SCORE: Tennessee 2, LSU 12 | FINAL (8 inn. – Run-Rule)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
No. 6 Tennessee baseball (35-8, 13-7 SEC) is set to battle the No. 7 LSU Tigers (35-9, 13-7 SEC) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
First pitch in Alex Box Stadium is at 3:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
Tennessee enters Sunday’s game coming off an impressive 9-3 game two win over the Tigers on Saturday. Marcus Phillips turned in one of his best SEC starts while the Vols offense plated six runs in the eighth to blow the game open.
Saturday’s win was all the more impressive given how UT lost Friday’s game, giving up six unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth to lose 6-3.
Read recaps of both games below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ninth Inning Collapse Dooms Tennessee Baseball In Series Opener At LSU
GAME TWO RECAP: Euphoric Eighth Inning Propels Tennessee Baseball Past LSU In Game Two
Multiple juniors led the way in the key win. Cannon Peebles had a team-high 5 RBIs, Dalton Bargo and Reese Chapman each tallied multiple hits and Dylan Loy gave up just one run in 2.1 innings of work to close the game, earning the save in the process.
Those juniors elevate Tennessee’s ceiling more than anyone else when playing at the top of their game.
CEILING: The Players That Will Decide Tennessee Baseball’s Ceiling Deliver In Win At LSU
Prior to Friday, Tennessee run-ruled Lipscomb 11-1 in a midweek contest.
The midweek win served as a bounce back from a home series loss to Kentucky a week ago. After a dominant game one win thanks to another Liam Doyle gem, Tennessee’s offense fell flat in back-to-back games. The Vols scored just three combined runs in games two and three as Kentucky pulled off the upset.
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
Tennessee needed to have a cleaner weekend in Baton Rouge after playing ugly baseball in Knoxville a week ago. The Vols should have the series wrapped up, but Dean Curley’s pair of defensive errors Friday night led to a heartbreaking series-opening loss.
Still, Tennessee showed a lot of toughness and resiliency on Saturday, claiming a dominant series-evening win. Expect Sunday to be a very close and hard fought battle between the two sides.
Prediction: LSU clinches the series Saturday.
Injury/Availability Notes
- In last 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.
- Brayden Krenzel is OUT all weekend with an illness, the same illness he dealt with last weekend. He is progressing, though, and could be back next weekend.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Following The Vols’ Series Evening Victory Over LSU
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 Talks Series-Evening Win Over LSU
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:
DH Dean Curley (R)
2B Gavin Kilen (L)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
LF Dalton Bargo (L)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
3B Manny Marin (R)
SS Ariel Antigua (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Same exact lineup and order as Saturday’s game.
- Dean Curley has been the DH the last two games after Friday’s defensive miscues. Saturday was the first time he had DH’d all season long.
- Manny Marin works at third with Curley still at DH. Ariel Antigua remains at shortstop.
- Kilen logging his fourth straight game back at in the field at second base.
LSU STARTING NINE:
LF Derek Curiel (L)
1B Jared Jones (R)
RF Jake Brown (L)
2B Daniel Dickinson (R)
DH Josh Pearson (L)
SS Steven Milam (S)
3B Michael Braswell III (R)
C Luis Hernandez (R)
CF Chris Stanfield (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP AJ Russell (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 app., 3 starts, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 XBH, .105 opp. batting avg., 0.53 WHIP)
vs.
Tigers Fr. RHP Casan Evans (2-0, 0.67 ERA, 12 app., 0 starts, 6 SV, 27.0 IP, 18 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 9 BB, 41 K, 3 XBH, .189 opp. batting avg., 1.00 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- First SEC start for Russell this season.
- Russell has started three midweeks and made one SEC relief appearance (last week)
- 2.0 innings is the longest he’s gone. Hasn’t thrown more than 27 pitches in an outing.
- Would be surprised if Russell goes over 50-60 pitches or 4.0 IP. Likely a 2-4 inning opener role.
- Kuhns, Arvidson and Franklin all ready to pitch after Russell today.
- Evans has been a top bullpen arm for LSU all season, giving up no runs in 17.0 innings against SEC competition.
- Interesting decision here from LSU to give Evans his first career start in a big rubber game. He has been dominant all year but hasn’t thrown more than 72 pitches or 4.0 innings in an outing.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Dark Mode
LSU: Yellow shirts with white pants and purple caps
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or LSU leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Dean Curley singles to right-center.
-Gavin Kilen flies out to LF.
-Andrew Fischer drives a single to right field. Curley to third.
-Hunter Ensley sends a sac fly to RF.
-Reese Chapman singles through the left side. Fischer to second.
-Dalton Bargo drops an RBI double down the LF line. Fischer scores. Chapman to third.
