SCORE: Tennessee 10, Arkansas 7 | FINAL (Vols lead series 1-0)

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No. 17 Tennessee baseball (40-12, 15-11 SEC) is set to battle No. 8 Arkansas (41-11, 18-9 SEC) Thursday night in game one of a three-game series in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

First pitch in Baum Walker Stadium will be at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

For a full preview of the series, including projected pitching matchups and a prediction, click here.

Tennessee enters the final series of the regular season struggling in SEC play. The Vols have lost four straight series and five of their past six, with four of those coming at home.

The offense hasn’t lived up to its potential while the bullpen has been shaky and the defense bad.

With the recent struggles, Tennessee likely needs to win the series this weekend to host an NCAA Regional. If Tennessee just wins one game, which is the most likely outcome, the Vols will need a really strong run in the SEC Tournament to improve their hosting chances.

BRACKETOLOGY: Bracketology: Tennessee Baseball Projected To Go On The Road In NCAA Tournament

The Vanderbilt series loss saw Tennessee drop even further in the latest D1 Baseball Top 25 poll to No. 17.

See where Tennessee landed in all major polls below.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Ranks Following Series Loss Against Vanderbilt

Tennessee will look a little differently compared to every other series opener this season, as Marcus Phillips is starting on the mound over Liam Doyle, who will start Friday. This is to keep Doyle in his regular routine with pitching on Fridays.

Phillips has struggled mightily in the run game this season and it was a major factor in Tennessee’s game two loss to Vanderbilt last week. For the first time this season, Tony Vitello expressed significant frustration with Phillips’ inability to limit the opposing team’s run game.

While Vitello was non-committal to Phillips staying in the starting rotation earlier in the week, the hard-throwing righty will indeed get the ball to open the series.

PITCHING:Tony Vitello Altering Tennessee Baseball’s Starting Pitching Plan Ahead Of Arkansas Series

Opponent Scout

Arkansas got off to a strong start to the season losing just one game before the start of SEC play. Conference play has been topsy turvy for the Razorbacks with them losing four of their last five series after winning their first four series of the season.

When Arkansas has won series, they have almost always swept. The Razorbacks have series sweeps against South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Missouri and most impressively Texas two weeks ago in Fayetteville.

Arkansas’ offense has some serious pop, ranking seventh nationally and third in the SEC in slugging percentage. The Aloy brothers have led the way for Arkansas’ offense. Wehiwa Aloy is an SEC Player of the Year candidate and enters the weekend hitting .364 with 17 home runs, 16 doubles and 54 RBIs. Kuhio Aloy is hitting .356 with 13 home runs, 14 doubles and 66 RBIs.

Five Arkansas players have double digit home runs this season with seven players hitting eight-plus home runs. Charles Davalan is hitting .349 with 13 home runs while Cam Kozeal is hitting .340 with 12 home runs.

Arkansas’ pitching staff ranks fifth in the SEC with a 3.96 team-ERA. Dylan Carter (2.23 ERA in 32.1 IP) and Aidan Jimenez (2.51 ERA in 32.1 IP) have been the top arms in Arkansas’ bullpen.

The Vols will be looking to end their recent struggles against the Razorbacks this week. UT’s last series win against Arkansas came in 2005 while its last series win in Fayetteville was back in 2001, per UT. Tennessee’s lone victory over the Hogs under head Tony Vitello was an 8-7 walk-off win at home in game two of the 2021 series.

Injury/Availability Notes

• 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 two Mondays ago, Osuna again took legal action still seeking eligibility. Read more HERE.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Following Senior Day Win Over Belmont

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast recapping the Vanderbilt series and looking at why Tennessee must finish strong to close the regular season, click HERE.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Recaps Midweek Win Over Belmont on Senior Night

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

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 Blake Grimmer (L)

3B Manny Marin (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Dalton Bargo operating at left, Manny at third. The way its been the vast majority of times lately in SEC play.
• Blake Grimmer gets the DH nod, his second straight SEC start.
• Cannon Peebles behind the plate to open the series.
• Reese Chapman back in right after not starting there in game three vs. Vanderbilt.

