*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 0 | FINAL
Eighteenth-ranked Tennessee baseball is set to take on the thirteenth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in Columbia, South Carolina on Friday night for game one of a three-game series.
First pitch on Friday night is set for 7 p.m. ET in Founders Park. SECN+ 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.
Friday night’s game is the only game between the Vols and Gamecocks that will not be televised, as both games on Saturday’s doubleheader will be televised.
The series opener was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night, but rain caused the game to postpone to Friday at 2. However, the amount of rain caused another delay to 7 ET. Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m. ET, with both games being seven innings.
The upcoming series against South Carolina is a massive one for the BaseVols. Sitting at 14-13 in SEC play, the Vols must win the series if they want to have possibly host an NCAA Regional. Furthermore, if Tennessee were to sweep South Carolina, the Vols would almost surely host.
To beat South Carolina, the Vols must play better than they have all season on the road. Tennessee has been a poor road team, with a 2-11 record in natural road games.
For all of RTI’s coverage leading up to the South Carolina series, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
CF Hunter Ensley
1B Blake Burke
DH Griffin Merritt
2B Christian Moore
3B Zane Denton
LF Dylan Dreiling
RF Christian Scott
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
—NO Jared Dickey in the lineup as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury.
—Merritt continues to start at DH. Dreiling gets the outfield start in left.
SOUTH CAROLINA STARTING NINE:
LF Dylan Brewer
DH Braylen Wimmer
C Cole Messina
RF Ethan Petry
1B Gavin Casas
3B Talmadge LeCroy
SS Michael Braswell
2B Will Tippett
CF Evan Stone
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Andrew Lindsey (1-2, 2.98 ERA, 17 app., 5 starts, 48.1 IP, 41 H, 22 R, 16 ER, 16 BB, 49 K, .224 opp. batting avg., 1.19 WHIP)
vs.
Gamecocks So. RHP Eli Jones (4-3, 3.40 ERA, 18 app., 4 starts, 42.1 IP, 37 H, 21 R, 16 ER, 12 BB, 52 K, .228 opp. batting avg., 1.17 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Maui Ahuna grounds out to 3B.
-Hunter Ensley golfs a single into center field.
-Blake Burke lines out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley is caught stealing at second.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Dylan Brewer flies out to LF.
-Braylen Wimmer strikes out swinging.
-Cole Messina singles to pitcher.
-Messina steals second, advances to third on a throwing error by Cal Stark. Runner ISP for the Gamecocks.
-Ethan Petry strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Griffin Merritt smokes a double to left field.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Zane Denton grounds out to first 1b to p. Merritt advances to third.
-Dylan Dreiling grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Gavin Casas singles to CF.
-Talmadge LeCroy strikes out swinging.
-Michael Braswell grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Christian Scott works a leadoff walk on a full count.
-Cal Stark flies out to right center.
-Scott steals second.
-Maui Ahuna is walked.
-Hunter Ensley smacks an RBI single to right field. Ahuna advances to second.
-Blake Burke reaches on a fielder’s choice. Ensley out at second 4-6. Ahuna advances to third.
-Griffin Merritt is plunked to load the bases for Christian Moore.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Will Tippett grounds out to SS.
-Evan Stone singles to SS. Burke couldn’t catch it off the hop.
-Stone caught stealing at second by Stark (2-6).
-Dylan Brewer strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Zane Denton is walked on a full count.
-Dylan Dreiling cranks a two-run homer to left-center field.
-Christian Scott singles to RF.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna slaps a single to RF. Scott advances to third.
-Hunter Ensley hits another RBI single, this one to center field to score Scott. Ahuna advances to second.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Griffin Merritt strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Braylen Wimmer flies out to CF.
-Cole Messina grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Ethan Petry grounds out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 4, Gamecocks 0
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: RHP Brett Thomas (0-0, 2.45 ERA) on to pitch for Jones*
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Zane Denton grounds out to p.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Gavin Casas grounds out to pitcher.
-Talmadge LeCroy flies out to RF.
-Michael Braswell grounds out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 4, Gamecocks 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Christian Scott is walked on four pitches to leadoff the inning.
-Scott advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Scott advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out looking.
-Hunter Ensley smokes an RBI single to 3B.
-Ensley advances to second on a throwing error by p, failed pickoff attempt.
-Ensley advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Blake Burke is walked on five pitches.
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to p.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Will Tippett pops up to 3B.
-Evan Stone strikes out looking as Lindsey works back from a 3-0 count.
-Dylan Brewer grounds out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Zach Zedalis (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Thomas*
-Christian Moore grounds out to 2B.
-Zane Denton flies out to CF. Nearly a homer.
-Dylan Dreiling ropes a double down the RF line.
-Christian Scott is plunked. Hit hard in the lower right leg.
-Cal Stark is walked to load the bases for Maui Ahuna.
*Pitching change: RHP Austin Williamson (1-0, 3.18 ERA) on to pitch for Zedalis*
-Ahuna grounds out to 3B to strand the bases loaded.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Braylen Wimmer flies out to RF.
-Cole Messina flies out to CF.
-Ethan Petry flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 0
8th Inning:
T8
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Griffin Merritt grounds out to 3B.
End of Top Half.
B8
-Gavin Casas grounds out to 2B after a nine-pitch at-bat.
-Talmadge LeCroy flies out to CF.
-Michael Braswell flies out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 0
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: LHP Jackson Phipps (0-0, 3.37 ERA) on to pitch for Williamson*
-Christian Moore singles through the left side.
-Moore is caught stealing at second after review. Originally was ruled safe.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B9
-Will Tippett grounds out to 3B.
*Carson Hornung pinch-hitting for Evan Stone*
*Pitching change: So RHP Aaron Combs (4-0, 2.84 ERA) on to pitch for Lindsey*
-Hornung strikes out looking.
-Dylan Brewer strikes swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, South Carolina Gamecocks 0
