Tennessee baseball made an already good weekend great by knocking off Mississippi State 7-2 in Sunday’s series finale in Starkville. The Vols used more great pitching and timely hitting to complete the series sweep of the ninth-ranked Bulldogs.
Here’s how it happened.
Tennessee Did Damage Against Charlie Foster To Start And End His Outing
Tennessee jumped on Mississippi State starting pitcher Charlier Foster early. Foster hit Garrett Wright to begin the game then Reese Chapman doubled to get the Vols in business. A Henry Ford infield single scored a run before Chapman scored when Blake Grimmer grounded into a double play.
From there, Foster got on a groove. He faced the minimum from the second inning through the fifth inning as Tennessee’s lineup largely looked lifeless over the four innings.
But Tennessee found some life as Foster’s day ended. The Vols ran him from the game in the sixth inning when Wright walked and Chapman again doubled. Tennessee brought both runs home. Wright scored on a Ford groundout and Chapman scored on a Grimmer two-out single.
On a day where Foster mostly shut down Tennessee’s lineup, the Vols did enough against him to build a lead.
Evan Blanco Was Terrific
With top relievers Cam Appenzeller and Brandon Arvidson both burned for the weekend, Tennessee needed Evan Blanco to step up and get them deep into the game. Facing his former head coach, Blanco did just that.
The left-handed pitcher’s command was as good as it’s been all season. He didn’t walk or hit a single batter, which has often been his issue this season, while allowing just two runs in 6.2 innings pitched.
Blanco allowed just five total baserunners while striking out six batters. He exited with Tennessee leading by two runs and needing his bullpen to get just seven outs to get to the finish line.
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Tennessee’s Bullpen Got The Job Done
Right-handed pitcher Brady Frederick relieved Blanco with a runner on first and two outs in the seventh inning. The submarine pitched got an elevated fastball past Ryder Woodson to get out of the inning before hitting the leadoff man in the eighth inning.
Freshman Chandler Day recorded one out before exiting when a bloop single gave Mississippi State two-on with one-out. Transfer Bo Rhudy kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard in the eighth inning, retiring the first two batters he faced with a groundout and a fly out to the warning track.
After the Vols’ offense provided some breathing room, Rhudy retired the side in order with no drama in the ninth inning.
Vols Add Insurance Runs With A Two-Out Rally The Ninth Inning
Mississippi State’s Ben Davis retired Tennessee’s first two batters in the ninth inning and it looked like the Vols bullpen would have to protect a two-run lead.
Instead, the Vols scored three runs thanks to four straight base hits. Trent Grindlinger roped a liner to the wall in right-center field but just singled after tripping on first base. It mattered little as Blaine Brown reached on an infield hit and Manny Marin drove Grindlinger home with a bloop single to centerfield.
That one insurance run would have been huge on its own. It was even better when Levi Clark lined a two-RBI double down the right field line to make it a comfortable five-run lead.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday night when they face UNC Asheville in the first game in a nine-game home stand. The Vols then host Ole Miss in a three-game series next weekend.
