Tennessee and Auburn played 11 innings of baseball over two games to decide game two of the weekend series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee never led until Chris Newstrom’s grounder got past the outstretched arms of Eric Snow to deliver the Vols a needed 5-4 series evening victory.
Here’s how the Vols got it done over two days.
Another Rough Start
In game one, Auburn took a lead that it never relinquished on the third at-bat of the game when Ike Irish homered to left field. It took the Tigers just three at-bats to claim the lead again in game two. Chris Rembert led off the game with a double and scored on an Irish single two at-bats later.
While it didn’t come on one swing, Auburn got its lead to two runs by the end of the first inning for the second straight game. Irish advanced to second on a groundout. Stole third base and then scored on a Lucas Steele liner to right field.
The bottom of the first inning was also frustrating for Tennessee. Dean Curley worked a one-out walk to give Tennessee a baserunner. Then Auburn starter Cam Tilly beat Andrew Fischer on the eighth pitch of the at-bat for a strikeout. Curley stole on the play, sliding over the bag for a strike him out, throw him out to end the inning.
The Fifth And Sixth Inning Described So Many Of Tennessee’s Struggles
The two teams were tied entering the fifth inning. Over the next two innings, Auburn didn’t record a hit or reach base on balls. Tennessee recorded four hits and two doubles. The Tigers left the two innings leaving.
Auburn’s Irish reached with one out on a Dean Curley throwing error. He was originally ruled out stealing second but the review overturned it. That led to a pitching change and Dylan Loy relieving Marcus Phillips. Tennessee had Irish dead to rights stealing third with two outs, but Manny Marin slipped while covering the base. Irish came home to score shortly afterward when a Loy wild pitch got away from Cannon Peebles.
The bottom of the fifth and sixth inning felt similarly for Tennessee. In the fifth, Andrew Fischer doubles off the wall and reached third on a Hunter Ensley single with one-out. But the tying run stayed at third after Dalton Bargo and Levi Clark struck out swinging.
Then in the sixth inning, Cannon Peebles doubled to right field with one out. Gavin Kilen delivered a two-out single to right field but Irish gunned Peebles out at the plate to end the inning.
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Loy Boys Rise Up
The wild pitch with a runner on third in the fifth inning was about the only mistake Loy made all afternoon. The left-handed reliever retired the first 11 batters he faced.
The 12th Auburn batter to face Loy was the only one that reached against him. It also ended Loy’s day in the ninth inning. Nate Snead was unable to pick Loy up as a Chase Fralick soft liner on an 0-2 pitch just cleared Andrew Fischer’s head and gave Auburn the lead in the ninth inning.
Loy is one of the arms that Tennessee needs to be rock solid down the stretch. And despite the earned run he allowed in the ninth inning, Loy was that and more against Auburn.
Throughout the parts of the two games played on Saturday, Tennessee’s pitching staff was really good. Especially considering they had to lean on the bullpen in game one for eight innings.
A Ninth Inning To Remember … Into Another Delay
The gloom around Tennessee baseball felt as dark as the coming thunderstorm when the bottom of the ninth inning began. It became even darker when Ensley led off the inning with a groundout to shortstop.
But then Dalton Bargo came through in a major way, tying the game with a solo homer to left field just moments before the rain began. With Tennessee’s season teetering, Bargo came through in a massive spot.
Tennessee couldn’t muster another ninth inning baserunner and the game went into a delay following the first pitch of the 10th inning. The game would not resume until Sunday afternoon.
After Play Resumed
Tennessee turned to ace Liam Doyle, who threw just one inning on Friday night before the rain delay, when play resumed in the 10th inning Sunday.
It was shaky for Doyle at the jump, throwing five straight ball to put the go-ahead run aboard. But the Vols’ ace settled from there. He induced a soft chopper to first from Cooper McMurray for out number one and then struck out both Lucas Steele and Deric Fabian to exit the inning unscathed.
The top of the 11th had much more drama when Auburn got the go-ahead run on third base with two outs. Bristol Carter attempted a straight steal of home and Tennessee was alert, making the play. Doyle tagged Carter and things got chippy between the two. Both teams poured onto the field, but both coaching staffs and umpires did a strong job of not letting things escalate.
After missing an opportunity in the 10th inning, Tennessee got it done in the 11th. Singles from Andrew Fischer and Ensley gave Tennessee a pair of baserunners. Bargo bunted them over. Auburn intentionally walked Clark and then Chris Newstrom pinch hit for Reese Chapman and provided the game-winning RBI single up the middle.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Auburn will conclude the weekend series at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. It will be a seven inning game. The SEC Network+ will stream the game.
