Tennessee baseball opened up SEC play with a disappointing series loss at Georgia this weekend. The Vols took the series opener in Athens before dropping the final two games of the weekend series in Athens.
It was a frustrating end to the series but there were still some positives. What to make of the opening weekend of SEC play? Four takeaways here.
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Tennessee Provided Reasons For Optimism
Entering the weekend, Tennessee finding a way to win a game and avoid a sweep seemed like a positive result. But the Vols were extremely competitive against a top 10 team on the road. The series ended 16-16 with Georgia winning on a robbed home run.
Tennessee’s offense looked better than expected, finding a power surge that they previously had not had this season. The offense didn’t all of a sudden look like one of the SEC’s best. They still have their flaws, but they undoubtedly look improved.
I’m more optimistic about Tennessee’s season after the Georgia series than I was before.
But A Missed Opportunity Is A Missed Opportunity
There’s a big dose of positivity for you. But this was still a missed opportunity. Josh Elander has put such a big impact on being better on Sundays this season than Tennessee was a year ago. The Vols are now 2-3 on Sundays with a late-inning blown lead in their first SEC rubber match.
The margins are so small in this conference. Winning a game here or there can easily be the difference in hosting a regional. It can be the difference in making the NCAA Tournament.
With Missouri coming to Knoxville next week, Tennessee had a fantastic opportunity to start SEC play fast and set themselves up in a strong position to potentially be a regional host. But Tennessee missed its opportunity at Georgia. We’ll see if they can make up for it by sweeping Missouri.
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Bo Rhudy Deserves More Trust
It’s obvious that Josh Elander made the wrong choice leaving Brayden Krenzel in the game as long as he did in the seventh inning of Sunday’s loss. The sophomore had clearly lost his command, but Elander explained his decision by discussing his trust in Krenzel.
Sometimes on Sunday in SEC play, a pitching staff is stretched so thin that you have to ride it out with a struggling pitcher. But that wasn’t the case here. Bo Rhudy and Mark Hindy had yet to pitch. Brady Frederick was fresh.
Rhudy eventually relieved Krenzel and allowed just one baserunner in 1.2 innings pitched. I’m not saying things would have gone the same way had Rhudy entered before Bryce Callaway’s go-ahead home run. That changed the entire dynamic.
But Rhudy was good and deserves more trust then Tennessee is giving him right now. He blew the Friday night save against Kent State and it just does not feel like he’s regained the trust of Elander and pitching coach Josh Reynolds since.
The Kennesaw State transfer has allowed no runs and just three baserunners in 5.2 innings since that blown save. Tennessee should give him more meaningful opportunities.
Young Hitters Are Starting To Step Up
Tennessee has been waiting for some young players to step up and propel its offense early this season. They’re starting to do it.
Manny Marin built off a strong weekend against Wright State with a tremendous showing against Georgia, totaling six hits and five RBIs. Blake Grimmer reached base seven times with a pair of extra-base hits. Even Levi Clark showed well in his one start in the weekend series, going two-for-three with two walks.
Tennessee needs its group of young hitters, including Jay Abernathy and Stone Lawless, to continue to improve. But this weekend was a step in the right direction for Tennessee.
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