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Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 6 | FINAL
Twenty-third ranked Tennessee baseball (33-16, 12-12 SEC) is set to host the seventeenth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (34-13, 14-10 SEC) inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium for game one of a three-game series.
Friday’s series opener will get underway at 6:30 p.m. ET in Knoxville. SEC Network + has the stream. 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.
Tennessee is looking to rebound after last weekend’s series loss in Athens against Georgia and get back above .500 in conference play. However, defeating the Wildcats will be no easy task, as Kentucky is entering the series on a high note after sweeping South Carolina last weekend.
For all of RTI’s coverage of Tennessee baseball leading up to the Kentucky series, including the series preview and podcast, 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 Griffin Merritt
3B Zane Denton
RF Christian Scott
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
–Merritt gets the DH start even with a righty starting for the Cats.
–Outfield rotation remains the same as we’ve seen despite Kavares Tears’ return to action.
KENTUCKY STARTING NINE:
CF Jackson Gray
3B Jase Felker
1B Hunter Gilliam
2B Emilien Pitre
LF Ryan Waldschmidt
DH Reuben Church
C Devin Burkes
RF James McCoy
SS Grant Smith
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey (0-2, 3.02 ERA, 16 app., 4 starts, 41.2 IP, 35 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 14 BB 45 K, .222 opp. batting avg., 1.20 WHIP)
vs.
Wildcats Fr. RHP Travis Smith (4-1, 3.62 ERA, 10 app., 10 starts, 37.1 IP, 28 H, 16 R, 15 ER, 20 BB, 34 K, .209 opp. batting avg., 1.30 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Icy Whites
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Drew Beam’s sister, Carlee Beam, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, threw out the first pitch in LNS.
Drew Beam’s sister, Carlee Beam, throws out the first pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium ahead of Tennessee-Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/RExHALLkYO
— Jack Foster (@jackfostermedia) May 12, 2023
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GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Jackson Gray works a leadoff walk on a full count.
-Jake Felker strikes out swinging.
-Gray advances to second on a passed ball.
-Hunter Gilliam flies out to RF. Nice throw by Christian Scott to keep Gray at second.
-Emilien Pitre strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Maui Ahuna flies out to CF.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Jared Dickey singles on a bunt to 3B.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Ryan Waldschmidt singles through the left side. One-hopper right at Zane Denton.
-Cal Stark catches Waldschmidt stealing at second, and he’s fired up about it. First time Waldschmidt has been caught stealing all year.
-Reuben Church flies out to CF in right center.
-Devin Burkes flies out to RF.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Christian Moore CRUSHES a leadoff homer into the third level of the left-field porches. His 13th blast of the season comes on the first pitch of the AB. 440-foot bomb. 112 mph off the bat.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to CF. To the warning track as it was almost back-to-back bombs for UT.
-Zane Denton is plunked.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Wildcats 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-James McCoy leads off the inning with a roped double to right-center.
-Grant Smith grounds out 1b to 2b on a sac bunt. McCoy advances to third.
-Jackson Gray reaches on a fielder’s choice. Grounder to pitcher. Lindsey sails the throw over Denton’s head trying to get McCoy out coming back to third. McCoy scores on the throwing error, Gray advances to second on the error.
-Jase Felker grounds out to SS. Gray advances to third.
-Hunter Gilliam grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Maui Ahuna is walked on five pitches.
-Hunter Ensley cranks a two-run homer that clears all three levels of the left field porches. 439-foot moonshot and 107 mph off the bat. His sixth HR of the season.
-Jared Dickey smacks a solo homer off the scoreboard. His 11th HR of the season. 362 feet.
-Blake Burke works a walk.
-Burke advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Christian Moore knocks a single through the right side to put runners on the corners with no outs.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Jackson Nove (3-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Smith*
-Griffin Merritt smokes a three-run shot to left field. That one got out in a hurry. 108 mph off the bat.
-Zane Denton works a five-pitch walk.
-Christian Scott moves Denton to second with a sac bunt to 3B.
-Cal Stark drills an RBI double to left field as Denton scores.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Emilien Pitre grounds out to 1b unassisted.
-Ryan Waldschmidt grounds out to 3B.
-Reuben Church grounds out to 1b unassisted. Nice play by Burke to get the ball off the bag bounce and make the tag in time.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Jared Dickey singles up the middle.
-Dickey advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Blake Burke HBP.
-Christian Moore pops up to 1B.
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Ryder Giles (1-1, 3.60 ERA) on to pitch for Nove*
-Griffin Merritt pops up to 2B.
-Zane Denton is walked to load the bases for Christian Scott.
-Scott grounds out to 1B unassisted to strand the bases loaded.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Devin Burkes homers to right center for a leadoff solo shot.
-James McCoy strikes out swinging.
-Grant Smith grounds out to 3B.
-Jackson Gray grounds out to SS. Nice play by Burke to extend and make the catch.
End of Top Half.
B5
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Christian Howe (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Giles*
-Cal Stark flies out to RF.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley works a full-count walk.
*Kentucky trainers out to check on catcher Devin Burkes’ glove*
-Ensley advances to second on a passed ball.
-Jared Dickey flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 2
6th Inning:
T6
-Jake Felker strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Gilliam grounds out to SS.
-Emilien Pitre singles down the LF line.
-Pitre steals second. First stolen base for the Cats tonight.
-Ryan Waldschmidt is walked. Pitre steals third.
-Reuben Church pops up to SS in shallow LF.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Blake Burke grounds out to 2B.
-Christian Moore is walked on four pitches.
-Griffin Merritt smacks a two-run homer off the scoreboard. Fifth HR of the night for the Vols, 16th of the season for Merritt. He’s the new team leader.
-Zane Denton knocks a single into left center.
-Christian Scott is walked.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 2
7th Inning:
T7
—Lindsey back out on the mound—
-Devin Burkes singles to CF.
-James McCoy grounds out to 1B unassisted. Burkes advances to second.
-Grant Smith grounds out to to 2B.
-Jackson Gray smokes a deep RBI double into deep left field.
*Pitching change: So. RHPAaron Combs (4-0, 2.50 ERA) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-Jase Felker strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B7
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Seth Logue (1-0, 6.00 ERA) on to pitch for Howe*
-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking on a full count.
-Jared Dickey strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke is walked after a long at-bat.
-Burke steals second.
-Christian Moore is walked on a full count.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 3
8th Inning:
T8
-Hunter Gilliam is aboard after a HBP.
-Emilien Pitre is walked on a full count. Runners on first and second for Kentucky.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP AJ Russell (2-0, 1.17 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Ryan Waldschmidt strikes out looking.
-Cal Stark picks off Pitre at first. Play is under review. Call stands.
-Reuben Church strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B8
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Magdiel Cotto (1-0, 6.00 ERA) on to pitch for Logue*
-Zane Denton singles up the middle as the pitcher cannot make the tough play.
-Christian Scott is walked.
*Austen Jaslove pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Jaslove flies out to RF.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 3
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Zander Sechrist (0-1, 1.61 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*
*Charlie Taylor to c for Cal Stark*
*Chase Stanke pinch-hitting for Devin Burkes*
-Stanke works a leadoff walk.
-James McCoy smacks a double to right-center.
-Grant Smith knocks a sac fly to deep left center.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 2.57 ERA) on to pitch for Sechrist*
-Jackson Gray takes Connell yard on the first pitch of the AB. A two-run homer to left center draws the Cats within 4.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Hollis Fanning (0-0, 1.00 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Jase Felker strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Gilliam strikes out swinging.
END OF GAME
Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 6
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Kentucky Wildcats 6
