Tennessee Baseball (10-2) will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-9) Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the series finale. The Vols are looking to sweep the series, having won the first two games 8-2 and 7-2 to clinch the series.
For all of Rocky Top Insider’s baseball coverage this weekend, click here.
First pitch in Knoxville on Sunday is at 1 p.m. ET. 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.
After losing the first two games of the season, the Vols have won 10 straight and are on a roll. Tennessee has allowed just 18 runs in its first 12 games of the season thus far, as the pitching staff has been the most encouraging thing for the Vols in the young season.
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Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
DH Jared Dickey
RF Griffin Merritt
CF Dylan Dreiling
LF Kyle Booker
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
–Ahuna leading off for the first time this season, Dickey moves to the five-hole and will start at DH.
–Stark makes his first start and appearance of the weekend.
–Vitello continues giving freshman Dylan Dreiling opportunities, giving him his first start at center field of the season, fourth start in general this year (2 at DH, 1 at LF)
–Booker starts for the second consecutive game after homering on Saturday, but this time in left field.
GONZAGA STARTING NINE:
SS Connor Coballes
2B Savier Pinales
CF Enzo Apodaca
3B Brian Kalmer
1B Tommy Eisenstat
DH Grayson Sterling
RF Sam Canton
LF Brock Bozett
C Donovan Ratfield
Pitching Matchup
Vols So. RHP Drew Beam (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 app., 2 starts, 11.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, .111 opp. batting avg.)
vs.
Gonzaga Fr. RHP Nate Deschryver (0-1, 7.50 ERA, 2 app., 1 start, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 9 BB, 4 K, .182 opp. batting avg., 1 HP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Sunday Creams
Gonzaga: Grey on Grey
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Connor Coballes grounds out to SS.
-Savier Pinales doubles deep into center field over Dreiling’s head.
-Enzo Apodaca grounds out to 1B unassisted. Pinales advances to third.
-Brian Kalmer strikes out swinging on a 96 mph Drew Beam fastball.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Maui Ahuna works a leadoff walk.
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Blake Burke fouls out to 3B.
-Zane Denton pops up to SS.
-Jared Dickey pops up to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Tommy Eisenstat flies out to LF.
-Grayson Sterling singles to 2B.
-Sam Canton pops a bunt up right to Beam for the second out.
-Brock Bozett works a two-out walk.
-Donovan Ratfield strikes out swinging to strand runners at first and second.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to SS.
-Dylan Dreiling doubles to right center.
-Kyle Booker sac bunt advances Dreiling to third.
-Cal Stark works a walk.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging to strand a pair.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Connor Coballes singles to SS.
-Savier Pinales singles through the right side.
-Enzo Apodaca fouls out to LF.
-Brian Kalmer knocks an RBI single to left center, advances to second on the throw. Pinales advances to third.
-Tommy Eisenstat sac fly to foul territory at 3B. Pinales scores. Bad throw by Denton but not ruled an error. Kalmer advances to third on the throw home.
-Grayson Sterling grounds out to 2B. Great play by Christian Moore.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Christian Moore knocks a leadoff single up the middle.
-Blake Burke is walked on a full count.
-Zane Denton is walked.
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Ty Buckner (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Deschryver*
-Jared Dickey GRAND SLAM. A no-doubter off the video board.
-Griffin Merritt is walked.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to CF at the warning track.
-Kyle Booker knocks a double into left field. Merritt advances to third.
-Cal Stark pops up to 2B.
-Maui Ahuna rips a two-run double to right field.
-Christian Moore smokes a two-run home run over the batter’s eye. Eight runs now for Tennessee this inning.
-Blake Burke is walked and the pitcher gets tossed. Umpires felt the HBP was intentional.
*Jr. RHP Reagan Haas (0-1, 2.45 ERA) on to pitch for Buckner*
-Zane Denton flies out to right center to end the inning.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Bulldogs 2
4th Inning:
T4
-Beam strikes out Sam Canton.
