SCORE: Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 2 | FINAL (Vols lead series 1-0)
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No. 15 Tennessee baseball (38-11, 14-10 SEC) is set to battle the No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores (34-15, 14-10 SEC) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Knoxville.
First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium will be at 5:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
All three games will be televised this weekend. ESPN2 will have the broadcast for games two and three.
For a full preview of the series, including projected pitching matchups, a prediction and more, click HERE.
Tennessee enters the game struggling in SEC play. The Vols have dropped four of the last five series and three straight at home, a first in the Tony Vitello era.
Tennessee’s recent struggles magnify the importance of the Vanderbilt series as it relates to postseason seeding. A series win would all but ensure Tennessee will host an NCAA Regional, whereas a series loss could put the Vols a series sweep loss away at Arkansas next week from being on the hosting bubble.
BRACKETOLOGY: Tennessee Baseball Projected To Face SEC Rival In Super Regionals Of Latest NCAA Tournament Projection
Offensive struggles have been the main culprit of Tennessee’s skid, but the bullpen hasn’t been great, either. As Tony Vitello continues to tinker with the order of Tennessee’s lineup in efforts to improve at the plate, lots of pressure has been placed on the bullpen to keep Tennessee in low-scoring games.
After a disappointing series loss to Auburn last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee looked much better in a 12-1 midweek run-rule win over Indiana State. The Vols crushed four homers and looked like their early-season selves. We’ll see if UT can keep the momentum going this weekend.
The Auburn series loss dropped Tennessee three spots in the latest D1 Baseball Top 25 poll to No. 15.
See where Tennessee landed in all five major polls below.
RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Ranks After Dropping Third Straight Series
Opponent Scout
The Commodores enter the series with the same 14-10 SEC record as Tennessee, but they’ve done it differently. Vanderbilt has swept three opponents and has been swept by another. They’ve alternated series victories and losses the last six weekends with a thrilling home series win over Alabama last weekend.
Vanderbilt has a strong pitching staff. Out of the bullpen, Sawyer Hawks has posted a 1.26 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched and Alex Kranzler has posted a 3.38 ERA in 32 innings pitched.
Vanderbilt once again boasts an underwhelming offense. The Commodores rank outside the top 180 nationally in on-base percentage and outside the top 150 nationally in slugging percentage. But there are a few bats to know. Riley Nelson is hitting .361 with 17 extra-base hits. Brodie Johnson has blasted a team-best 10 home runs and 25 extra-base hits.
The most worrisome thing for Tennessee is how often Vanderbilt steals bases. RJ Austin has swiped 20, Jacob Humphrey has 16, Rustan Rigdon has 14 and Mike Mancini has 13. Tennessee pitchers largely struggle containing runners once they get on.
Tennessee has dominated the series against its in-state rival over the past three seasons, having won 10 of the 12 meetings between the two in that span, including nine consecutive victories prior to dropping the series finale in Nashville last season.
The Vols and Commodores faced off five times last year, including twice in Hoover. UT went 3-2 in those games, including a 6-4 win in the SEC Tournament semifinals en route to winning its second conference title in three years.
Prediction: Vanderbilt’s ability to steal bases at a high rate and great pitching staff worry me. On paper, Vanderbilt is the pick. But, ‘if not now, when’ is where we’re at with this Tennessee team. If this team has the ability to make noise in the postseason, which I believe it still does, it must win this series.
Vols win two of three.
Injury/Availability Notes
- RHP AJ Russell is dealing with a blister and was not listed as the probable starter for Sunday. We’ll see how serious it is and if he’s still able to pitch this weekend.
- Not naming a Sunday starter also leaves the door open for Tennessee to start Tegan Kuhns who was great a week ago.
- In game two against 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 afterward on his jaw.
- Read more about Wiggins’ status HERE.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- But last Monday, Osuna again took legal action still seeking eligibility. Read more HERE.
TRANSCRIPT: What Tony Vitello Said Following Win Over Indiana State, Previewing Vanderbilt
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast recapping the Auburn series and looking at what’s at stake this weekend, 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)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
LF Dalton Bargo (L)
2B Dean Curley (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
DH Jay Abernathy (L)
3B Manny Marin (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Like Tuesday, Curley moves down the order to No. 5
- As a result, Fischer Ensley and Bargo each move up a spot.
- Jay Abernathy gets the DH nod over Levi Clark, who started all three games last weekend.
- Marin at third, Cannon behind the dish to open the series. The same way it was all three games vs. Auburn.
VANDERBILT STARTING NINE:
2B Rustan Rigdon (S)
CF RJ Austin (R)
1B Riley Nelson (L)
3B Brodie Johnston (R)
LF Braden Holcomb (R)
C Colin Barczi (R)
SS Jonathan Vastine (L)
DH Jayden Davis (R)
RF Jacob Humphrey (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (8-2, 2.39 ERA, 13 app., 12 starts, 67.2 IP, 34 H, 19 R, 18 ER, 23 BB, 115 K, .147 opp. batting avg., 0.84 WHIP)
vs.
Commodores Jr. LHP JD Thompson (4-4, 3.95 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 66.0 IP, 56 H, 29 R, 29 ER, 21 BB, 88 K, .227 opp. batting avg., 1.17 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Doyle bump day. Feels like Fridays are a must-win for Tennessee moving forward if it wants to win a series.
