*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 13, Bulldogs 2 | FINAL (Run-rule in 7 innings)
Twenty-fourth ranked Tennessee baseball (29-14, 10-10 SEC) is set to host the Mississippi State Bulldogs (24-19, 6-14 SEC) in Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the series finale of a three-game series.
First pitch in Knoxville is at 2 p.m. ET. ESPNU has the broadcast.
The Vols have already clinched the series, having won 8-7 on a walk-off home run in the series opener before winning 12-8 in game two on Friday.
If Tennessee were to win game three over the Bulldogs, the Vols would extend their winning streak to seven and have completed two consecutive SEC series sweeps. Additionally, the Vols would go over .500 in SEC play for the first time this season.
For all of RTI’s coverage of Tennessee’s series win over the Bulldogs up to this point, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
CF Hunter Ensley
LF Jared Dickey
1B Blake Burke
2B Christian Moore
DH Dylan Dreiling
3B Zane Denton
RF Christian Scott
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
–Same starters as yesterday except Dylan Dreiling gets the DH start with Mississippi State throwing their ambidextrous pitcher.
MISSISSIPPI STATE STARTING NINE:
SS David Mershon
CF Colton Ledbetter
1B Hunter Hines
LF Dakota Jordan
RF Kellum Clark
DH Connor Hujsack
C Luke Hancock
2B Amani Larry
3B Nate Chester
Pitching Matchup
Vols So. RHP Drew Beam (5-2, 3.40 ERA, 10 app., 10 starts, 47.2 IP, 48 H, 30 R, 18 ER, 15 BB, 46 K, .257 opp. batting avg., 1.34 WHIP)
vs.
Bulldogs Fr. Ambidextrous R/LHP Jurrangelo (3-2, 5.58 ERA, 10 app., 9 starts, 40.1 IP, 31 H, 28 R, 25 ER, 26 BB, 54 K, .215 opp. batting avg., 1.43 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Cream
Mississippi State: Grey on Grey
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-David Mershon strikes out swinging.
-Colton Ledbetter pops up to SS.
-Hunter Hines reaches on a fielding error by 2B. Bobbled the grounder and then the throw wasn’t on time.
-Dakota Jordan hits one perfectly into the left-center gap for an RBI triple. The error proves costly for Tennessee.
-Kellum Clark flies out to LF.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Maui Ahuna is walked on a full count.
-Hunter Ensley is walked on four pitches.
-Jared Dickey hits a wallscraping three-run homer to center field. Mississippi State is challenging the call of a home run. Call stands. MS State loses a challenge.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 2B.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked.
-Dreiling steals second. His first stolen base of the season.
-Zane Denton works a walk on a full count.
-Christian Scott smokes a three-run homer to right field.
-Cal Stark bunts to 3B and is out at first.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Bulldogs 1
2nd Inning:
T2
-Connor Hujsack lines out to 3B.
-Luke Hancock flies out to CF.
-Amani Larry strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Maui Ahuna singles up the middle.
*Pitching change Jr. RHP KC Hunt (1-2, 10.33 ERA) on to pitch for Cijintje*
-Hunter Ensley singles through the right side. Ahuna advances to second.
-Ahuna is caught stealing at third. Ensley steals second.
-Jared Dickey grounds out to 2B. Ensley advances to third.
-Blake Burke is intentionally walked.
-Christian Moore hits a Lindsey Nelson Stadium special home run into the Tennessee bullpen for a three-run shot.
*Griffin Merritt pinch-hitting for Dylan Dreiling*
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 9, Bulldogs 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Nate Chester strikes out looking.
-David Mershon grounds out to 2B.
-Colton Ledbetter lines out to RF.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Christian Scott doubles down the RF line.
-Cal Stark strikes out looking.
-Maui Ahuna sends an RBI single to left center.
-Hunter Ensley is walked. Ahuna advances to second.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Cole Cheatham (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hunt*
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Bulldogs 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Hunter Hines strikes out swinging.
-Dakota Jordan is walked on a full count.
-Kellum Clark grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore knocks a solo home run to left field.
-Griffin Merritt is walked on four pitches.
-Zane Denton slaps an RBI double into the right center gap. Merritt scores.
-Christian Scott grounds out to 1B unassisted. Denton advances to third.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 12, Bulldogs 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Connor Hujsack grounds out to p. Tagged in the basepath.
-Luke Hancock flies out to LF.
-Jared Dickey extends to make a nice catch on an Amani Larry line drive into left field.
End of Top Half.
B5
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Nixon (1-1, 2.03 ERA) on to pitch for Chetham*
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Hunter Ensley singles to LF.
-Jared Dickey singles through the right side. Ensley advances to second.
-Blake Burke is HBP. Bases loaded for Christian Moore. MS State challenged the HBP and the call is overturned to a foul ball.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging. Umpires say Burke went.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 12, Bulldogs 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Nate Chester strikes out swinging.
-David Mershon grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Colton Ledbetter homers to RF. Solo blast.
-Hunter Hines strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B6
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Parker Stinnett (2-0, 8.22 ERA) on to pitch for Nixon*
-Griffin Merritt doubles to left center.
*Austen Jaslove pinch-running for Merritt*
*Jake Kendro pinch-hitting for Zane Denton*
-Kendro pops up to c in foul territory.
-Christian Scott is walked.
-Cal Stark knocks an RBI single through the left side to score Jaslove.
-Maui Ahuna is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded for Hunter Ensley with one out.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey strikes out to strand the bases loaded.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 13, Bulldogs 2
7th Inning:
T7
*Kendro to 3B*
*Lane Forsythe pinch-hitting for Dakota Jordan*
-Forsythe singles up the middle.
*Bryce Chance pinch-hitting for Kellum Clark*
-Chance grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
-Pinch-hitter Aaron Downs strikes out swinging.
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 13, Mississippi State Bulldogs 2
