FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In a matter of minutes, ace Liam Doyle threw his final pitch as a Vol and Arkansas scored five-runs with two outs in the fourth inning. The 10 minute stretch saw Arkansas open up a sizable lead that Tennessee would never threaten in an 11-4 season ending loss.
Here’s how it went down.
A Brutal Third Inning For Tennessee
Arkansas had runners reach base with less than two outs in each of its first two innings against Liam Doyle but the Vols’ ace kept the Razorbacks off the board both times with relative ease.
But Doyle’s command eluded him to open the third inning and the Razorbacks used it to strike first. Nine-hole hitter Justin Thomas worked a five pitch walk without swinging the bat and Doyle then fell behind leadoff man Charles Davalan 2-0. Doyle found the zone after a mound visit, but Davalan was ready to hit. The lefty turned on a 95 mph fastball and deposited into the Arkansas bullpen in right field.
From there, Doyle did a good job of responding. SEC Player of the Year Wehiwa Aloy singles but he retired the next three batters to end the inning.
Tennessee’s offense started its response in exceptional fashion with three straight singles from Cannon Peebles, Manny Marin and Gavin Kilen loading the bases for star Andrew Fischer with no-one out. After an Arkansas mound visit, Fischer promptly grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Hunter Ensley flew out to end the inning.
Arkansas only outscored Tennessee by one run in the frame, but the damage felt much worse.
Tennessee Gets Only 11 Outs From Liam Doyle
Doyle ran into more trouble in the fourth inning when Arkansas used a pair of singles to put runners on first and second with two outs ahead of his next matchup against Davalan. After a wild pitch, moved the runners to second and third, Tennessee decided to intentionally walk the leadoff hitter and go to the bullpen.
It was a quick hook for Doyle, who is Tennessee’s ace, pulling him from the game at just 76 pitches. The move proved to be a disastrous one.
A walk, hit-by pitch and Logan Maxwell grand slam allowed five runs to score as Arkansas opened up a 7-1 lead. Doyle’s final line was one of his worst of the season, allowing five earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. If Tony Vitello gave Doyle the chance to work out of the jam then maybe things end differently.
But either way, Tennessee needed a dominant and long outing from Doyle to climb its way back in the series. The Vols didn’t get that, in part, leading to the end of their season.
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Tennessee’s Offensive Struggles Continue
Liam Doyle not throwing well was the lead story but the Vols offense struggled for a second straight day. Tennessee mustered just two runs on six hits in the loss and really did not squander many scoring opportunities.
Middle of the lineup bats Hunter Ensley, Dalton Bargo and Reese Chapman struggled as they have for much of the season’s final weeks. The group combined for just one hit in game two via an Ensley bloop single. Both Bargo and Chapman did work a walk.
That group ended the NCAA Tournament hitting a combined seven-for-65 (.108) in six games. The group did combine for 11 walks, but Tennessee couldn’t have that level of production from its three, four and six hole hitters and expect to advance.
But Tennessee’s offensive issues this weekend were about way more than just those three. The Vols got very little offensive juice from the vast majority of their lineup.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball’s season comes to a close with a loss against Arkansas. The Vols now go back to work in the transfer portal to build their roster for the 2026 season.
