Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello was ejected for the fifth time in his head coaching career on Sunday in the Vols’ 8-1 series finale loss against Auburn.
Third base umpire Javerro January ejected Vitello after Tennessee’s eighth year head coach voiced his displeasure with all four umpires.
Immediately proceeding the ejection, Auburn’s Eric Guevara checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch with the bases loaded with first base umpire Richard Riley ruling that he didn’t swing. Krenzel walked Guevara on the ensuing pitch to extend Auburn’s lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning of the seven inning game.
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Tensions began in game one of the weekend series Saturday afternoon when Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson were displeased with Ben Levin’s strike zone in game one of the weekend series with Levin warning the Vols’ dugout. Vitello noted Sunday that pitching was like shooting on “22 inch rims” as Auburn ace Samuel Dutton, who Vitello complimented multiple times, shut the Vols’ down.
“I think that was a spillover, too, from the first game,” Vitello said. “Which I pat myself on the back and everybody else for keeping composure.”
Auburn took the series opener over Tennessee 6-1 before the Vols responded with a 5-4 victory in 11 innings in game two. The Tigers defeated Tennessee 8-1 in the series finale in which January ejected Vitello.
Tennessee has lost three straight series and four of its last five series. It’s the first time in the Vitello’s tenure that Tennessee lost three series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in a single season.
