Tennessee didn’t have a hit until the seventh inning, they trailed 4-1 in the ninth inning and 4-2 with nobody on and two-outs in the ninth inning. Florida had the winning run on third with one-out in the ninth inning.
None of it mattered as the 2022 Vols sparked some 2021 Vols magic using a comeback victory to earn the series sweep over rival Florida.
Here’s how the Vols got it done in their, 6-4, comeback win in Gainesville.
Gilbert Gets The Vols On The Scoreboard
Florida starter Brandon Neely was fantastic making his third SEC start of the season Sunday. The right-handed pitcher leaned on his slider and moving fastball and kept Tennessee hitters off balance.
The Vols didn’t have a hit off the freshman when Drew Gilbert came to the plate with one-out in the seventh inning. Gilbert ended the no-hit bid and sparked Tennessee’s offense with a triple that cleared right fielder Sterlin Thompson’s head and hit off the top of the wall.
Trey Lipscomb brought him home an at-bat later with a RBI groundout.
Neely would retire the next two batters to end the inning before exiting after surrendering a leadoff walk in the eighth. Tennessee didn’t find much success off the starter but Gilbert’s triple ended the no hitter and gave the Vols offense a bit of life.
Ninth Inning Comeback
Even after finally pushing Neely from the game in the eighth inning, Tennessee’s offense didn’t get anything going and the Vols trailed, 4-1, entering the ninth inning.
Jorel Ortega got Tennessee started with a solo home run to left field to lead off the inning. Still, Florida reliever Blake Purnell retired Jordan Beck and Gilbert and the Vols had nothing going with two-outs in the ninth.
That’s when Tennessee got things going. Trey Lipscomb blooped a single to right field, Luc Lipcius worked a walk and Evan Russell singled to left field to load the bases.
Freshman designated hitter Christian Moore then delivered in the biggest at-bat of his young career, lining the first pitch he saw into left field for a game tying single.
“I faced him earlier in the game and he jammed me on an inside fastball,” Moore said. “So going into that at-bat I was thinking get my foot down early, cheat the inside heater. He threw it again and I put a pretty good swing on it.”
The New York native has shown his absurd skill in an off-and-on starting role during his freshman season with Tony Vitello calling him one of his team’s most talented hitters.
Moore made Vitello look smart by delivering in big moment and kept the Vols alive in Gainesville.
“We’re going to ground out at-bats,” Moore said. “The game’s not over. Coach V always says the game’s not over until the umpires are in the locker room and they’re staying there. So we kind of live by that and when we’re away we get nine (innings of) at-bats and we’re going to grind out those at-bats.”
Walsh Delivers In A Pair Of Clutch Moments
Tennessee closer Redmond Walsh made his second relief appearance of the weekend, coming in to pitch in the ninth inning after the Vols tied the game.
Things immediately got dicey for the super-senior. He plunked the leadoff man an the pinch running Corey Robinson stole second with nobody out. A sac bunt moved the winning run to third base with one-out and Walsh was quickly in a jam.
The second 20-save reliever in Tennessee history delivered, striking out Colby Walter and intentionally walking Jud Fabian before getting a fly out to end the inning.
A rare walk gave Florida a one-out baserunner an inning later. After Walsh got a fly out for out number two, BT Riopelle stole second base to give the Gators a runner in-scoring position. Walsh intentionally walked Josh Rivera before getting a soft grounder right back at him to extend the game to the 11th.
“Nothing but grit from him,” Moore said of Walsh. “I know, and everyone else knows, when Redmond is on the mound in a close game we’re pretty good usually. We all trust him. He’s done this for years so when he’s out there we’re calm and collected.”
Tony Vitello gave Walsh a third inning and he didn’t flirt with any danger that time, retiring the side in order thanks to a spectacular catch by Christian Scott to secure the win.
Christian Moore Is That Guy
There was aa very popular social media video this summer in which a middle aged man is in a confrontation at a super market and he tells the man filming him that he’s “not that guy, pal.”
https://youtu.be/Z-Frah8fcfo
This hilariously absurd situation and quote stayed in my mind while watching the final three innings of Sunday’s series finale.
Because Christian Moore is absolutely that guy.
The freshman delivered in the ninth inning in what was the biggest at-bat of his season with a quick single to left field.
He somehow one upped himself when he came to the plate with one-out two innings later. Evan Russell had given Tennessee a base runner and then the freshman drilled a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run homer to give Tennessee the lead.
Moore has earned plenty of opportunities this season, but hasn’t been an everyday starter. He made the most of his series finale start and showed that the moment certainly wasn’t too big.
Final Numbers
