Game seven.
Tennessee baseball gets its first taste of “the best two words in sports” in the Tony Vitello era on Monday night when they face Wake Forest in a decisive seventh game of the Knoxville Regional.
The Demon Deacons are playing their fifth game of the weekend. The Vols are playing their fourth. So what does each pitching staff look like entering the game?
Following its 7-6 loss in game six, Tony Vitello said that Tennessee had not decided who would start in game seven, but Tegan Kuhns (5.40 ERA in 36.2 IP) is the logical choice. A weekend starter for much of the season, Kuhns has yet to throw this weekend.
What is the availability of the guys behind Kuhns? Tanner Franklin and Brayden Krenzel also haven’t thrown this weekend and will be fully available. Both were warming up during game six and will likely throw in game seven.
Dylan Loy (21 pitches on Sunday), Andrew Behnke (24 pitches on Friday) and Austin Breedlove (7 pitches on Friday) should also be fully available. After them is when things get a tad dicey.
“There’s some guys that are very valuable pitchers that it’s up to them whether they want the ball or not,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said. “And I already know one of them has been in my ear, but we’ll see whoever else wants to be involved, great, whoever else not. I mean, I was a pitching coach before, and some guys just flat out can’t do it. Some guys are excited too. And then on a day like tomorrow, you just get the out that’s in front of you.”
The player that’s been in Tony Vitello’s ear? SEC Pitcher of the Year Liam Doyle. Tennessee’s ace tossed 104 pitches in 6.2 innings on Friday night. If he does throw in game seven it will likely be in a limited outing.
The other pitchers in the “wants to be involved” category are AJ Russell and Nate Snead. Russell threw 53 pitches on Saturday night. Snead threw 41 on Sunday night. Both could be available but likely not in long spurts.
The only two Tennessee pitches it feels safe to rule out are Marcus Phillips (98 pitches on Saturday) and Brandon Arvidson (108 pitches on Sunday).
More From RTI: Tony Vitello Expresses Frustration With NCAA Home/Away Rule
That’s the deal with the Vols. How about the Demon Deacons?
Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter said that Griffin Green would start. Green has been one of Wake Forest’s best relievers all season, posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 35.1 innings pitched this season. He should be completely fresh, throwing 19 pitches on Friday in his last outing.
Joe Arriola is the other Wake Forest pitcher that should have a lot of gas left in the tank. He’s thrown just nine pitches this weekend and has a 5.16 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched this season.
Like Doyle, ace Blake Morningstar could turn around and throw a short outing. He threw 111 pitches in 4.1 innings Friday night.
Other top Wake Forest relievers could be available but wouldn’t seem to have much left in the tank. Luke Schmolke (4.15 ERA in 43.1 IP) threw 28 pitches Friday and 27 pitches on Sunday. Haiden Laffew (4.46 ERA in 34.1 IP) threw 48 pitches on Saturday and 13 pitches Sunday.
Josh Gunther (3.41 ERA in 29 IP) is probably unavailable after throwing 48 pitches Saturday and 32 pitches on Sunday. The same should be true of Tennessee transfer Matthew Dallas (115 pitches on Sunday) and Logan Lunceford (80 pitches on Sunday).
Take a look at the full log of pitching details for both teams this weekend.
More From RTI: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Fell To Wake Forest
Who Has Thrown For Each Team
Wake Forest
Against Cincinnati on Friday:
Blake Morningstar: 4.1 innings, 111 pitches
Luke Schmolke: 1.2 innings, 28 pitches
Rhys Bowie: 1.2 innings, 28 pitches
Griffin Green: 1.1 innings, 19 pitches
Against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday:
Chris Levonas: 1.1 innings, 40 pitches
Zach Johnston: 1.2 innings, 37 pitches
Duncan Marsten: 1.2 innings, 47 pitches
Josh Gunther: 2 innings, 54 pitches
Joe Ariola: 0 innings, 9 pitches
Haiden Leffew: 1.2 innings, 48 pitches
Logan Lunceford: 0.2 innings, 8 pitches
Against Cincinnati on Sunday:
Matthew Dallas: 7.2 innings, 115 pitches
Luke Schmolke: 1.1 innings, 27 pitches
Against Tennessee on Sunday:
Logan Lunceford: 5 innings, 80 pitches
Rhys Bowie: 1.2 innings, 42 pitches
Josh Gunther: 1.1 innings, 32 pitches
Haiden Leffew: 1 innings, 13 pitches
Tennessee
Against Miami (Ohio) on Friday
Liam Doyle: 6.2 innings, 104 pitches
Austin Breedlove: 0.1 innings, 7 pitches
Andrew Behnke: 2 innings, 24 pitches
Against Cincinnati on Saturday
Marcus Phillips: 6 innings, 98 pitches
AJ Russell: 2.2 innings, 53 pitches
Brandon Arvidson: 0.1 innings, 5 pitches
Against Wake Forest on Sunday
Dylan Loy: 1.1 innings, 21 pitches
Brandon Arvidson: 5.1 innings, 108 pitches
Nate Snead: 1.1 innings, 41 pitches
