Tennessee baseball used a one-out fourth inning rally to coast past Miami (Ohio) 9-2 for a NCAA Tournament opening win on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols’ offense turned in a complete performance while Liam Doyle worked through a taxing first three innings and then cruised from there. Here’s how Tennessee got the job done.
Liam Doyle Turns It On After Shaky First Few Innings
Tennessee ace Liam Doyle entered the NCAA Tournament coming off his two worst starts of the season. After laboring through the first three innings, Doyle turned it on and was dominant through the next three innings.
Miami (Ohio) constantly made him Doyle work through the first three innings, putting two on in the first including a runner on third with one-out before Doyle got out of the inning. The Redhawks only worked a two-out walk in the second inning but they were all long at-bats.
The four-seed got its lone run off of Doyle in the third inning thanks to a pair of doubles around a walk. Allowing just one run through three innings was no issue, but Miami (Ohio) did make him throw 66 pitches in the process.
Doyle was dominant from there, striking out six of the final 11 batters he faced while allowing just one baserunner and erasing it with a double play. After throwing 66 pitches to record his first nine outs, Doyle threw 38 pitches to record his final 11 outs.
The efficient final three innings and change combined with Tennessee’s offense opening things up allowed Tennessee to save its bullpen.
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Tennessee Opens Things Up With Big Fourth Inning
Tennessee’s offense kept consistent pressure on Miami (Ohio) starter Cooper Katskee the first three innings and they scored three runs in the process. But the Vols had failed to turned in a big inning despite having chances.
That changed in the fourth inning when the Vols hung five runs on the Redhawks to open up a sizable 8-1 lead. Miami (Ohio) retired Cannon Peebles to open the inning. Eight straight Tennessee batters proceeded to reach base safely.
Tennessee ran Redhawks starter Cooper Katskee from the game in the process. The Vols didn’t use the long ball for the big inning. Manny Marin started the rally with a walk but it was four straight singles afterwards. Dean Curley walked and then Tennessee caught a break when Blake Buzzeo’s bad toss on a potential double play ball led to two runs scoring.
Not that Tennessee seemed to be in serious trouble before the big inning but it did radically change the feel of the game and put the Vols in firm control.
A Balanced Offensive Showing
Tennessee’s offense continued its trend of complete performances in its regional opening win. The Vols hit just one home run in the win but totaled nine hits and worked seven more walks.
Levi Clark was the only person in Tennessee’s lineup not to reach base and he hit the ball hard multiple at-bats. Six Tennessee batters reached base multiple times including Gavin Kilen and Hunter Ensley who each reached base three times. Six different Vols drove in runs with Reese Chapman leading the way with three RBIs.
It was just one game against four-seed Miami (Ohio) but Tennessee found offensive success from multiple players and did it in multiple ways. That’s a good sign for the rest of the postseason.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball advances to face Cincinnati in a critical winner’s bracket matchup at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Saturday night. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET. The broadcast details are not yet set.
