*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 12, Gamecocks 1 | FINAL
Eighteenth-ranked Tennessee baseball (37-18, 15-14 SEC) is set to take on the thirteenth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (38-16, 16-12 SEC) in Columbia, South Carolina on Saturday for game three of the three-game series and game two of the doubleheader.
First pitch for game two of the doubleheader is at 5 p.m. ET. SEC Network has the broadcast.
Reminder that the game, like the first game of the doubleheader, will be seven innings.
The Vols are looking to win the series with a win in the regular season finale, as Tennessee took game one against the Gamecocks, 5-0 then lost 6-1 in game two. Chase Dollander was brilliant in 5.1 innings of work on Saturday, giving up just two hits and one run, but Chase Burns got shelled out of the bullpen as the Gamecocks plated five in the sixth to ultimately even the series.
This series has massive implications for Tennessee as they need to win the regular season finale in order to have a chance at hosting an NCAA Regional.
For RTI’s coverage of the series thus far, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
1B Blake Burke
CF Hunter Ensley
LF Jared Dickey
DH Griffin Merritt
2B Christian Moore
3B Zane Denton
RF Christian Scott
C Cal Stark
SS Maui Ahuna
Lineup Notes:
–Blake Burke gets his first start in the leadoff spot in his Tennessee career.
—Merritt continues to start at DH. Dickey returns to the starting lineup after pinch-hitting for Cal Stark in game one of the doubleheader, so Dylan Dreiling is not starting.
–With Burke leading off, Ahuna goes all the way down to the nine-hole.
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 So. RHP Drew Beam (6-4, 4.45 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 1 CG, 60.2 IP, 66 H, 44 R, 30 ER, 18 BB, 58 K, 10 HR, .275 opp. batting avg., 1.40 WHIP)
vs.
Gamecocks So. LHP Matthew Becker (4-2, 4.70 ERA, 15 app., 9 starts, 1 S, 44.0 IP, 38 H, 25 R, 23 ER, 21 BB, 61 K, 7 HR, .225 opp. batting avg., 1.34 WHIP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, Grey bottoms
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Blake Burke singles through the left side.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey lines out to RF.
-Griffin Merritt pops up to 3B.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Dylan Brewer grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Braylen Wimmer grounds out to pitcher.
-Cole Messina grounds out to 3B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Christian Moore grounds out to p unassisted.
-Zane Denton grounds out to p.
-Christian Scott grounds out to p.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Ethan Petry is walked.
-Gavin Casas is walked.
-Talmadge LeCroy grounds into a 5-4-3 double play. Petry advances to third.
-Michael Braswell flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Cal Stark is walked on a full count.
-Maui Ahuna is walked on four pitches. Stark advances to second.
-Blake Burke lines out to 3B.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Jared Dickey chops a groundout to pitcher to strand the runners.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Will Tippett singles to CF.
-Evan Stone lays down a sac bunt to pitcher. Tippett advances to second.
-Dylan Brewer grounds out to 1B unassisted. Tippett advances to third.
-Braylen Wimmer pops up to 1B.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Gamecocks 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Griffin Merritt reaches on a fielding error by the SC third baseman.
-Christian Moore singles to RF. Merritt advances to third.
-Zane Denton knocks an RBI single into center field. Moore advances to second.
-Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Christian Scott reaches on a fielding error by the SC second baseman, who bobbles the grounder. Moore scores on the error, Denton advances to third.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Maui Ahuna goes oppo with a two-run double down the LF line on an 0-2 pitch.
-Blake Burke fouls out to 3B.
-Hunter Ensley is walked on four pitches. Ahuna advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Jared Dickey flies out to LF.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Cole Messina homers to left center.
-Ethan Petry singles through the left side.
-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.
-Talmadge LeCroy strikes out looking.
-Michael Braswell strikes out looking.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 4, Gamecocks 1
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: RHP James Hicks (6-1, 3.88 ERA) on to pitch for Becker*
-Griffin Merritt homers to RF. His 17th of the season.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging.
-Christian Scott flies out to LF.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Will Tippett grounds out to SS.
*Caleb Denny pinch-hitting for Evan Stone*
-Denny grounds out to 2B.
-Dylan Brewer grounds out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 5, Gamecocks 1
6th Inning:
T6
*Denny to LF*
*Brewer to CF*
-Cal Stark smashes a homer to left center.
-Maui Ahuna flies out to LF.
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 2B.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Braylen Wimmer doubles to right center.
-Cole Messina flies out to RF.
-Ethan Petry slaps a single to LF. Wimmer advances to third.
-Gavin Casas strikes out swinging.
-Talmadge LeCroy reaches on a fielder’s choice. Petry out at second 6-4.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Gamecocks 1
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Wesley Sweatt (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hicks*
-Jared Dickey smokes a double to left center.
-Griffin Merritt singles through the left side. Dickey advances to third.
-Meritt advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Christian Moore is walked to load the bases.
-Zane Denton knocks a sac fly to CF.
-Christian Scott clears the bases with a three-run blast to right field.
*Pitching change: RHP Sam Simpson (0-0, 2.45 ERA) on to pitch for Sweatt*
-Cal Stark is walked.
-Maui Ahuna doubles to left center. Stark advances to third.
-Blake Burke pops up to SS.
*Kavares Tears pinch-hitting for Ensley*
-Tears is walked on a full count.
*Dylan Dreiling pinch-hitting for Jared Dickey*
-Dreiling works a bases-loaded walk.
*Austen Jaslove pinch-hitting for Griffin Merritt*
-Jaslove draws a bases-loaded walk.
*Pitching change: RHP Austin Williamson (1-0, 2.95 ERA) on to pitch for Simpson*
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B7
*Pitching change: RHP AJ Russell (2-0, 1.07 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
-Michael Braswell strikes out swinging.
-Will Tippett strikes out swinging.
-Carson Hornung strikes out swinging.
END OF GAME
Score: Vols 12, Gamecocks 1
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 12, South Carolina Gamecocks 1
