda flies out to CF.

-Aaron Stelogeannis strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Dean Curley singles through the left side.

-Gavin Kilen is walked.

-Andrew Fischer slaps an RBI single to left-center. Kilen to second.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Adam Switalski (1-0, 5.57 ERA) on to pitch for Kutz*

-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Fischer out at second, 6-4. Kilen to third.

• Could have been a 6-4-3 double play but the first baseman couldn’t haul it in on a scoop. Ensley reaches as a result.

-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.

-Reese Chapman grounds into a fielder’s choice. Ensley out at second, 6U.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Bisons 0

4th Inning: 

T4

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (1-0, 3.72 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*

-Brady Miller grounds out to SS.

-Parks Bouck reaches on a bunt single to 1B.

-David Coppedge strikes out looking.

-Kai Holm singles up the middle. Bouck to third.

-Damion Kenealy Jr. grounds into a 5-4 fielder’s choice. Holm out at second.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Cannon Peebles singles through the left side.

-Ariel Antigua sac bunt, out at first 5-3. Peebles to second.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF in left-center.

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.

-Gavin Kilen sends an RBI single to right field, scoring Peebles. Curley to second.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to the warning track in right-center.

• Nice catch by Collin Goda at the wall.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Bisons 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jake Berg strikes out swinging.

-Jacob Tobias grounds out to P.

-Collin Goda flies out to CF in right-center.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Cameron Guise (2-2, 5.89 ERA) on to pitch for Switalski*

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.

-Dalton Bargo ground-rule double to left field.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Bisons 0

6th Inning: 

T6

-Aaron Stelogeannis grounds out to P on a poor bunt.

-Brady Miller grounds out to 3B.

-Parks Bouck works a walk.

-David Coppedge groudns out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Blake Grimmer HBP.

*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Grimmer*

-Dean Curley grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Bisons 0

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Andrew Behnke (2-0, 5.40 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*

-Kai Holm grounds out to SS.

-Damion Kenealy smokes a solo homer to left field.

-Jake Berg reaches on a throwing error by 3B.

• Curley’s throw was too high. Fischer had to jump to catch it and couldn’t apply the tag as a result.

*Casey Sunseri pinch-hitting for Jacob Tobias*

-Sunseri grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Andrew Fischer doubles down the LF line.

• Ball was cutting towards foul territory but landed just fair. Awkward ball flight affected the left-fielder leading to him not making the catch.

Fischer advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley ropes a two-run homer to left field.

• 392 feet, 99 mph.
• Ensley’s 8th HR of the season.

-Dalton Bargo works a walk.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Jace Trautner (0-0, 10.34 ERA) on to pitch for Guise*

*Chris Newstrom pinch-running for Dalton Bargo*

Newstrom advances to second on a wild pitch.

INJURY TIMEOUT for Trautner

*Pitching change: So. RHP Tanner Lyne (0-1, 8.06 ERA) on to pitch for Trautner*

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

-Cannon Peebles hammers a no-doubt two-run homer to right field.

• 373 feet, 102 mph
• Peebles’ 8th HR of the season.

-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging.

-Jay Abernathy singles through the left side.

Abernathy advances to second on a throwing error by P, failed pickoff attempt.

-Levi Clark smokes a two-run homer to left field.

• 353 feet, 106 mph.
• Clark’s 8th homer of the season.

END OF GAME (RUN RULE)

Score: Vols 11, Bisons 1

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 11, Lipscomb Bisons 1