*SCROLL DOWN FOR AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 2, Hogs 5 | FINAL
Tennessee baseball (23-10, 5-7 SEC) is set to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (26-7, 8-4 SEC) in Fayetteville for game one of a three-game series Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.
SEC Network will have the broadcast from Baum-Walker Stadium. Friday night’s contest is the only one of the three that will be televised this weekend, as game two and three can be viewed on SEC Network +.
Tennessee enters the matchup on a two-game winning streak, having run-ruled each of their last two opponents by the score of 14-2. However, the Vols have lost back-to-back SEC series against LSU and Florida, winning only the series finale in both weekends.
The Vols’ starting pitching rotation, specifically Chase Burns, has struggled as of late, and head coach Tony Vitello is switching things up on the mound this weekend.
Junior RHP Andrew Lindsey will start for the Vols in the series opener, taking Chase Dollander’s typical role of Friday night starter. Friday’s game will serve as Lindsey’s first start this season.
Tennessee’s projected starting pitchers for Saturday and Sunday are still to be determined, but it would be incredibly surprising if Drew Beam, who is coming off an incredible outing against Florida, does not start against the Hogs.
For a full preview of this weekend’s series, click here. For more on what this series entails beyond the game of baseball, click here.
*SPECIAL TENNESSEE BASEBALL NOTE OUTSIDE OF THIS GAME*
–VFL Chris Burke will be inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame tonight–
Tonight is the night!! Chris Burke will be inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame!#GBO // #VFL
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 14, 2023
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
SS Maui Ahuna
C Cal Stark
RF Christian Scott
Lineup Notes:
–Dickey is not starting at catcher as Cal Stark gets a big SEC start. Dickey will leadoff and Ahuna stays in the seven-hole.
ARKANSAS STARTING NINE:
CF Tavian Josenberger
2B Peyton Stovall
LF Jave Bohrofen
RF Kendall Diggs
1B Brady Slavens
3B Caleb Cali
DH Ben McLaughlin
C Parker Rowland
SS John Bolton
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey (0-1, 2.01 ERA, 12 app., 0 starts, 22.1 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 8 BB, 26 K, .158 opp. batting avg., 0.90 WHIP)
vs.
Razorbacks Jr. LHP Hunter Hollan (5-1, 3.00 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 42.0 IP, 38 H, 16 R, 14 ER, 14 BB, 39 K, .247 opp. batting avg.)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Jared Dickey smacks a leadoff homer to right field.
-Christian Moore hits an infield single to 2B.
-Blake Burke flies out to RF.
-Griffin Merritt singles to LF. Fielding error on the left fielder on the transition allows Moore to advance to third. Runners on the corners with one out for the Vols.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore scores on a balk.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Tavian Josenberger grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Peyton Stovall strikes out swinging.
-Jace Bohrofen strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to 3B as Caleb Cali fields a hard-hit grounder perfectly.
-Cal Stark is plunked on a full count.
-Christian Scott pops up to 2B.
-Jared Dickey fouls out to c.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Kendall Diggs singles on a bunt to 3B.
-Brady Slavens flies out to CF.
-Caleb Cali strikes out looking.
-Diggs steals second.
-Ben McLaughlin strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Christian Moore lines out to 2B. Terrific diving catch by Stovall in the middle of the infield.
-Blake Burke is walked on four pitches.
-Griffin Merritt fouls out to LF.
-Zane Denton grounds out to 3B.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Parker Rowland singles to LF. Ahuna couldn’t make the play.
-John Bolton reaches on a fielder’s choice. Rowland advances to second and third on a fielding error by Ahuna who drops the toss from Christian Moore. What should’ve been a 4-6-3 double play turns into runners on the corners with no outs for Arkansas.
-Bolton steals second, throwing error on Stark allows Rowland to score. Bolton advances to third.
-Tavian Josenberger homers to RF for a two-run shot.
-Peyton Stovall flies out to CF. Ensley and Dickey collide in left center but Ensley holds on for out number one.
-Jace Bohrofen strikes out swinging.
-Kendal Diggs flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 3
4th Inning:
T4
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark grounds out to SS.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Brady Slavens reaches on a throwing error by Christian Moore. Blake Burke also couldn’t scoop it off the hop.
-Caleb Cali singles up the middle. Slavens advances to second.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 2.70 ERA) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-Connell walks Ben McLaughlin. Bases juiced for Parker Rowland.
-Rowland grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. Slavens scores and Cali advances to third.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Seth Halvorsen (2-2, 2.42 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-John Bolton strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 4
5th Inning:
T5
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey singles to LF.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Tavian Josenberger lines out to RF.
-Jace Bohrofen homers to RF for a solo shot.
-Kendall Diggs is walked.
-Brady Slavens grounds out to 1B unassisted.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 5
6th Inning:
T6
-Griffin Merritt strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey grounds out to SS.
-Hunter Ensley doubles to left center.
-Maui Ahuna flies out to RF.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Caleb Cali strikes out swinging.
-Ben McLaughlin singles off of Halvorsen. Peyton Holt is pinch-running.
-Holt steals second.
-Justin Rowland grounds out to p. Holt advances to third.
-John Bolton lines out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 5
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: LHP Hagen Smith (5-1, 3.03 ERA) on to pitch for Hunter Hollan*
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Scott grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Jared Dickey strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Tavian Josenberger strikes out looking.
-Peyton Stovall grounds out to first 1b to p.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jake Fitzgibbons (2-0, 1.93 ERA) on to pitch for Halvorsen*
-Jace Bohrofen flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 5
8th Inning:
T8
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Griffin Merritt strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B8
*Pitching change: So. RHP Aaron Combs (3-0, 1.50 ERA) on to pitch for Fitzgibbons*
-Kendall Diggs singles to CF.
-Brady Slavens flies out to LF. Great sliding catch by Dickey.
-Caleb Cali HBP. Diggs advances to second.
-Peyton Holt strikes out swinging.
-Parker Rowland grounds out to 1b unassisted.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 5
9th Inning:
T9
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.
-Maui Ahuna singles to 2B.
-Cal Stark strikes out looking.
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 2, Arkansas Razorbacks 5
