Tennessee Baseball (7-2) will face off against Charleston Southern (3-5) on Wednesday afternoon in Knoxville for game two of the midweek series. The Vols won game one against Buccaneers, 6-1, and Blake Burke led the way going 3-5 at the plate with 5 RBI and a home run.
First pitch for game two between Tennessee and Charleston Southern is set for 4 p.m. ET in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. SECN+ 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.
For RTI’s full coverage of Tennessee Baseball this week, click here.
Tennessee is entering the matchup on a seven-game winning streak, having allowed just five runs in the past seven games. Tuesday’s game against Charleston Southern served as the season debut for first-year Vol SS Maui Ahuna, as he cleared NCAA eligibility Monday. Additionally, head coach Tony Vitello returned to the dugout after serving a three-game suspension during Tennessee’s Dayton series last weekend.
For RTI’s most recent baseball podcast discussing all of the above, click here.
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
CF Hunter Ensley
DH Dylan Dreiling
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN STARTING NINE:
CF Ike George
RF Bryce Brock
LF James Jett
DH Chandler Tuupo
1B Kieran Davis
C Sergio DeCello
3B Michael Gibson
2B Ernesto Polanco
SS Sam Low
Pitching Matchup
Vols Fr. RHP AJ Russell (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 app. 0 starts, 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0BB, 8 K, .071 opp. batting avg.)
*First career start for Russell*
vs.
CSU Sr. RHP Eddie Olsen (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 2 app. 0 starts, 3.1 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, .400 opp. batting avg.)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Pinstripes
CSU: Gold on Grey
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Ike George pops up to LF.
-Bryce Brock lines out to 1B.
-AJ Russell strikes out James Jett.
B1
-Jared Dickey singles to CF.
-Christian Moore ropes a double down the LF line. Dickey advances to third.
-Blake Burke hits a two-run single to RF.
-Zane Denton knocks a double off the right center wall. The top four in the lineup now all have a hit in the first.
-Griffin Merritt sends a sac fly to the warning track in RF. Burke scores.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 3, Bucs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Russell strikes out Chandler Tuupo.
-Kieran Davis grounds out to 3B.
-Sergio DeCello flies out to LF.
B2
-Dylan Dreiling bloops a single into shallow LF.
-Cal Stark singles to 3B (definitely a fielder’s choice). Dreiling advances to second on a throwing error by the third baseman, but it wasn’t ruled an error. Tries to advance to third but is thrown out. Dreiling’s hesitation at second allowed the right fielder to make the throw on time.
One out for Dickey with a man on first.
-Dickey doubles to RF. Barely beats the tag at second. Stark advances to third.
-Christian Moore lays down an RBI groundout to third. Stark scores. Dickey advances to third.
-Charleston Southern intentionally walks Blake Burke.
-Zane Denton knocks an RBI single through the right side. Burke advances to third.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to RF.
Score: Vols 5, Bucs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jake Fitzgibbons (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*
-Michael Gibson singles to LF.
-Ernesto Polanco strikes out looking.
-Sam Low pops up to 2B.
-Ike George reaches on a fielder’s choice. Gibson is out at second to end the inning (6-4).
B3
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Devin MacWatters on to pitch for Olsen*
-Maui Ahuna fouls out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley singles up the middle.
-Ensley steals second. Nice speed by the sophomore. His first stolen base of the year.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked.
-Cal Stark strikes out looking.
-Jared Dickey lines out to RF.
Score: Vols 5, Bucs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Bryce Brock fouls out to catcher.
-James Jett strikes out swinging.
-Chandler Tuupo fouls out to LF.
B4
-Christian Moore grounds out to 3B.
-Blake Burke lines out to 2B.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 5, Bucs 0
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey on to pitch for Fitzgibbons*
-Lindsey strikes out Kieran Davis.
-Sergio DeCello reaches on a fielding error by Christian Moore.
-DeCello steals second.
-Michael Gibson strikes out swinging.
-DeCello steals third.
-Ernesto Polanco strikes out swinging.
B5
-Griffin Merritt singles to 3B.
*Christian Scott pinch-running for Merritt*
-Failed pickoff attempt by MacWatters leads to a throwing error. Scott advances to second on the error but cannot beat the throw to third, and he’s out.
-Maui Ahuna grounds out 1B to P.
-Hunter Ensley is walked.
-Ensley steals second. His second stolen base of the evening.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to CF.
Score: Vols 5, Bucs 0
6th Inning:
T6
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Zach Joyce (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-Sam Low singles through the left side. Joyce has allowed his first baserunner of the season.
-Ike George grounds out to p. Low advances to second.
-Joyce strikes out Bryce Brock.
-Joyce strikes out James Jett.
B6
*Kavares Tears pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Tears strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey grounds out to 3B.
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Moore steals second.
-Blake Burke homers over the Tennessee bullpen. A no-doubter two-run shot. Was only a matter of time tonight.
-Zane Denton flies out to the warning track in deep right center.
Score: Vols 7, Bucs 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jacob Bimbi (0-0, 0.00 ERA0 on to pitch for Joyce*
-Bimbi walks leadoff hitter Chandler Tuuop. Tennessee’s first walk given up today.
-Kieran Davis singles to LF. Out at second due to a great throw by Dickey. Tuuop advances to third.
-Sergio DeCello lays down an RBI groundout to 2B. Tuuop scores.
-Michael Gibson strikes out looking.
B7
*Sr. RHP Chris Chriboga on to pitch for MacWatters*
-Scott is walked.
-Scott steals second.
-Maui Ahuna singles up the middle to score Scott. First RBI in a Tennessee uniform for Ahuna.
-Ahuna advances to second on a passed ball.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 2B. Ahuna advances to third.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked.
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Jared Restmeyer on to pitch for Chriboga*
-Charlie Taylor reaches first on a fielder’s choice. Dreiling out at second.
*Reese Chapman pinch-hitting for Jared Dickey*
-Chapman flies out to left center.
Score: Vols 8, Bucs 1
8th Inning:
T8
*Jake Kendro to 2B for Christian Moore*
*Ethan Payne to 1B for Blake Burke
*Hunter Ensley to LF for Dickey*
*Christian Scott to CF for Ensley*
*Chapman to RF for Scott*
-Pinch-hitter Connor Aldrich doubles to LF.
-Sam Low knocks an RBI single to LF. Aldrich scores.
-Pinch-hitter Jared Payne grounds out to third. Low advances to second.
-JJ Garcia strikes out Bryce Brock.
*Sr. RHP Bryce Jenkins on to pitch for Garcia*
-Jenkins gets a fly out to RF to end the inning. Great play by Chapman.
B8
-Jake Kendro hits a leadoff single through the right side.
-Ethan Payne strikes out swinging.
*Ryan Miller pinch-hitting for Zane Denton*
-Miller HBP.
-Christian Scott lines out to first. First baseman tags Miller out for a double play.
Score: Vols 8, Bucs 2
9th Inning:
T9
*Logan Chambers to 3B for Zane Denton*
-Chandler Tuuop grounds out to SS.
*Jr. RHP Hollis Fanning on to pitch for Jenkins*
-Kieran Davis strikes out swinging.
-Sergio DeCello strikes out looking.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 8, Charleston Southern Buccaneers 2
