*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 4, Commodores 3 | FINAL
Tennessee baseball (23-14, 5-10 SEC) is set to host the fourth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores (29-8, 13-2 SEC) inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday for game one of a three-game series.
First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET. SEC Network has the call. All three games of the series will be televised, as ESPN2 will broadcast games two and three.
The Vols enter the series on the lowest of low notes, coming off a four-game losing streak, including a sweep at Arkansas and a midweek loss to Tennessee Tech.
For all of RTI’s coverage leading up to the series, including a preview and podcast, click here.
Tennessee is also entering the series banged up, having lost relief pitcher Zach Joyce, for the time being, to an injury he sustained Tuesday against Tennessee Tech. Middle infielders Christian Moore and Maui Ahuna are also dealing with ailments, but both are officially ACTIVE, backing up Tony Vitello’s statement Thursday when he said he ‘liked the odds‘ of them playing.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
LF Jared Dickey
CF Hunter Ensley
1B Blake Burke
2B Christian Moore
DH Kavares Tears
3B Zane Denton
SS Maui Ahuna
C Cal Stark
RF Christian Scott
Lineup Notes:
–After missing the midweek game, both Christian Moore and Maui Ahuna are ACTIVE.
–Jared Dickey remains in the outfield and at leadoff spot. Cal Stark continues to start behind the plate.
–Dreiling is not in the lineup. Tears gets the DH start and Christian Scott gets the outfield start.
VANDERBILT STARTING NINE:
CF Enrique Bradfield Jr.
3B Davis Diaz
RF RJ Schreck
C Jack Bulger
2B RJ Austin
DH Chris Maldonado
1B Parker Noland
LF Matthew Polk
SS Jonathan Vastine
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey (0-2, 2.49 ERA, 13 app., 1 start, 25.1 IP, 16 H, 12 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 31 K, .176 opp. b/avg., 1.21 WHIP)
Vs.
Commodores So. LHP Carter Holton (4-0, 3.46 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 39.0 IP, 31 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 16 BB, 46 K, .221 opp. b/avg., .960 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Icy Whites
Vanderbilt: Black and Gold Pinstripes
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. strikes out looking.
-Davis Diaz grounds out to 3B.
-RJ Schreck reaches on a fielding error by Andrew Lindsey. Lindsey muffed the throw from Blake Burke to get the 3-1 putout at first.
-Jack Bulger strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Jared Dickey grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
-Blake Burke is walked.
-Christian Moore flies out to CF in left center.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Commodores 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-RJ Austin grounds out to SS.
-Chris Maldonado strikes out swinging.
-Parker Noland grounds out to 2B. Great glove flip from Moore to Burke.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Zane Denton cranks a solo home run over the left center field wall.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging, out c to 1b.
-Cal Stark strikes out looking after a bad at-bat.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Matthew Polk singles through the left side.
-Jonathan Vastine singles to CF. Polk uses his speed to advance to third.
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. strikes out swinging.
-Davis Diaz strikes out looking.
-RJ Schreck knocks a two-out, two-run single to RF.
-Jack Bulger strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Christian Scott lines out to SS.
-Jared Dickey flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to p.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 2
4th Inning:
T4
-RJ Austin grounds out to SS.
-Chris Maldonado is plunked. Maldonado hops up and down in seemingly excruciating pain, gets checked out by the trainers, then takes first.
-Maldonado is picked off at first.
-Parker Noland strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore grounds out to 3B.
-Kavares Tears grounds out on a 5-6-3 putout. Ricocheted off the pitcher, third baseman dives flips it to shortstop, shortstop catches it bare-handed and fires the throw to first on time. Incredible defensive play.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 2
5th Inning:
T5
-Matthew Polk doubles to left field.
-Jonathan Vastine singles on a great bunt. Polk advances to third.
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. bounces an RBI groundout to 2B to score Polk. Vastine advances to second.
-Davis Diaz strikes out swinging, out c to 1b.
-RJ Schreck is intentionally walked.