- Some chirping between Fischer and LSU catcher Luis Hernandez after Fischer evades the tag at home. Throw was just a bit off-line from Curiel in left field. A great throw would’ve beat Fischer.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Derek Curiel smacks a solo homer to right field.
-Jared Jones knocks a single to left field.
-Jake Brown flies out to LF.
-Daniel Dickinson is walked on four pitches.
-Josh Pearson flies out to RF.
-Steven Milam flies out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 1
2nd Inning:
T2
-Manny Marin grounds out to 2B.
-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 3B.
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Michael Braswell III strikes out swinging.
-Luis Hernandez triples to left-center.
- Bargo sped to the gap but couldn’t make the catch. Fell down and crashed into the wall. He is OK.
-Chris Stanfield strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (2-0, 2.84 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*
-Derek Curiel rips an RBI double down the LF line.
-Jared Jones intentionally walked.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-2, 3.42 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*
-Jake Brown crushes a three-run homer to right field.
-Daniel Dickinson is walked.
-Josh Pearson pops up to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 5
3rd Inning:
T3
-Gavin Kilen grounds out to SS.
-Andrew Fischer flies out to CF.
-Hunter Ensley slaps a double to deep left field.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Steven Milam flies out to LF.
-Michael Braswell III grounds out to SS.
-Luis Hernandez strikes out swinging.
- Strong response from Kuhns with a 1-2-3 third inning.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 5
4th Inning:
T4
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to P.
-Cannon Peebles out at first 1B to P.
-Manny Marin flies out to LF.
- 9-pitch inning for Evans.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Chris Stanfield triples to left-center.
- Ensley dives for the ball in the gap but comes up empty-handed.
- Bargo kicked Ensley in the head as the two were going for the ball. Ensley was briefly checked on by trainer Jeff Wood and will remain in the game.
-Derek Curiel sends an RBI single through the left side.
-Jared Jones smokes a double to left field. Curiel to third.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (2-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*
-Jake Brown strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Daniel Dickinson strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
*Ethan Frey pinch-hitting for Josh Pearson*
-Ethan Frey works a walk.
-Steven Milam reaches on a fielder’s choice by SS. Frey out at second, 6U.
- Frey was initially ruled safe but the call was overturned after a Tennessee challenge. Was clearly out.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 6
5th Inning:
T5
-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging.
-Dean Curley singles to right field.
-Gavin Kilen pops up to 3B.
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Michael Braswell III is walked.
-Luis Hernandez is walked on four pitches.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 4.32 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*
-Chris Stanfield out at first 1B to 2B. Runners advance to second and third.
-Derek Curiel smacks a two-run double to right-center.
- Four-hit day for Curiel. Absolutely raking.
-Jared Jones flies out to RF.
-Jake Brown strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 8
6th Inning:
T6
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Daniel Dickinson HBP.
*Ashton Larson pinch-hitting for Ethan Frey*
-Ashton Larson strikes out swinging.
Dickinson caught stealing, 2-6.
- GREAT throw from Cannon Peebles.
-Steven Milam grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 8
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Zac Cowan (2-0, 1.18 ERA) on to pitch for Evans*
-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.
-Manny Marin flies out to RF.
*Jay Abernathy pinch-hitting for Ariel Antigua*
-Jay Abernathy works a walk.
Abernathy caught stealing, 2-6.
Tennessee CHALLENGED the ruling, but the call STOOD.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Bargo to LF*
*Marin to SS*
*Abernathy to LF*
-Michael Braswell III hammers a solo homer to left-center.
-Luis Hernandez strikes out swinging after a 10-pitch at-bat.
-Chris Stanfield flies out to RF.
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Andrew Behnke (2-0, 5.87 ERA) on to pitch for Franklin*
-Derek Curiel works a walk.
-Jared Jones grounds out to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 9
8th Inning:
T8
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
-Gavin Kilen flies out to LF.
-Andrew Fischer doubles to left-center.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Jake Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Austin Breedlove (2-0, 1.06 ERA) on to pitch for Behnke*
-Daniel Dickinson legs out an infield single to 3B.
-Ashton Larson singles to right field. Dickinson to third.
*Mic Paul pinch-running for Larson*
-Steven Milam is walked.
- Bases loaded with one out for Thomas Crabtree.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Thomas Crabtree (1-0, 3.09 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*
-Michael Braswell III reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to SS. Milam out at second, 6-4. Paul to third, Dickinson scores.
-Luis Hernandez smokes a two-run double off the top of the left-center wall.
END OF GAME (Run-Rule)
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 12
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 2, LSU Tigers 12 (8 inn. – Run-Rule)
