Tennessee baseball got back in the win column after a bad weekend in Nashville, coasting past Austin Peay 13-4 on Tuesday evening. The Vols moved some people around, took control of the game early and used eight pitchers in the win.
Here’s how it happened.
Garrett Wright Moves Behind The Plate For The First Time This Season
Bowling Green transfer Garrett Wright looked like a potential part-time starter behind the plate for Tennessee over the offseason. But when Wright broke the hamate bone in his wrist during preseason practice, it cost him time and kept him from catching when he did return to the field.
Wright made his season debut behind the plate against the Govs a game after Stone Lawless suffered a serious face injury.
Levi Clark and freshman Trent Grindlinger can also catch but it does make sense for Wright to get more work behind the plate while Lawless is sidelined.
Wright has an abundance of experience catching in college so it’s no surprise but the junior looked good behind the plate and had success at the plate too against Austin Peay. Wright went three-for-three with a double and a three-run homer.
Tennessee Opened Up The Game In The Third Inning
Tennessee’s offense came out the gates strong, scoring three runs in the first inning and another in the second inning to help put the poor weekend in Nashville behind them.
But the Vols truly broke open the game with a massive six-run third inning. Blake Grimmer started the inning strong, roping a double into the left-center field gap. Reese Chapman reached via hit-by pitch before Manny Marin provided the first run of the inning with a single to left field.
A double steal put both runners in-scoring position before Tyler Myatt walked to load the bases. Levi Clark drove in a pair of runs with a single through the left side of the infield. Jay Abernathy struck out for the first out of the inning before Wright launched the previously mentioned home run 403 feet into the left field porches.
That ended Austin Peay starter Chance Cox’s day, gave Tennessee a 10-2 lead and all but decided the midweek matchup.
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Johnny Wholestaff
As is typically the case in midweek games, Tennessee got a number of pitchers work. Freshman Ethan Baiotto made his first career start and threw a new career-high three innings pitched. The right hander was solid in his start. He allowed four hits and a solo homer in the third inning but was otherwise solid, adding a pair of strikeouts and throwing 36 of 54 pitches for strikes.
Sawyer Deering was the first Tennessee pitcher out of the bullpen and retired the side in the fourth inning before allowing a leadoff single and exiting in the fifth inning.
Mark Hindy relieved Deering and allowed the inherited run to score after a single, groundout that moved the runners and a sac fly. The struggling lefty came back out for the sixth inning and retired the only batter he faced.
Freshman Jax Bishop retired both batters he faced after relieving Hindy while lefty Chandler Day retired the side in order in the seventh inning.
It was a bad eighth inning for Will Haas and Taylor Tracey who combined to record just one out while allowing two runs. Haas exited with two runners on base before Tracey walked both batters he faced. Brady Frederick got out of the inning with a fielder’s choice and a line out.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee is back in action this weekend when they host the defending national champion LSU Tigers in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch for the weekend series is at 5:30 p.m. ET on Friday evening.