-Jack Bulger is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded for RJ Austin.
-RJ Austin strikes out swinging to strand the bases loaded. Massive K from Lindsey.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Zane Denton grounds out to p.
-Maui Ahuna works a walk.
-Cal Stark is HBP. Carter Holton and Vanderbilt say he leaned in and they challenge the play. They’ll take a look at it. Call confirmed.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 3
6th Inning:
T6
Lindsey back out on the mound.
-Chris Maldonado strikes out swinging.
-Parker Noland grounds out to 2B.
-Matthew Polk singles to CF.
-Jonathan Vastine grounds out to 1b unassisted. Great play by Blake Burke to make the stop as it was a hard-hit grounder.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Hunter Ensley lines out to CF in right center. Incredible diving grab by Enrique Bradfield Jr. to rob Ensley of a base-hit. Great player.
-Blake Burke singles down the LF line. The shift left that part of the field wide open.
-Christian Moore grounds out to 1B unassisted. Burke advances to second.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. lines out to RF. Scott bobbled the catch but then caught it in the air on the second attempt for the out.
-Davis Diaz lines out to 2B.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jake Fitzgibbons (2-0, 2.70) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-RJ Schreck is walked on a full count.
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Camden Sewell (2-0, 4.91 ERA) on to pitch for Fitzgibbons*
-Jack Bulger grounds out to SS. Heck of a catch by Blake Burke to get the out at first.
End of Top Half.
B7
*Pitching change: LHP Ryan Ginther (2-0, 3.98 ERA) on to pitch for Holton*
-Zane Denton grounds out to 2B.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark is walked on a full count.
*Griffin Merritt pinch-hitting for Christian Scott*
-Griffin Merritt strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 3
8th Inning:
T8
*Merritt to RF for Scott*
-RJ Austin flies out to LF. Maui Ahuna made the over-the-shoulder catch. Nice play.
-Chris Maldonado strikes out swinging.
-Parker Noland grounds out to SS.
End of Top Half.
B8
*Pitching change: RHP Nick Maldonado (1-0, 0.47 ERA) on to pitch for Ginther*
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielding error by the Vandy second baseman. The ground ball ricocheted off the glove and into shallow right center.
-Blake Burke flies out to center field.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging on three pitches.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 3
9th Inning:
T9
-Calvin Hewett, who subbed out Matthew Polk at RF earlier, flies out to CF.
-Jonathan Vastine doubles to left center.
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. strikes out looking.
-Davis Diaz grounds out p to 1b.
End of Top Half.
B9
-Kavares Tears crushes a solo homer off the batter’s eye.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Dreiling homers to right center. Lindsey Nelson Stadium ERUPTS.
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to SS. Weak ground ball.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 3
END OF REGULATION
10th Inning:
T10
*Charlie Taylor to c for Cal Stark*
-RJ Schreck is walked.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Chase Burns (2-3, 5.59 ERA) on to pitch for Sewell. Jack Bulger currently at a 2-2 count.*
-Bulger strikes out looking.
-RJ Austin strikes out swinging.
-Chris Maldonado strikes out swinging. Burns hit 100 mph on his fastball for strike three against Austin.
End of Top Half.
B10
-Jared Dickey doubles off the left center wall. Tennessee with an early runner in-scoring position. Prime opportunity to walk it off.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.
-Blake Burke is intentionally walked.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 3
11th Inning:
T11
-Parker Noland singles off the RF wall. Noland tries to go to second but a perfect Griffin Merritt throw beats him. Phenomenal throw fro Merritt to Ahuna for out number one.
-Calvin Hewett strikes out swinging.
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B11
-Zane Denton strikes out looking.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Charlie Taylor pops up to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 3
12th Inning:
T12
-Enrique Bradfield Jr. grounds out to SS.
-Davis Diaz strikes out swinging.
-RJ Schreck strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B12
-Griffin Merritt walks if off with a home run off the scoreboard. Vols win.
END OF GAME
Score: Vols 4, Commodores 3
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, Vanderbilt Commodores 3
