SCORE: Tennessee 7, Northern Kentucky 5 | FINAL
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
No. 12 Tennessee baseball (35-9, 13-8 SEC) is set to battle the Northern Kentucky Norse (24-18, 12-9 Horizon League) Tuesday in a midweek contest in Knoxville.
First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
Tennessee enters Tuesday’s contest coming off a series loss to LSU in Baton Rouge. The Vols squandered a 3-0 ninth-inning lead Friday to lose game one, dominated in a 9-3 game two victory and then got blown out, 12-2, in a Sunday rubber match.
Defensive miscues from Dean Curley ultimately cost Tennessee the opener, and the Vols’ bullpen had an awful day Sunday which led to LSU run-ruling the Vols in eight innings. Sunday’s loss completely negated all the good vibes that followed the Vols’ game two win in which Marcus Phillips shoved and the offense plated six runs in the eighth inning.
Read recaps of all three 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
GAME THREE RECAP: LSU Bashes Past Tennessee Baseball To Clinch Weekend Series
The loss dropped Tennessee six spots in the latest D1 Baseball Top 25 poll to No. 12. Additionally, Tennessee has now lost three of its past four series and two straight.
See where Tennessee landed in all five major polls below.
RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Rankings After Series Loss to LSU
Tennessee will look to bounce back against Northern Kentucky ahead of a weekend series vs. No. 10 Auburn in Knoxville. All three of Tennessee’s remaining series are against Top 15 teams.
Opponent Scout
Northern Kentucky should be familiar to Vol fans. The Norse were in the 2024 NCAA Knoxville Regional and lost game one to Tennessee.
Northern Kentucky has had an up-and-down season thus far. The Norse have played just two Power-4 teams this season, getting run-ruled in seven innings to Louisville and falling 13-11 to Indiana early in the season.
ETSU is a common opponent between the Vols and Northern Kentucky. The Norse opened their season against the Bucs and got swept in a three-game series.
Head coach Dizzy Peyton’s fourth Northern Kentucky team boasts no Preseason All-Conference selections but was picked to finish 2nd in the Horizon League, where the currently sit in the standings.
Tennessee should handle business Tuesday night, but I wouldn’t expect a thrashing.
Injury/Availability Notes
- In game two vs. Kentucky, 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 making his return to the mound after a multi-week absence due to an illness.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- But on Monday, Osuna again took legal action still seeking eligibility. Read more HERE.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Dropped Series Finale At LSU
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, 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:
SS Gavin Kilen (L)
2B Dean Curley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
3B Dalton Bargo (L)
DH Levi Clark (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
C Stone Lawless (R)
LF Chris Newstrom (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Gavin Kilen getting his first start at shortstop this season.
- Also first time Kilen has led off this year.
- Dean Curley returns to the infield after DH-ing Saturday and Sunday. He goes back to second where he started during the Kentucky series.
- Levi Clark gets the DH nod.
- Stone Lawless behind the plate for the midweek.
- Chris Newstrom in left over Jay Abernathy.
- No Manny Marin or Ariel Antigua in the lineup with Kilen at short.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY STARTING NINE:
CF Tyler Shaneyfelt (L)
LF Logen Devenport (R)
1B Gabe Miranda (L)
RF Josh Williams (L)
2B Marcus Harrison (R)
C Sam Bond (R)
DH Braydon Rogers (R)
3B Jake Altman (L)
SS Brennan Rowe (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Fr. RHP Brayden Krenzel (2-0, 4.12 ERA, 10 app., 1 start, 19.2 IP, 21 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 6 BB, 24 K, 7 XBH, .288 opp. batting avg., 1.37 WHIP)
vs.
Norse G-Sr. LHP Bobby Bartlett (4-2, 8.06 ERA, 16 app., 6 starts, 25.2 IP, 35 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 17 BB, 20 K, 11 XBH, .327 opp. batting avg., 2.03 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Krenzel makes his return to action after a multi-week absence due to illness.
- Krenzel’s second start of the season. Both have come in midweeks.
- Krenzel has been the top bullpen arm for the Vols on Sundays, where they have missed him the past couple weeks.
- Bartlett has mostly been a bullpen arm. Hasn’t thrown more than 58 pitches or 4.0 innings in an outing this year.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Pinstripes
Northern Kentucky: All black with yellow accents
*NOTES*
- There IS a run-rule tonight. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Tyler Shaneyfelt works a walk.
-Logen Devenport reaches on a fielding error by 3B. Shaneyfelt to second.
- Bargo bobbled the chopper allowing Devenport to reach.
-Gabe Miranda strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Josh Williams strikes out swinging.
-Marcus Harrison singles to right field. Shaneyfelt out at home, 9-2.
- Hose from Chapman.
Northern Kentucky challenged the play and the call STOOD.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Gavin Kilen strikes out looking.
-Dean Curley singles through the left side.
-Andrew Fischer is walked.
Runners steal second and third.
-Hunter Ensley smacks a two-run double down the RF line.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Levi Clark intentionally walked on a 3-0 count.
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Norse 0
2nd Inning:
T2
*Pitching change: So. RHP Ryan Combs (0-0, 4.22 ERA) on to pitch for Krenzel*
-Sam Bond is walked.
-Braydon Rogers flies out to RF.
-Jake Altman walked.
-Brennan Rowe HBP.
