SCORE: Tennessee 9, Miami (OH) 2 | FINAL

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14-seed Tennessee baseball (43-16, 16-14 SEC) is set to battle Miami (OH) (35-21, 23-7 MAC) Friday in game two of the Knoxville Regional.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium will be at approximately 7:06 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Mike Monaco (PxP) and Kyle Peterson (Analyst) are calling the game.

WEATHER DELAY PUSHED START TIME BACK TO 7:06 P.M. ET. It was initially scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET.

For a full preview of the game including a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee enters the game coming off a 2-1 run in the SEC Tournament. The Vols dominated Alabama in game one in Hoover, tallying a season-high 20 hits in a 15-10 victory. UT then claimed arguably its biggest win of the season with a 7-5 extra innings win over 1-seed Texas to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Tennessee’s run would end there in a disappointing 10-0 run-rule loss to eventual tournament champions Vanderbilt.

While the Vols ended their tournament run with a whimper, Tennessee’s pair of wins were massive. They are the reason Knoxville was named a host site, as Tennessee wasn’t projected to host before the tournament began.

UT ended the regular season losing its last five SEC series and six of its last seven. While the Vols haven’t won a series since mid-April, Tennessee never got swept in a series.

DRAW: See Tennessee Baseball’s 2025 NCAA Tournament Draw

Tennessee has the most momentum its had in nearly two months. The offense has been good to great in five of the last six outings. AJ Russell and Brandon Arvidson delivered superb performances in Hoover to change the outlook of the bullpen. Infield mistakes are happening less.

Additionally, Tennessee got a favorable draw in the regional. Wake Forest isn’t among the top 2-seeds. The Demon Deacons’ BLANK loss to Cincinnati in game one of the regional proves that. Cincinnati is a challenging matchup because the Bearcats steal bases at a high rate, but the overall offensive numbers are underwhelming and the pitching staff isn’t great.

Miami (OH) has a good offense and isn’t a bad 4-seed but with Liam Doyle starting on the mound, the Vols have a significant advantage.

SCOUTING: Scouting Tennessee Baseball’s Three Potential Opponents

BULLPEN: Tennessee Baseball Bullpen Power Rankings: Which Vol Relievers Are Most Trustworthy?

Doyle starting on the mound may come as a bit of a surprise to some. Marcus Phillips has naturally moved ahead of Doyle in terms of who has pitched first in a week the last two weeks. This was because the Arkansas series was a Thursday-Saturday and Tennessee wanted to keep Doyle on Fridays.

Keeping Phillips in a game one setting makes a lot of sense with Miami (OH) being the weakest team in the regional and the fact that Cininnati has an excellent run game, something Phillips struggles mightily to contain.

But, Doyle will get the ball on Friday and Phillips will face Cincinnati on Saturday. Tegan Kuhns will presumably start Tennessee’s third game of the Regional but that is not confirmed.

PITCHING: Tony Vitello Discusses Tennessee Baseball Pitching Plan For Knoxville Regional

Opponent Scout

• 35-21 (23-7 MAC) record
• Won the MAC regular season and tournament championship
• No. 80 RPI
• Played one SEC team, falling to Kentucky 4-3. Also lost matchups against Cincinnati (twice) and Ohio State

Strengths

Miami’s offense is the strength of its team and it’s an offense that can hit for contact and hit for power. The RedHawks team batting average is .299, a mark that ranks 53rd nationally. Seven Miami starters are hitting over .300 making it a challenging lineup one through seven. They rank 12th nationally in walks.

The RedHawks rank 43rd nationally with a .497 slugging percentage, 61st in home runs, 36th in triples and 43rd in doubles.

Weaknesses

While the offense is really good one through seven, it has two weak spots in the bottom of the lineup. They have used a couple different guys at the final two spots in the lineup with that group hitting between .115 and .215.

Miami is not aggressive on the base paths. The RedHawks rank 238th nationally with 44 stolen bases.

