Tennessee baseball’s offense turned in a second straight strong performance but bad defense and a rare poor Liam Doyle outing doomed the Vols in an 8-6 series-evening loss against Arkansas.
Here’s how things went awry from Tennessee in game two of the weekend series.
A Rare Poor Outing From Liam Doyle
It was a rare rocky outing from Liam Doyle with Arkansas getting to the Vols’ ace early. A pair of singles gave Arkansas runners on the corners with one out in the first inning, but Doyle worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
He didn’t have the same success working out of trouble the next two innings. Cam Kozeal led off the second inning with a single and Brent Iredale followed it up by launching a two-run homer to left-center field. The Razorbacks added one more run in the second inning after a single, double and groundout.
Tennessee’s offense stepped up for Doyle in the top of the third inning by scoring three runs to reclaim the lead, but Arkansas quickly grabbed it back with a leadoff hit-by pitch followed by a Ryder Helfrick two-run homer.
Doyle did a good job of pitching into the fifth inning and would have gotten through the fifth inning if it weren’t for a two-out throwing error. Tennessee’s ace allowed eight runs and six earned runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Doyle did strikeout 10 batters while walking two.
It was the most hits, most earned runs and most home runs allowed in a start for Doyle this season. His 4.1 innings pitched tied for his second shortest start of the season.
Tennessee Has Quick Success Against Arkansas’ Starter Aidan Jimenez
Arkansas’ Aidan Jimenez was making his first start of the season and Tennessee did a strong job of jumping on him early.
The Vols took a second inning lead thanks to a Dean Curley double and a Cannon Peebles two-out RBI single. Tennessee found even more success in the third inning. Andrew Fischer and Dalton Bargo each doubled and then a Curley infield single ended Jimenez’ day with one-out in the third inning.
Tennessee’s offense made Jimenez final line look even worse when Levi Clark walked to load the bases and Peebles came through again with a two-RBI single to centerfield. The Vols’ offense tagged Jimenez for four runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings pitched. It was a great start for Tennessee’s offense.
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A Critical Defensive Mistake
As rough as Doyle’s outing was compared to his usual high standards, he nearly gritted through five innings while allowing six runs which would have kept Tennessee within two runs and very much in the game.
But that’s when the Vols’ defense made a crucial mistake. Justin Thomas his a routine grounder to shortstop with two outs and a runner on first in the fifth inning. Gavin Kilen was drifting into the outfield grass and his plant foot slipped causing his throw to sail off line.
The runner scored all the way from first. A Charles Davalan single drove in Thomas and ended Doyle’s day. What should have been an inning ending grounder to keep Arkansas’ lead at 6-4 turned into a run scoring grounder and Doyle exited with the Vols’ trailing 8-6.
The defensive mistake felt all the more important as the game progressed and Tennessee attempted to mount a comeback.
Not Enough Offense Against Arkansas’ Bullpen
While Tennessee ran Jimenez from the game early, the Vols were unable to do enough damage against Arkansas’ bullpen. After Peebles provided the two-RBI hit in the third inning, lefty Cole Gibler got into a groove. He allowed just four baserunners and no runs in 3.1 innings of relief.
The only damage Tennessee truly did off of Arkansas’ bullpen came in the seventh inning when Reese Chapman doubled with two outs and Levi Clark followed it up with a two-run homer to right field.
Tennessee had a chance to do real damage in the eighth inning, putting runners on the corners with one-out before Hunter Ensley grounded into an inning ending double play.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Arkansas conclude its weekend series and the regular season on Saturday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium. First pitch is at 3 p.m. ET and the SEC Network is broadcasting the game.