- Bases loaded with one out for Tyler Shaneyfelt
-Tyler Shaneyfelt works an RBI walk. Bond scores.
- Bases loaded with one out for Logen Devenport
*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (2-0, 4.58 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Logen Devenport works an RBI walk.
- Bases loaded with one out for Gabe Miranda
-Gabe Miranda sends a two-run single up the middle. Devenport to second.
Runners advance to second and third on a wild pitch.
-Josh Williams strikes out looking.
-Marcus Harrison strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Stone Lawless rips a solo homer to left field.
- 416(!) ft, 106 mph
- Lawless’ 4th HR of the season
-Chris Newstrom is walked.
*Pitching change: RHP Griffin Howell (1-0, 20.25 ERA) on to pitch for Bartlett*
-Gavin Kilen grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
-Dean Curley flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Norse 4
3rd Inning:
T3
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (2-1, 4.26 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*
-Sam Bond grounds out to SS.
-Braydon Rogers strikes out swinging.
-Jake Altman singles up the middle.
-Brennan Rowe strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Andrew Fischer flies out to SS in left field.
-Hunter Ensley is walked.
-Dalton Bargo singles up the middle. Ensley to third.
-Levi Clark flies out to RF. Ensley out at home, 9-2 double play.
- Awful send. Wasn’t even close.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Norse 4
4th Inning:
T4
-Tyler Shaneyfelt out at first, 1-6-3.
- Ricocheted off Sharman’s glove to Kilen. Good throw from Gavin to first for the out.
-Logen Devenport reaches on a throwing error by 3B.
- Low and outside throw from Bargo.
-Gabe Miranda grounds out to 3B. Devenport to second.
Devenport steals third.
-Josh Williams strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.
-Stone Lawless pops up to SS.
-Chris Newstrom flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Norse 4
5th Inning:
T5
-Marcus Harrison strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Sam Bond grounds out to 2B.
- What a play by Dean Curley. Makes a diving stop then throws to first on time for the out. LNS gives a loud ovation.
- Given his struggles this year, a big play for Curley. His best defensive play of the season.
-Jake Altman pops up to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
*Pitching change: RHP Connor Kurki (0-1, 14.54 ERA) on to pitch for Howell*
-Gavin Kilen doubles to right-center.
-Dean Curley drives an RBI double to left field.
-Andrew Fischer is walked.
Runners steal second and third.
-Hunter Ensley sends a sac fly to CF. Curley scores. Fischer to third.
-Dalton Bargo HBP.
*Pitching change: LHP Gerald Hanson (0-1, 9.57 ERA) on to pitch for Kurki*
-Levi Clark strikes out looking.
Bargo advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Norse 4
6th Inning:
T6
*Jay Abernathy to CF for Hunter Ensley*
-Brennan Rowe flies out to RF.
-Tyler Shaneyfelt strikes out looking.
-Logen Devenport doubles to left field.
Devenport steals third.
-Gabe Miranda strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
*Pitching change: RHP MJ Castaneda (0-0, 18.69 ERA) on to pitch for Hanson*
-Stone Lawless launches a solo homer to left field.
- 335 feet, 103 mph
- Lawless’ 5th HR of the season. Second of the game.
- Moonshot.
-Chris Newstrom flies out to LF.
-Gavin Kilen doubles to left-center.
-Dean Curley works a walk.
*Pitching change: RHP Noah Sackenheim (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Castaneda*
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 1B unassisted. Runners advance to second and third.
-Jay Abernathy flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Norse 4
7th Inning:
T7
-Josh Williams singles up the middle.
-Marcus Harrison works a walk.
*Jak Paulick pinch-hitting for Sam Bond*
Runners steal second and third.
-Jak Paulick sends an RBI groundout to 3B. Williams scores. Harrison to third.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Austin Breedlove (2-0, 2.65 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*
*Nolan Sparks pinch-hitting for Braydon Rogers*
-Nolan Sparks strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (4-0, 2.75 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*
-Jake Altman out at first 1B to P.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Jak Paulick to C*
-Dalton Bargo legs out a double to right-center.
-Levi Clark flies out to LF.
*Pitching change: RHP Ryan Pehrson (1-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Sackenheim*
-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.
-Stone Lawless intentionally walked.
*Blake Grimmer pinch-hitting for Chris Newstrom*
-Blake Grimmer knocks an RBI single up the middle. Bargo scores. Lawless out at third, 9-4-5.
- Beat the throw but overslid the bag.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Norse 5
8th Inning:
T8
*Manny Marin to 3B for Grimmer*
*Bargo to LF*
-Brennan Rowe flies out to RF.
-Tyler Shaneyfelt lines out to SS.
-Logen Devenport doubles to center field.
-Gabe Miranda strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Pitching change: RHP Carson French (0-0, 11.57 ERA) on to pitch for Pehrson*
-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.
-Dean Curley grounds out to SS.
-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Norse 5
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (3-1, 3.22 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*
*Kilen to 2B*
-Josh Williams grounds out to 3B.
-Marcus Robinson flies out to RF.
-Jak Paulick HBP.
- Hit his pad on his arm right in front of his face. 98 mph upstairs and in.
-Nolan Sparks grounds out to SS.
- Really nice play by Ariel Antigua to end it.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 7, Norse 5
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Northern Kentucky Norse 5
