Sophomore pitcher Tegan Kuhns put together the best start of his career as Tennessee baseball evened up its weekend series against Alabama with a 10-0 eight-inning run-rule victory on Friday afternoon.
Here’s how the Vols got it done in the first of two Friday games to force a rubber match later that night.
Tegan Kuhns Turned In The Best Outing Of His Career
A day after Landon Mack turned in his worst start of the season, in turn wearing out Tennessee’s bullpen, sophomore Tegan Kuhns turned in the best start of his career. Alabama put two runners on base in the second inning but Kuhns worked out of the jam and was dominant from there.
Kuhns’ curveball command was as good as it’s been since he arrived on campus. He got ahead in counts early, throwing 66 of his 98 pitches for strikes, and then used the curveball to put batters away. Kuhns’ nine strikeouts was one away from his career high.
The sophomore finished the day allowing just three hits and one walk in eight shutout innings. It was the longest and best outing of his entire career as he retired all 24 outs for Tennessee.
Kuhns has been really good for Tennessee ever since Josh Elander temporarily moved him to the bullpen a month ago. This terrific start came at the best time as Tennessee preserved much of its bullpen for game two of Friday’s doubleheader.
Trent Grindlinger Sparked Offense
Alabama starter Zane Adams retired the first four Tennessee batters he faced to open the game. Then Trent Grindlinger got the scoring started by sending a low-and-away breaking ball 385 feet over the wall in right-center field for a solo homer.
The third inning was the most productive of the day for Tennessee’s offense and Grindlinger provided a key swing. The freshman extended the Vols’ lead to 4-0 when he lined a two-out, RBI single off the wall in left field.
When Grindlinger got up 2-0 in the count in his third at-bat. Alabama simply opted to put him on first base. The designated hitter finished the day two-for-two with two walks and a hit-by pitch.
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Tennessee Added Insurance Runs With Some Help From Alabama’s Defense
Leading by four runs for much of the game, Tennessee scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh inning to open things up. Alabama’s defense provided some help in the process.
A Blaine Brown single and walks from Jay Abernathy and Garrett Wright loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning. Ford hit a ground ball to third base and it looked like it might be an inning-ending double play. But Brennan Holt’s throw to first was low. Andrew Purdy knocked it down but did not make the scoop.
Abernathy showed off his prowess on the base paths, scoring from second base on the play to extend Tennessee’s lead to 6-0.
Then in the seventh inning, Tennessee put runners on first and second thanks to a Reese Chapman walk and Grindlinger hit-by pitch. Brown’s chopper to first looked like it could be an inning-ending double play. Instead, Purdy fired the ball into left field allowing Chapman to score.
Levi Clark then added another with a RBI fielder’s choice. Tennessee completed the run-rule in the eighth inning but they put the game away in the sixth and seventh.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Alabama conclude its series-finale at approximately 6:30 p.m. ET as they complete Friday’s doubleheader. After splitting the first two games, the series is on the line on Friday night.
