COLUMBIA, S.C. — It wasn’t that long ago when Tennessee’s outfield was a major question mark with Tony Vitello and his staff struggling to find consistent answers.
But it felt like ages ago as the Vols undermanned outfield propelled their offense in Tennessee’s 5-0 series opening win at South Carolina.
Centerfielder Hunter Ensley, left fielder Dylan Dreiling and right fielder Christian Scott combined to go seven-of-11 at the plate while accounting for 11 of Tennessee’s 19 baserunners in the win. Include designated hitter Griffin Merritt — who also plays in the outfield — and the group accounted for 13 baserunners.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the offensive production was Tennessee doing it with its best player and usual starting left fielder Jared Dickey out with a shoulder injury.
“Obviously, Dickey is a key piece of this lineup that we’re going to need eventually,” Ensley said. “But I think it shows you how deep of a team we are. We can plug guys in if we need to, and they’ll be able to put good at-bats together and play a solid outfield like we did tonight.”
Dreiling filled in for Dickey in left field and the ball immediately found him as it usually does. The freshman made a running play on the first pitch Andrew Lindsey threw but did most his damage with his bat. Reaching base three times, Dreiling hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and added a double in the seventh.
“The fact that he made that play off the bat was big time,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said of the running catch.
While Dreiling made the eye popping plays but Ensley was the rock in Tennessee’s lineup. After having a “rough” weekend against Kentucky, Ensley recorded a career-high four hits against the Gamecocks including three different RBI singles.
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The sophomore outfielder used the entire field in the process, singling to right field, center field and third base to bring home runs.
“I think he kind of has that mentality of this is who I am, take it or leave it and whatever situation it is, I’m going to try and keep pushing forward or moving forward in this particular inning,” Vitello said. “When guys do that it really kind of simplifies it.”
“My big thing tonight was having an understanding of what the pitcher was trying to do to me, how he was trying to get me out and hunting pitches based on that,” Ensley said.
Scott didn’t provide any RBIs like Dreiling and Ensley did but he was consistently on base. The right fielder went one-of-two at the plate but walked twice, was hit-by a pitch and scored three runs in the win.
Tennessee’s undermanned outfield scored four of the Vols’ five runs and drove in all five Friday night. It’s a fact that would have been surprising two months ago but is surprising no longer.
The Vols’ outfield is a strength and deep enough to produce even with their top player sidelined.
