*SCROLL DOWN FOR AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: UT 14, UF 2 | FINAL (8 Inn.)
Eleventh-ranked Tennessee baseball (21-9, 4-7 SEC) is set to take on the third-ranked Florida Gators (record, record) inside Neyland Stadium for the series finale of a three-game series. The Gators have already clinched the series, having won 6-1 in the opener and 9-3 in game two.
The Vols offense has been putrid in the series, scoring all three of their runs off just two home runs and striking out 32 total times. Read all about how the last two days have gone for the BaseVols here.
First pitch for the series finale is set for 2 p.m. ET in Knoxville. ESPN2 has the broadcast.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
LF Jared Dickey
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
DH Griffin Merritt
3B Zane Denton
CF Hunter Ensley
RF Kavares Tears
C Cal Stark
SS Austen Jaslove
Lineup Notes:
–Maui Ahuna still not in the lineup as he continues to deal with a “backside” injury. Austen Jaslove getting the start at SS over Jake Kendro with a lefty pitching.
–Griffin Merritt returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the LSU series opener and will start at DH in the cleanup spot (probably because of a lefty starting).
–Cal Stark gets the start at catcher. Charlie Taylor did not start a game behind the plate this series.
–Dickey in leadoff spot with Ahuna out.
FLORIDA STARTING NINE:
LF Wyatt Langford
P Jac Caglianone
SS Josh Rivera
1B B.T. Riopelle
2B Cade Kurland
C Luke Heyman
3B Colby Halter
RF Ty Evans
CF Michael Robertson
Pitching Matchup
Vols So. RHP Drew Beam (3-1, 2.51 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 32.1 IP, 34 H, 20 R, 9 ER, 8 BB, 31 K, 1.31 WHIP, .266 opp. batting avg.)
vs.
Gators So. LHP Jac Caglianone (3-0, 4.18 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 32.1 IP, 21 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 21 BB, 38 K, 1.31 WHIP, .181 opp. batting avg.)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Sunday Creams
Florida: Grey on Grey
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Wyatt Langford lines out to CF.
-Jac Caglianone strikes out looking.
-Josh Rivera singles through the left side.
-BT Riopelle strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Jared Dickey is walked.
-Christian Moore is walked on four pitches.
-Blake Burke is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded for Griffin Merritt.
-Griffin Merritt is walked on a full count. Dickey scores.
-Moore scores on a wild pitch. Merritt advances to second.
-Zane Denton lays down an RBI groundout to score Burke. Merritt stays at second.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears is walked on four pitches.
-Cal Stark is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded for Austen Jaslove.
*Pitching change: RHP Tyler Nesbitt (1-0, 2.40 ERA) on to pitch for Caglianone* Caglianone will stay in at DH, though.
––Caglianone threw only eight strikes on 35 total pitches and walked six batters in the first inning.
-Austen Jaslove strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half. Vols score three runs with NO hits.
Score: Vols 3, Gators 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Cade Kurland grounds out to SS.
-Luke Heyman flies out to CF.
-Colby Halter strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 3, Gators 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Ty Evans flies out to CF.
-Michael Robertson grounds out p to 1b.
-Wyatt Langford is walked on four pitches.
-Langford advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Jac Caglianone pops up to 1b.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Griffin Merritt doubles down the LF line.
-Zane Denton flies out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears reaches first on a fielding error by the 2B Cade Kurland. Merritt scores on the error.
-Cal Stark smashes a two-run homer over the left-field porches. First pitch of the AB. Florida is upset with the Vols celebration and the umpires have a talk with Tony Vitello.
-Austen Jaslove is walked.
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Gators 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Josh Rivera grounds out to p.
-BT Riopelle pops up to 2B.
-Cade Kurland strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Christian Moore HBP on the first pitch of the AB.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Griffin Merritt smokes a two-run home run to left center.
-Zane Denton flies out to RF.
-Hunter Ensley is walked.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Nick Ficarotta (0-0, 4.98 ERA) on to pitch for Nesbitt*
-Kavares Tears lines out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Gators 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Luke Heyman strikes out swinging.
-Colby Halter doubles to RF.
-Ty Evans strikes out looking.
-Michael Robertson strikes out looking. Beam up to 7 Ks.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Cal Stark grounds out to SS.
-Austen Jaslove grounds out to SS. Call under review and OVERTURNED. Jaslove escaped the tag from the first baseman after the high throw from the SS. Ruled a throwing error.
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
-Jaslove advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Blake Burke flies out to the warning track in LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Gators 0
6th Inning:
T6
*Christian Scott to RF for Tears*
-Wyatt Langford strikes out swinging.
-Jac Caglianone lines out to RF. Nice play by Christian Scott.
-Josh Rivera strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B6
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Chris Arroyo (1-0, 2.08 ERA) on to pitch for Ficarotta*
-Griffin Merritt draws a leadoff walk.
-Merritt advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Zane Denton works a walk.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Fisher Jameson (1-3, 13.00 ERA) on to pitch for Arroyo)*
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice. Merritt out at third.
-Christian Scott is walked. Bases loaded with one out for Cal Stark.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Austen Jaslove*
-Dreiling is walked and Denton scores.
-Jared Dickey flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 9, Gators 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Jake Kendro to SS for Dreiling*
-BT Riopelle singles up the middle.
-Cade Kurland flies out to LF.
-Luke Heyman drills a two-run homer over the LF porches.
-Colby Halter grounds out to 3B.
*Matt Prevesk pinch-hitting for Ty Evans*
-Prevesk strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Blake Burke is walked on four pitches.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Blake Purnell (0-0, 7.56 ERA) on to pitch for Jameson*
-Griffin Merritt pops up to CF.
-Zane Denton is walked to load the bases for Hunter Ensley.
-Ensley hits an RBI single to SS to score Moore.
-Christian Scott is walked to bring in a run.
*Kyle Booker pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Booker reaches on a fielder’s choice. Denton out at home.
-Jake Kendro strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 11, Gators 2
8th Inning:
T8
*Charlie Taylor to c for Stark*
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 2.89 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
-Michael Robertson strikes out swinging, out c to 1b.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Aaron Combs (3-0, 1.74 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Wyatt Langford strikes out swinging.
-Jac Caglianone strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B8
-Jared Dickey singles to RF.
-Christian Moore fouls out to RF.
-Blake Burke is walked.
-Griffin Merritt walks it off with a three-run homer to the third deck of the left field porches.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 11, Florida Gators 2
