Oregon (+3) Faces A Must-Win Against #12 UCLA
Tennessee jumped all over Iona early-and-often in Friday night’s series opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols defeated the Gaels, 27-1, to improve to 5-0 on the young season.
Chase Burns was strong in his second collegiate start, allowing just one earned run and four hits in five innings. The talented freshman added four strikeouts as he improved his record to 2-0 on the season.
“I wouldn’t say he felt more comfortable,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said of Burns. “He’s always got upperclassmen, or experienced like presence to him, but the change up was really good. That’s what stuck out to me. Unlike Georgia Southern, not a ton of lefties in the lineup, but that was the one thing that stuck out to me. I have high expectations for Chase and he has never not met them. We have to keep in mind there will be some trials and tribulations just for, not only his age, but the night we’re asking him to pitch on. It’ll be fun to watch him get better-and-better as each week goes. I think he took a step forward if anything.”
Camden Sewell, Drew Patterson, Kirby Connell and Mark McLaughlin all pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
Tennessee came just seven runs short of its program high 34 runs, and it was a constant outpour throughout the evening.
Here’s how the Vols did it: four runs in the first, eight runs — all with two outs — in the second, five runs in the fourth, two runs in the sixth, one run in the seventh and three runs in the eighth.
The Vols batted through the lineup in two innings as the Gaels’ pitching staff had zero answers for Tennessee’s bats.
Tennessee played 18 position players and predictably most everyone made a major impact. Thirteen Vols recorded hits, 10 Vols drove in runs and five Vols went deep in the win.
Trey Lipscomb and Drew Gilbert led the way for a number of successful Tennessee hitters Friday night.
Lipscomb became the fourth ever Tennessee player to hit for the cycle while driving in nine runs and reaching base in all five plate appearances. The senior did it all in just five innings and is the first Vol to hit for the cycle since Jordan Rodgers did so in 2016.
The Maryland native is in an increased role this season, starting for the Vols at third base after sitting behind All-Conference infielders Andre Lipcius and Jake Rucker the last three years.
“Without trying to give you any eyewash or anything, I felt as confident in him as any player since I’ve been here and there have been some good ones,” Vitello said. “Just knowing he’s going to be prepared, knowing he’s going to do the right things. Defense and pitching is what we want to be the core of what’s going on. Josh (Elander) spends so much time baserunning with the guys and a lot of that is just hard work and thought process, and he’s as good at all those things as you can imagine. When he’s in the box, even if it’s a slow night for him or he’s struggling, he’s so dang strong now compared to what he was as a freshman all he has to do is touch it, kind of like he did on the two strike one tonight, and it’ll go.”
Gilbert went two-of-three at the plate with a walk and a pair of RBI singles. The fiery junior drove in three runs in the win.
Tennessee will look to clinch the series with its MAAC foe Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be streamed on SEC Network+. RHP Chase Dollander will get the start for Tennessee.
