*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 6 | FINAL
Eighteenth-ranked Tennessee baseball (37-17, 15-13 SEC) is set to take on the thirteenth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (37-16, 15-12 SEC) in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday for game two of the three-game series and game one of the doubleheader.
First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is at 2 p.m. ET. Game two of the doubleheader (which is the series and regular season finale) will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET. SEC Network will have the broadcast for both games.
Reminder that BOTH games in today’s doubleheader will be seven innings.
The Vols are looking to win and potentially sweep the series with a pair of wins today, as Tennessee took game one against the Gamecocks, 5-0. This series has massive implications for both teams as they look to finish the season strong enough to host an NCAA Regional.
For RTI’s coverage of Tennessee’s dominant series-opening win that was powered by a brilliant Andrew Lindsey gem, 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:
–Same exact starters and order as Friday night’s lineup.
—NO Jared Dickey in the lineup as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury, although it seemed he was a true game-time decision as he took part in BP on Saturday.
—Merritt continues to start at DH. Dreiling gets the outfield start in left just like Friday night.
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 Chase Dollander (6-5, 4.35 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 1 CG, 68.1 IP, 63 H, 35 R, 33 ER, 25 BB, 94 K, 11 HR, .240 opp. batting avg., 1.29 WHIP)
vs.
Gamecocks RHP Jack Mahoney (5-2, 3.94 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 64.0 IP, 67 H, 34 R, 28 ER, 22 BB, 63 K, 8 HR, .267 opp. batting avg., 1.39 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, Grey bottoms
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Blake Burke flies out to CF.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Dylan Brewer strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Braylen Wimmer homers to left center.
-Cole Messina strikes out swinging.
-Ethan Petry is hit by the first pitch of the at-bat. Gets checked out by the trainers.
-Petry steals second.
-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 1
2nd Inning:
T2
-Griffin Merritt pops up to 2B.
-Christian Moore strikes out looking.
-Zane Denton grounds out to first 1b to p.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Talmadge LeCroy strikes out swinging.
-Michael Braswell strikes out looking.
-Will Tippett strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out looking.
-Christian Scott strikes out looking.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Evan Stone fouls out to 1B.
-Dylan Brewer strikes out swinging.
-Braylen Wimmer strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Maui Ahuna works a leadoff walk.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke is plunked. Ahuna advances to second.
-Griffin Merritt pops up to 2B after a nine-pitch at-bat.
-Christian Moore knocks a single to LF. Ahuna is sent home rounding third and is thrown out at the plate.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Cole Messina flies out to CF.
-Ethan Petry strikes out looking on four pitches.
-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Zane Denton drops a double into right center.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to RF. Denton advances to third.
-Christian Scott smacks an RBI double to deep RF to score Denton.
*Jared Dickey pinch-hitting for Cal Stark* His first action in a week.
-Dickey grounds out to 2B. Scott advances to third.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B5
*Charlie Taylor to c for Dickey*
-Talmadge LeCroy reaches on a fielding error by Christian Moore.
-Michael Braswell strikes out swinging.
-Will Tippett lays down a sac bunt to pitcher. Out at first. LeCroy advances to second.
-Evan Stone strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to RF.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Dylan Brewer strikes out looking.
-Braylen Wimmer singles into center field.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Chase Burns (4-3, 4.85 ERA) on to pitch for Dollander*
*Caleb Denny pinch-running for Wimmer*
-Cole Messina singles to LF. Denny advances to second.
-Ethan Petry hits an RBI single to LF to score Denny. Fielding error by Dreiling allows Messina to advance to third.
-Petry steals second.
-Gavin Casas hits an RBI single to RF to score Messina. Petry advances to third.
-Talmadge LeCroy ropes a two-run double down the LF line. Casas and Petry score.
-LeCroy advances to third on a passed ball.
-Michael Braswell hits an RBI single to CF.
-Will Tippett strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bryce Jenkins (1-0, 5.62 ERA) on to pitch for Burns*
-Braswell steals second.
-Evan Stone strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 6
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Nick Proctor (4-0, 3.10 ERA) on to pitch for Mahoney*
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 1, Gamecocks 6
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 1, South Carolina Gamecocks 6