-Brock Bozett singles to 3B.
-Donovan Ratfield smokes a double to right center. Runners on second and third for Gonzaga.
-Connor Coballes knocks a sac fly into CF. Bozett scores.
-Savier Pinales grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Jared Dickey is walked.
-Griffin Merritt homers into the Tennessee bullpen. Two-run shot.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.
-Kyle Booker singles through the right side. 106 mph off the bat.
-Cal Stark flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Bulldogs 3
5th Inning:
T5
-Enzo Apodaca reaches on a fielding error by Maui Ahuna, who lost a popped up ball in the sun in shallow left field.
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Bryce Jenkins (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
-Brian Kalmer sends a two-run homer into the Tennessee bullpen.
-Tommy Eisenstat grounds out to p. Nice play by Jenkins.
-Grayson Sterling grounds out to 2B.
-Sam Canton grounds out to SS.
End of Top Half.
B5
*Fr. RHP Kai Francis (0-0, 31.50 ERA) on to pitch for Haas*
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Moore steals second.
-Blake Burke strikes out, Moore steals third.
-Zane Denton sends a sac fly to the LF warning track. Moore scores.
-Griffin Merritt strikes out to end the inning.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 11, Bulldogs 5
6th Inning:
T6
-Brock Bozett strikes out looking.
-Donovan Ratfield flies out to RF.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey (0-1, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Jenkins*
-Connor Coballes lines out to LF to end the top half. Great catch by Kyle Booker.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Griffin Merritt works a leadoff walk.
*Hunter Ensley pinch-hitting for Dylan Dreiling*
-Ensley singles through the right side. Merritt advances to second.
-Kyle Booker flies out to LF. Merritt oddly didn’t go home.
-Cal Stark is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded with one out for Maui Ahuna.
–Ahuna sac fly to CF. Merritt scores. Ensley advances to third.
-Christian Moore lines out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 12, Bulldogs 5
7th Inning:
T7
-Savier Pinales grounds out 1B to p.
-Enzo Apodaca strikes out swinging.
-Brian Kalmer crushes a solo homer to right center.
-Tommy Eisenstat lines out to 1B. Fantastic diving catch by Blake Burke.
B7
*Fr. LHP Matthew Mueller (0-1, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Gonzaga*
-Blake Burke grounds out to 3B.
-Zane Denton singles up the middle.
-Jared Dickey flies out to the warning track in left center.
-Denton advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to CF.
Score: Vols 12, Bulldogs 6
8th Inning:
T8
*So. LHP Jake Fitzgibbons (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-Grayson Sterling strikes out swinging.
-Pinch-hitter Hank Dunn is walked.
-Brock Bozett flies out to RF.
-Donovan Ratfield sends a two-run homer to the left field porches.
-Connor Coballes flies out to RF.
End of Top Half.
B8
*Jr. RHP Jack Moffitt (0-0, 10.12 ERA) on to pitch for Gonzaga*
-Hunter Ensley works a leadoff walk.
-Kyle Booker singles to right center.
*Logan Chambers pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Chambers is walked. Bases loaded for Maui Ahuna.
-Ahuna lays down an RBI groundout to score Ensley. Runners on second and third for Christian Moore with runners at second third.
-Booker scores on a balk.
-Christian Moore is walked.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Wheeldreyer (0-1, 7.50 ERA) on to pitch for Moffitt*
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
-Zane Denton drills a two-run triple to deep right center.
*Christian Scott pinch-hitting for Jared Dickey*
-Scott rips an RBI single to RF to score Denton.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Everett Swaim on to pitch for Wheeldreyer*
-Griffin Merritt reaches on a fielder’s choice. Scott out at second.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 17, Bulldogs 8
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jacob Bimbi (0-0, 2.70 ERA) on to pitch for Fitzgibbons*
-Savier Pinales grounds out to 2B. Nice throw by Moore.
-Apodaca grounds out to 2B.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 17, Gonzaga Bulldogs 8
