Tennessee Baseball (6-2) is set to take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (3-4) on Tuesday for the first of two midweek matchups in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
First pitch on Tuesday is at 4:30 p.m. on SECN+.
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.
Tennessee is entering the matchup on a six-game winning streak, having allowed just four runs in the past six games. Tuesday’s game against Charleston Southern will serve as the season debut for first-year Vol SS Maui Ahuna, as he cleared NCAA eligibility Monday. Additionally, head coach Tony Vitello will be back in the dugout after serving a three-game suspension during Tennessee’s Dayton series last weekend.
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Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
LF Jared Dickey
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
RF Griffin Merritt
SS Maui Ahuna
DH Austen Jaslove
CF Kyle Booker
C Charlie Taylor
Lineup Notes:
–With Ahuna being declared eligible Monday, he will make his debut in orange and white. Ahuna is in the six-hole starting at shortstop. Ahuna figures to be towards the top of the lineup regularly, but with it being his season debut, he slots farther down the lineup.
–Jaslove is no longer the starting SS with Ahuna back, but he surprisingly still gets the start at DH.
–Taylor at catcher, which will likely be the normal for midweeks.
–Booker returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Friday against Dayton.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN STARTING NINE:
RF Tyrell Brewer
CF Ike George
LF James Jett
1B Kieran Davis
DH Casey Asman
3B JC Agard
2B Ernesto Polanco
SS Connor Aldrich
C Nicholas Fazzari
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. LHP Zander Sechrist (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 app. 1 start, 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, .143 opp. batting avg.)
vs.
CSU Jr. LHP Sam Massey (0-0, 12.00 ERA, 1 app, 1 start, 3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, .429 opp. batting avg.)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, White bottoms
CSU: Dark Blue tops, Grey bottoms
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Tyler Brewer fouls out to LF.
-Ike George pops up to Ahuna at SS.
-Zander Sechrist strikes James Jett for his first K of the game and second of the season.
B1
-Jared Dickey singles to 2B. Nice job by Dickey to just beat the throw.
-Christian Moore works a walk on a full count.
-Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Blake Burke rips a two-run single through the right side. Vols strike first.
-Zane Denton is walked on four pitches.
-Griffin Merritt strikes out looking.
-Maui Ahuna lines out to deep LF. Burke advances to third.
-Austen Jaslove reaches on a fielder’s choice. Denton out at second to end the inning.
Score: Vols 2, Bucs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Kieran Davis doubles to left center.
-Sechrist strikes out Casey Asman.
-JC Agard strikes out swinging.
-Ernesto Polanco strikes out swinging.
B2
-Kyle Booker flies out to CF.
-Charlie Taylor strikes out looking.
-Jared Dickey is plunked.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Johnny Alkire on to pitch for Massey*
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Blake Burke lines out to LF.
Score: Vols 2, Bucs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Connor Aldrich flies out to RF.
-Nicholas Fazzari strikes out swinging.
-Tyrell Brewer doubles to RF.
-Ike George grounds out to 2B.
B3
-Zane Denton grounds out to 2B.
-Griffin Merritt singles to left center.
-Maui Ahuna reaches on a fielder’s choice. Merritt out at second.
*Logan Chambers pinch-hitting for Austen Jaslove at DH*
-Chambers is walked.
-Kyle Booker grounds out to 2B.
Score: Vols 2, Bucs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-James Jett flies out to LF.
-Kieran Davis smacks a single to LF.
-Casey Asman reaches on a fielder’s choice. Davis out at second base.
-JC Agard flies out to deep right center.
B4
-Charlie Taylor singles through the left side.
-Jared Dickey grounds out at first 1b to p. Play under review. Call upheld.
-Christian Moore flies out to deep RF. Taylor advances to third.
-Blake Burke singles up the middle to score Taylor.
-Zane Denton singles through the right side. Burke advances to third.
-Griffin Merrit flies out to the warning track in CF to end the inning. Heck of a leaping catch by CSU center fielder Ike George.
Score: Vols 3, Bucs 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Ernesto Polanco flies out to CF.
*Jr. RHP Seth Halvorsen on to pitch for Sechrist*
-Connor Aldrich grounds out to 2B.
-Nicholas Fazzari grounds out to 1B unassisted.
B5
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Ryan Daughtery on to pitch for Alkire*
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
*Cal Stark pinch-hitting for DH Logan Chambers*
-Stark strikes out swinging.
-Kyle Booker grounds out to SS.
Score: Vols 3, Bucs 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Tyrell Brewer is hit in the helmet with a pitch. Scary situation. Bryce Brock pinch-running for Brewer.
-Ike George grounds out to 1B on an interference call.
-Brook steals second.
-James Jett strikes out swinging.
*Chandler Tuuop pinch-hitting for Kieran Davis*
-Tuuop grounds out to 3B.
B6
-Charlie Taylor strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey smokes a solo homer over the right center wall.
-Christian Moore HBP.
-Blake Burke hits a two-run homer to the left field porches.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Dylan Matsuoka on to pitch for Daughtery*
-Griffin Merritt singles to shallow CF.
*Christian Scott pinch-running for Merritt*
-Maui Ahuna singles through the left side. Scott advances to third.
-Stark strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 6, Bucs 0
7th Inning:
T7
-Casey Asman homers to right center.
-JC Agard HBP on a 0-0 count.
-Ernesto Polanco strikes out swinging.
-Connor Aldrich strikes out swinging.
*Ashton Wilson pinch-hitting Nicholas Fazzari*
-Wilson strikes out looking.
B7
-Kyle Booker singles to left field.
-Charlie Taylor sac bunt. Booker advances to second.
-Jared Dickey grounds out to 2B. Kyle Booker advances to third.
-Christian Moore grounds out to p.
Score: Vols 6, Bucs 1
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell on to pitch for Halvorsen*
-Bryce Brock grounds out to p.
-Ike George grounds out to 2B.
-Connell strikes out James Jett.
B8
*Sr. RHP Zac Robinson pitching for Matsuoka*
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
-Zane Denton grounds out 1B to p.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 6, Bucs 1
9th Inning:
T9
*So. RHP Aaron Combs on to pitch for Connell*
-Chandler Tuupo strikes out swinging.
-Sam Low strikes out swinging.
-Michael Gibson grounds out to 2B.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 6, Charleston Southern Buccaneers 1