ARKANSAS STARTING NINE: 

LF Charles Davalan (L)

SS Wehiwa Aloy (R)

RF Logan Maxwell (L)

DH Kuhio Aloy (R)

2B Cam Kozeal (L)

C Ryder Helfrick (R)

3B Brent Iredale (R)

1B Reese Robinett (L)

CF Justin Thomas Jr. (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP Marcus Phillips (3-4, 3.55 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 1 CGSO, 63.1 IP, 52 H, 31 R, 25 ER, 23 BB, 77 K, 19 XBH, .218 opp. batting avg., 1.18 WHIP)

vs.

Razorbacks Jr. LHP Zach Root (6-3, 3.88 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 1 CG, 72.0 IP, 59 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 24 BB, 98 K, 24 XBH, .219 opp. batting avg., 1.15 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Phillips gets the start to open the series for the first time this season.
  • This is to keep Liam Doyle in his regular routine of throwing Fridays. He will start tomorrow. Phillips gets moved up two days as a result.
  • Phillips will look to bounce back from a poor 3.1-inning start last week in which he struggled to contain Vanderbilt’s run game. Gave up 5 R on 5 H.
• Root has done really well in his first year at Arkansas.
  • Only two truly bad outings this year (Ole Miss & Texas A&M).
  • Shoved in a 8.0-inning start two weeks ago against Texas (2 H, 0 R)
  • Gave up two runs on five hits last week at LSU.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Smokey Greys

Arkansas: All whites

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*NOTES*

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Arkansas leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Gavin Kilen strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.

• Eight-pitch inning.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Charles Davalan singles to right-center.

-Wehiwa Aloy grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

-Logan Maxwell singles to left field.

-Kuhio Aloy strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Razorbacks 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Dalton Bargo smacks a solo homer to left field.

• Bargo’s 13th HR of the season.
• First pitch of the AB.

-Dean Curley lines a single to left field.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

-Cannon Peebles lines out to LF.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Cam Kozeal grounds out to P.

• Really nice leaping catch by Phillips on the chopper. Continues to show he’s a great defender.

-Ryder Helfrick singles up the middle.

-Brent Iredale singles up the middle. Helfrick to third.

• Just got past Kilen up the middle.

-Reese Robinett works a walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Justin Thomas Jr.

-Justin Thomas Jr. strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Charles Davalan ropes a two-run double down the RF line. Helfrick and Iredale score. Robinett out at home, 9-3-2.

• Really nice throw by Reese Chapman to Andrew Fischer, who fired home.

Ruling was challenged by Arkansas and the call was upheld.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Razorbacks 2

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Manny Marin singles to 2B.

• Absolute rocket that Kozeal got his glove on, trying to make a leaping catch, but couldn’t come down with it.

-Gavin Kilen fouls out on a bunt.

• Weak pop-up bunt.
• Not sure the bunt call makes much sense there.

-Andrew Fischer singles to right field. Marin to third.

-Hunter Ensley grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Wehiwa Aloy grounds out to 3B.

-Logan Maxwell works a walk.

-Kuhio Aloy strikes out looking.

-Cam Kozeal flies out to CF in left-center.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Razorbacks 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-Dalton Bargo grounds out to SS.

-Dean Curley singles to right field.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.

*Levi Clark pinch-hitting for Blake Grimmer*

Runners steal second and third.

-Levi Clark works a walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Manny Marin.

-Manny Marin sends a two-run single to SS. Clark to second. Curley and Chapman score.

• Ricocheted off Aloy’s glove. Two come across. Big moment there for Tennessee.

-Gavin Kilen slaps an RBI single to right field. Clark scores. Marin to third.

*Pitching change: RHP Gabe Gaeckle (4-2, 5.05 ERA) on to pitch for Root*

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Ryder Helfrick grounds out to 2B.

-Brent Iredale HBP.

-Reese Robinett works a walk.

-Justin Thomas Jr. reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Robinett out at second, 6-4. Iredale to third.

• Could’ve been a 6-4-3 double play but Curley dropped the ball in transition. May have not thrown the speedy Thomas Jr. out anyway.

-Charles Davalan grounds out to SS.

• Great play by Gavin Kilen.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking.

-Dalton Bargo lines out to RF.

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Wehiwa Aloy grounds out to SS.

• Another nice play by Gavin Kilen.

-Logan Maxwell reaches on a bunt single to P.

• Beat the shift.

