Third-ranked Tennessee Baseball (4-2) is set to take on the Dayton Flyers (0-4) at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Lindsey Nelson Stadium for game two of the three-game weekend series. SEC Network+ has the call.
Reminder that the online broadcasts can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
The Vols can win the series with a Saturday victory, as the Big Orange dominated Dayton, 12-2, on Friday night.
For Rocky Top Insider’s full coverage of Tennessee’s series-opening win, check out the links below.
Acting Head Coach Josh Elander Talks Vols Win
Game Recap
Live Thread
Photo Gallery
Tennessee will yet again be without head coach Tony Vitello, who is suspended for the entire three-game series. Read more about the suspension here.
The starting lineups for both teams, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
CF Jared Dickey
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
RF Griffin Merritt
DH Cal Stark
LF Dylan Dreiling
SS Austen Jaslove
C Charlie Taylor
Lineup Notes:
-Charlie Taylor starting his third consecutive game at catcher. Stark starting his second straight game at DH and third of the season.
-With Maui Ahuna still ineligible, Austen Jaslove continues to start at shortstop.
-Dreiling getting his second career start, first career start in the outfield. The freshman is 3-6 at the plate so far in his Tennessee career.
-This will be the first game of the season Kyle Booker is not starting.
DAYTON STARTING NINE:
2B Keagan Calero
LF Michael Adair
DH Ben Jones
RF Eddie Yamin IV
1B Jay Curtis
C Nolan Watson
SS Carlos Castillo
3B Omar Daniels
CF Jose Martinez
Pitching Matchup
Vols So. RHP Chase Burns (0-0, 3.86 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 4.2 IP, 3 R, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, .188 opp. batting avg., 1 WP, 1 HP)
vs.
Dayton Sr. LHP Mark Manfredi (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, .154 opp. batting avg., 1 HP)
Pregame Quick Hitters
-Tennessee’s pitching staff has allowed just three runs over the past four games.
-Dayton is Tennessee’s first true weekend series opponent this season, as the Vols opened their season in the MLB Desert Invitational last weekend in Arizona.
-Andy Brock (PxP) and Cody Hawn (Analyst) are on the call for the SECN+ broadcast.
-Tennessee is wearing orange tops and white bottoms for Saturday night’s matchup. Dayton is wearing their all red uniforms.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Keagan Calero strikes out swinging.
-Michael Adair strikes out swinging.
-Ben Jones knocks a single to center field.
-Jones steals second, tagged out once he came off the bag. Play under review. Wet turf playing a part in today’s matchup as Jones over-slid. Call upheld.
B1
-Jared Dickey strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore is walked. His seventh walk of the season.
-Blake Burke pops up to SS.
-Manfredi balks and Moore advances to second.
-Zane Denton is walked on four pitches.
-Griffin Merritt hits a bullet RBI double to left field to score Moore. Runners on second and third now for Tennessee with two outs.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 1, Flyers 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Eddie Yamin IV flies out to LF.
-Jay Curtis flies out to RF.
-Nolan Watson strikes out swinging.
B2
-Dylan Dreiling is walked.
-Austen Jaslove rips an RBI double to left center to score Dreiling.
-Charlie Taylor is walked.
-Jared Dickey reaches on a fielder’s choice. Jaslove advances to third; Taylor is out at second.
-Christian Moore knocks a sac fly to center field to score Jaslove.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 3, Flyers 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Carlos Castillo strikes out swinging.
-Omar Daniels is walked.
-Daniels steals second.
-Daniels advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Jose Martinez is walked.
-Daniels steals home, and Martinez overslides the steal at second and is tagged out.
-Keagan Calero strikes out swinging.
B3
-Zane Denton pops up to 1B.
-Griffin Merritt lines out to LF.
-Cal Stark is walked.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 3, Flyers 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Michael Adair strikes out swinging.
-Ben Jones singles to LF.
-Eddie Yamin IV strikes out swinging.
-Jay Curtis reaches on a fielder’s choice. Jones out at second to end the inning.
B4
-Austen Jaslove grounds out to SS.
-Charlie Taylor grounds out to 2B.
-Jared Dickey singles to left center, advances to second on a fielding error by Dayton’s left fielder Michael Adair.
-Christian Moore hits an RBI single to RF to score Dickey. Moore advances to second on a fielding error by the second baseman.
-Blake Burke grounds out to p. Play under review as it’s a close call at first base. Call upheld.
Score: Vols 4, Flyers 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Nolan Watson strikes out swinging.
-Carlos Castillo strikes out swinging.
-Omar Daniels strikes out swinging. Burns up to 10 strikeouts.
B5
-Zane Denton reaches first on a fielding error by Dayton’s third baseman, advances to second.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Ryan Packard on to pitch for Manfredi*
Dayton making their first pitching change to Junior righty Ryan Packard.
Not a bad outing for Dayton's starter Mark Manfredi considering the Flyers committed three errors behind him. https://t.co/RkAqoqtt8m
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 25, 2023
-Griffin Merritt strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling grounds out to 2B.
Score: Vols 4, Flyers 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Jose Martinez strikes out swinging. Burns ties his career high in strikeouts with 11.
-Keagan Calero strikes out swinging. Burns now has a career-high 12 strikeouts.
B6
-Austen Jaslove reaches on a throwing error by Dayton 3B.
-Charlie Taylor lined out to SS.
-Jared Dickey lines out to CF.
-Christian Moore pops up to 2B.
Score: Vols 4, Flyers 1
7th Inning:
T7
-Ben jones flies out to LF.
-Eddie Yamin IV is walked on four pitches.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Seth Halvorsen (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Burns*
-Jay Curtis grounds out to p. Yamin IV advances to second .
-Nolan Watson strikes out swinging.
FINAL LINE for Chase Burns: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 12 K (career-high), 53 strikes on 83 total pitches against 22 batters.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 25, 2023
B7
-Blake Burke hits a hard-hit single to 3B. A missile that the third baseman couldn’t corral.
-Zane Denton walked on four pitches.
*Pitching Change: Jr. RHP Nick Wissman (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Packard*
-Griffin Merritt is walked. Bases loaded with no outs for Cal Stark.
-Cal Stark flies out to RF.
*Jr. RHP Seth Claybourne on to pitch for Wissman (0-0, 6.75 ERA)*
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to LF.
-Austen Jaslove reaches on a fielder’s choice by 3B. Denton out at third. Vols strand the bases loaded.
Score: Vols 4, Flyers 1
8th Inning:
T8
-Carlos Castillo strikes out swinging.
-Omar Daniels strikes out swinging.
-Jose Martinez pops up to p on a bunt.
B8
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Andrew Zapka on to pitch for Claybourne*
-Charlie Taylor pops up to 2B.
-Jared Dickey strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
Score: Vols 4, Flyers 1
9th Inning:
T9
Halvorsen sits em down in order with a three-pitch inning to get the save.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, Dayton Flyers 1