Miami does not have a great pitching staff, ranking 171st nationally with a 6.34 team-ERA. They are better in WHIP, posting a 1.50 mark that ranks 84th nationally. Miami has struggled to find consistent starting pitchers. Eleven different pitchers have started for Miami with four earning nine-plus starts and six earning four-plus starts.

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. He will not pitch again this season.
  • Read more about Wiggins’ status HERE.
• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible. He will not play this season.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Previewing Knoxville Regional

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including a feature on AJ Russell, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast previewing the Knoxville Regional, click HERE.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello, Andrew Fischer Preview Vols’ Upcoming Knoxville Regional Run

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)

DH Levi Clark (R)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

3B Manny Marin (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Same lineup as it has been the last five games for Tennessee.

MIAMI (OH) STARTING NINE: 

SS Dillon Baker (R)

LF Ryan Novak (L)

CF Anthony Zarlingo (S)

1B Evan Appelwick (R)

C David Novak (R)

3B Dominic Krupinski (L)

DH Ty Batusich (L)

RF Tommy Harrison (L)

2B Blake Buzzeo (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (9-3, 3.04 ERA, 16 app., 15 starts, 83.0 IP, 54 H, 31 R, 28 ER, 27 BB, 142 K, 18 XBH, .182 opp. batting avg., 0.98 WHIP)

vs.

RedHawks Jr. RHP Cooper Matskee (11-1, 2.66 ERA, 15 app., 9 starts, 3 CG, 81.1 IP, 54 H, 26 R, 24 ER, 26 BB, 69 K, .186 opp. batting avg., 0.98 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Doyle stays in his game one pitching role despite the fact that Miami (OH) is the weakest competition in the regional. Marcus Phillips will start Saturday’s game.
  • Doyle is looking to bounce back after two consecutive subpar starts.
• Matskee has arguably been Miami (OH)’s best arm this season. He is coming off a complete 9-inning game against Ken State in which he allowed one run.
  • Hasn’t given up more than two runs in an outing since April 11

Uniforms

Tennessee: Icy Whites

Miami (OH): Red shirts grey pants

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*NOTES*

• There is NO run-rule in the NCAA Tournament.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Dillon Baker pops up to 2B.

-Ryan Novak singles through the right side.

Novak advances to second on a throwing error by P, failed pickoff attempt, advances to third on the error.

• Threw it into the dirt. Takes two bags on a ball out of play.

-Anthony Zarlingo works a walk.

-Evan Appelwick strikes out looking.

-David Novak grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to CF.

-Hunter Ensley singles through the left side.

-Dalton Bargo flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, RedHawks 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Dominic Krupinski grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Ty Batusich strikes out swinging.

-Tommy Harrison works a walk.

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

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Dean Curley fouls out to 3B.

-Reese Chapman smokes a solo homer to left field.

• 347 feet, 99 mph
• Chapman’s 13th HR of the season.
• 2nd deck of the porches.

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

-Cannon Peebles rips a double to right field.

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, RedHawks 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Dillon Baker drives a double to left field.

-Ryan Novak grounds out to SS. Baker to third.

• Nice play by Gavin Kilen.

-Anthony Zarlingo strikes out looking after an 8-pitch at-bat.

-Evan Appelwick is walked on four pitches.

-David Novak ropes an RBI double to right field. Baker scores. Appelwick to third.

-Dominic Krupinski strikes out swinging, tagged out by C.

• Big K
• High pitch count though after three. Doyle is at 66 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Gavin Kilen works a walk.

-Andrew Fischer reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Kilen advances to second on a fielding error by 2B. Kilen advances to third.

• Miami ran the shift but committed an error allowing Kilen to reach second. Then Kilen takes third after the ball goes back to the pitcher because no one was covering the bag (because of the shift).
• Strong baserunning from Kilen.

-Hunter Ensley pops up to 1B.

-Dalton Bargo works a walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Dean Curley.

-Dean Curley draws an RBI walk. Kilen scores.

• Bases loaded with one out for Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman sends a sac fly to CF. Fischer scores. Curley to second. Bargo to third.