- Thompson has mostly been solid this season. Shoved against UGA a little under a month ago allowing just one run in 8.0 IP on 120 pitches.
- But then gave up 5 ER in 4.1 IP vs. Auburn two weeks ago. Can be dominant or mediocre but if he’s on expect Vandy to ride him.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Dark Mode
Vanderbilt: White shirts and pants with white & black caps
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Vanderbilt leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Rustan Rigdon strikes out looking after a seven-pitch at-bat..
-RJ Austin strikes out swinging.
-Riley Nelson out at first P to 1B.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Gavin Kilen strikes out looking.
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 2B.
-Hunter Ensley singles to left field, out at second 7-4.
- Throw clearly beat him. Looked like Ensley stumbled/hesitated a bit rounding first. Ensley was initially ruled safe but the call was OVERTURNED after review.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Commodores 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Brodie Johnston strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Braden Holcomb strikes out swinging.
- Strike three was a 99 mph fast ball.
-Colin Barczi grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Dalton Bargo doubles to left-center.
-Dean Curley singles to SS. Bargo to third.
- Nice play by Vastine to get his glove on it but the throw was inaccurate. Took the first baseman off the bag.
-Reese Chapman slaps an RBI single to center. Curley to second. Bargo scores.
Runners advance on a passed ball.
-Cannon Peebles reaches on a fielder’s choice, advances to second as Curley gets caught in pickle. Curley out, 5-2-5. Chapman to third.
- Good baserunning by Tennessee. Curley gets caught in the pickle allowing Chapman and Peebles to advance a bag.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.
-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out looking.
-Jayden Davis singles up the middle.
-Jacob Humphrey strikes out swinging.
-Rustan Rigdon strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Gavin Kilen pops up to SS.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk.
-Hunter Ensley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 0
4th Inning:
T4
-RJ Austin strikes out swinging.
-Riley Nelson singles through the left side.
-Brodie Johnston strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Braden Holcomb strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 2B in shallow right field.
- Hit into the shift. Ball was hit well.
-Dean Curley doubles to right-center.
- RJ Austin got his glove on it but couldn’t make a great leaping catch at the wall.
- Two-hit day for Curley!
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Cannon Peebles works a walk.
*Chris Newstrom pinch-hitting for Jay Abernathy*
-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging after a 12-pitch(!) at-bat.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Colin Barczi singles through the left side.
-Jonathan Vastine flies out to CF.
-Jayden Davis pops up to 1B.
-Jacob Humphrey flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Manny Marin grounds out to 2B.
-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 2B.
- Another rocket through the right side hit into the shift.
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 2B.
- Yet ANOTHER hit into the shift. Ball was hit to shallow right field where 2B Rustan Rigdon was waiting.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Rustan Rigdon strikes out swinging.
-RJ Austin grounds out to 3B.
-Riley Nelson grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Hunter Ensley doubles to right-center.
-Dalton Bargo sends an RBI single to left field. Ensley scores, very impressively avoiding the tag with his slide.
Vanderbilt challenged the ruling and the call was upheld.
-Dean Curley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Commodores 0
7th Inning:
T7
-Brodie Johnston strikes out swinging.
-Braden Holcomb HBP.
-Colin Barczi flies out to CF. Holcomb out at second. 8-4 double play.
- Flat out incredible play by Hunter Ensley, who made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Barczi of a game-tying two-game homer.
- Both of Holcomb’s feet went past second, then he went back to first when Ensley made the catch and did not touch second. Therefore, once Curley tagged second after Ensley threw it in, Holcomb is out there.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Pitching change: So. RHP Alex Kranzler (6-1, 3.38 ERA) on to pitch for Thompson*
-Cannon Peebles singles to right field.
Peebles advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Chris Newstrom bunts Peebles over, out at first 1-3.
-Manny Marin knocks an RBI single to left field.
- Big insurance run.
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Liam Huesman (1-0, 4.15 ERA) on to pitch for Kranzler*
-Gavin Kilen grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.
- Hit into the shift again, not as hard-hit this time right to the third baseman in the 3.75 hole.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 0
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 4.45 ERA) on to pitch for Doyle*
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*
*Kilen to 2B*
-Jonathan Vastine doubles to left-center.
-Jayden Davis strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Humphrey flies out to CF. Vastine to third.
- Really nice running catch by Ensley in center, running back towards the wall. Fans are giving a round of applause.
-Rustan Rigdon sends an RBI single to SS, advances to second on a throwing error by SS. Vastine scores.
- Ariel made a great play to get to the ball but the throw was inaccurate after he spun around and fired. Could’ve ended the inning with an incredible play but Vastine scores instead.
-RJ Austin grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 3B up the middle.
- Shift again.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 1
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (4-0, 2.55 ERA) on to pitch for Franklin*
-Riley Nelson grounds out to 2B.
- Into the shift. Played in Tennessee’s favor that time!
-Brodie Johnston hammers a solo homer to left-center.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (3-1, 3.57 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*
-Braden Holcomb strikes out swinging.
-Colin Barczi lines out to CF.
- Great sliding catch by Hunter Ensley to end it. Fitting.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 2
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 3, Vanderbilt Commodores 2