-Kuhio Aloy ropes an RBI double down the LF line. Maxwell scores.

• Took a weird bounce off the left-field wall, catching Bargo off-guard and causing a delay in him fielding it.
• Allowed Maxwell to score all the way from first.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (4-0, 3.42 ERA) on to pitch for Phillips*

-Cam Kozeal strikes out swinging.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP AJ Russell (0-1, 3.46 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*

-Ryder Helfrick strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 3

6th Inning: 

T6

-Cannon Peebles pops up to SS.

-Levi Clark drops a single into right-center.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

-Gavin Kilen lines out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Brent Iredale works a walk.

-Reese Robinett flies out to LF.

Iredale steals second.

-Justin Thomas Jr. flies out to RF.

-Charles Davalan strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 3

7th Inning: 

T7

-Andrew Fischer singles to right-center.

-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Fischer out at second, 6-4.

-Dalton Bargo crushes a two-run homer to right field.

• Bargi’s 14th HR of the season.

-Dean Curley hammers a solo homer to left field.

• Curley’s 12th HR of the season.
• Back-to-back jacks puts Tennessee in great position later in this game.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

*Pitching change: RHP Dylan Carter (6-0, 2.23 ERA) on to pitch for Gaeckle*

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

Chapman advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Levi Clark works a walk.

-Manny Marin fouls out to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Wehiwa Aloy fouls out to 1B.

-Logan Maxwell strikes out swinging after a 9-pitch at-bat.

-Kuhio Aloy singles to right field.

-Cam Kozeal doubles down the RF line. Aloy to third.

-Ryder Helfrick is walked on four pitches.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Brent Iredale.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-2, 5.12 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*

-Brent Iredale flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Razorbacks 3

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: RHP Ben Bybee (3-0, 4.37 ERA) on to pitch for Carter*

-Gavin Kilen strikes out swinging.

-Andrew Fischer is walked on four pitches.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Dalton Bargo works a walk. Fischer to second.

-Dean Curley lines out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (3-1, 3.53 ERA) on to pitch for Franklin*

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*

*Kilen to 2B*

-Reese Robinett singles to center field.

-Justin Thomas Jr. reaches on a bunt single. Robinett advances to second.

-Charles Davalan lines out to SS. Thomas Jr. and Robinett advance to second and third on a throwing error by SS.

• Crazy play. Line out to Ariel, but he didn’t catch it. They ruled he did, though. And Arkansas didn’t challenge.
• Then, Antigua tried to get the runner coming back to first but the throw was low and got away.
• Tennessee challenged that the runners didn’t properly tag up before advancing on the error I think? The ruling was upheld. Wild sequence.

-Wehiwa Aloy bloops a two-run single into left field.

-Logan Maxwell singles to right field. Aloy to third.

-Kuhio Aloy reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to SS. Maxwell out at second, 6-4. Wehiwa Aloy scores.

-Cam Kozeal pops up to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Razorbacks 6

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: LHP Hunter Dietz (0-0, 13.50 ERA) on to pitch for Bybee*

-Reese Chapman singles to right field.

-Cannon Peebles powers a two-run homer to left field.

• Peebles’ 11th HR of the season.
• Massive, massive homer to give Tennessee some insurance. Peebles has had quite a few huge homers late in games in SEC play this year.

-Levi Clark singles to center field.

*Pitching change: RHP Christian Foutch (1-0, 4.15 ERA) on to pitch for Dietz*

*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Levi Clark*

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Gavin Kilen singles through the right side, advances to second on a throwing error by RF. Abernathy to third, scores on the error.

• Abernathy’s speed allows him to make it to home. That’s why you play him in that spot.
• Error goes on the outfielder but the second baseman lackadaisically tried to catch it, allowing the ball to get away a bit. Weird and careless mistake there from Arkansas leads to a big insurance run.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to RF.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

-Ryder Helfrick strikes out looking.

-Brent Iredale grounds out to SS.

-Reese Robinett singles up the middle.

Robinett advances to second.

-Justin Thomas Jr. slaps an RBI single to left field. Robinett scores.

• Poor throw from Bargo.

Thomas Jr. advances to second.

-Charles Davalan grounds out to P.

• Mammoth of a game finally ends at 4 HR, 5 Min

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 10, Razorbacks 7

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Arkansas Razorbacks 7