• Wild decision from Curley to tag up there. Throw got away from the infielder but it beat Curley. Tennessee got lucky there that it wasn’t an inning-ender.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, RedHawks 1

4th Inning: 

T4

-Ty Batusich strikes out swinging after an 8-pitch at-bat.

• Doyle at 74 pitches.

-Tommy Harrison grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Blake Buzzeo grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF in shallow right-center.

-Manny Marin works a walk.

-Gavin Kilen singles to left field. Marin to second.

• Looked like the left-fielder made a leaping catch at the wall but he couldn’t come up with it. Nearly an amazing play.
• A good recovery + throw kept Marin at second.

-Andrew Fischer ropes an RBI single to right-center. Marin scores. Kilen to third.

• Really good at-bat from Fischer (7 pitches).

-Hunter Ensley smacks an RBI single to centerfield. Fischer to second. Kilen scores.

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Carson Byers (2-2, 2.65 ERA) on to pitch for Katskee*

-Dalton Bargo rips an RBI single through the right side. Fischer scores. Ensley to third.

• Really hard hit ball. Fischer and Bargo’s singles were smoked.
• 110 mph exit velo

-Dean Curley works a walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Curley safe at second on a throwing error by 2B. Bargo and Ensley score on the error (2).

• Should’ve been a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play, but the second baseman’s flip to the shortstop was high and he couldn’t come up with the catch. Curley slides into second and collides with the SS allowing the ball to fully get away.
• Thought this would’ve been ruled an RBI FC, but seems the scorer is assuming the double play.

-Levi Clark flies out to LF.

Curley caught stealing third, 2-5. 

• Tennessee put on the double steal. Curley gets caught.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, RedHawks 1

5th Inning: 

T5

-Dillon Baker strikes out swinging.

-Ryan Novak strikes out swinging.

-Anthony Zarlingo strikes out looking.

• 14-pitch inning. At 91 through five.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Cannon Peebles lines a double to left field.

-Manny Marin out at first 1-4-3. Peebles to third.

• Weak hopper ricocheted off the pitcher’s glove.

-Gavin Kilen drills an RBI single to right-center. Peebles scores.

-Andrew Fischer out at first 3-4-3. Kilen to second.

• Hard-hit ball that should’ve been a 3U. First baseman couldn’t corral it though, but the second baseman was there to back him up. Flip barely beat Fischer to the bag.

-Hunter Ensley is walked on four pitches.

-Dalton Bargo flies out to CF at the warning track.

• To the wall. Every bit of 386-388 feet.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, RedHawks 1

6th Inning: 

T6

-Evan Appelwick strikes out looking.

-David Novak strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Dominic Krupinski pops up to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Dean Curley flies out to CF.

• Nice running catch by the centerfielder Anthony Zarlingo.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

Chapman caught stealing second, 2-4.

• Overslid the bag.

-Levi Clark flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, RedHawks 1

7th Inning: 

T7

*Liam Doyle back out on the mound*

-Ty Batusich singles up the middle.

-Tommy Harrison grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

FINAL LINE: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11K, 104 pitches (69 strikes)

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Austin Breedlove (3-0, 3.47 ERA) on to pitch for Doyle*

-Blake Buzzeo flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF in right-center.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, RedHawks 1

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Andrew Behnke (2-0, 5.23 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*

-Dillon Baker grounds out to SS.

-Ryan Novak strikes out swinging.

-Anthony Zarlingo grounds out to 2B.

• Strong 1-2-3 inning from Behnke

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Andrew Fischer flies out to CF.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.

-Dalton Bargo lines out to 2B.

• Hit right into the shift.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, RedHawks 1

9th Inning: 

T9

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*

*Kilen to 2B*

-Evan Appelwick smokes a solo homer to left field.

-David Novak flies out to CF.

-Dominic Krupinski grounds out to SS.

-Ty Batusich grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 9, RedHawks 2

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 9, Miami (OH) RedHawks 2