Tennessee baseball outlasted Arkansas 10-6 in its series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville on Thursday night.
The Vols hit four home runs in a cathartic offensive outburst while using a complete team performance on the mound. Here’s how it went down in the series opener.
Tennessee Runs Zach Root From The Game With Two-Out Hitting In Fourth Inning
Arkansas ace Zach Root got off to a strong start against Tennessee, retiring the side in order on just eight pitches. But from there the Vols had success against him.
There was a Dalton Bargo solo homer to leadoff the second inning followed by a single from Dean Curley. In the third inning, Tennessee put runners on the corners with one-out before Hunter Ensley grounded into an inning ending double play.
But in the fourth inning Tennessee not only threatened but got the clutch two-out hitting they’e so often lacked. Curley singled and Reese Chapman walked to give Tennessee two-on with one-out. Levi Clark walked to load the bases and bring up Manny Marin.
Marin nearly had a RBI walk but a borderline call went against him to make the count full. But the freshman wasn’t rattled, driving in a pair with an infield single. Gavin Kilen then fell behind 0-2 but worked the count to 2-2 and lined a hanging breaking ball into right field for a RBI single.
The pair of two-out hits gave Tennessee a 4-2 lead and ended Zach Root’s day in the fourth inning.
Marcus Phillips Better Controlling The Running Game But Shaky Overall
Let’s start with the best news for Marcus Phillips. Arkansas baserunners stole zero bases against him. Phillips did a much better job of varying his timing and consistently throwing over to first to keep Razorback baserunners honest.
Arkansas ranks 15th in the SEC in stolen bases but they did frequently have baserunners against Phillips. The right-handed starter allowed seven hits, walked three batters and hit another in his 4.1 innings pitched. Phillips didn’t have a clean inning and the third inning was the only one that he allowed only one baserunner.
But Phillips wasn’t bad either. He found a way to work around the traffic and not let things get away from him. Arkansas tagged three off of Phillips in his 4.1 innings pitched. It wasn’t a great outing nor was it a bad one against a talented Arkansas lineup.
More From RTI: LIVE Updates, Score, Notes: No. 17 Tennessee Baseball @ No. 8 Arkansas Game One
Dalton Bargo And Dean Curley Have Big Games
Tennessee was clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh inning and struggling to do damage off of Arkansas reliever Gabe Gaeckle. That’s when Dalton Bargo and Dean Curley gave Tennessee two of its biggest swings of the game.
Andrew Fischer gave Tennessee a leadoff baserunner before Dalton Bargo hit a two-run homer to right-center field to extend the Vols’ lead to 6-3. Then Curley made it back-to-back with a roped home run to left field. Those were perhaps the two most notable swings of the game but both had really strong nights.
Bargo had two home runs as part of a two-for-four performance plus a walk. Curley went three-for-four at the plate with a walk, reaching base in all but one plate appearance. He sharply lined out the one time Arkansas retired him.
It’s a particularly important trend for Curley who has struggled the back half of SEC play. Curley quietly had a strong weekend at the plate against Vanderbilt, batting .500 with a walk. The only thing lacking was power, hitting just one double and the rest singles. Curley’s home run was his first since April 19 in the Vols’ series opener against Kentucky.
Tennessee Gets Ninth Inning Insurance
After Tanner Franklin escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning, Tennessee turned to Nate Snead in the eighth inning with a 7-3 lead. Things quickly went awry. Back-to-back singles from Arkansas’ eight and nine hitters gave the Razorbacks immediate baserunners.
An Ariel Antigua throwing error on what should have been a double play gave Arkansas two runners in-scoring position. Two straight hits and a fielder’s choice cut Tennessee’s lead to 9-6 entering the ninth inning.
Nearly out of bullpen arms and Snead reeling, Tennessee needed insurance. They got it quickly. Reese Chapman led off the inning with a single and Cannon Peebles sent a two-run homer into the Hog Pen in left field. Tennessee benefited on a defensive miscue when Jay Abernathy went from first to home on a Gavin Kilen single.
The three runs in the top of the ninth pushed Tennessee’s lead back to four runs and helped make it a drama free bottom of the ninth.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Arkansas resume their weekend series at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night. SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
