ARLINGTON, TX – Tennessee Baseball lost a tightly-contested battle to the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday night in extra innings, 5-1, to fall to 1-1 on the season. Despite an elite defensive showing by the Vols, the offense mustered only one run which wasn’t enough.
Tennessee and Oklahoma entered extra innings tied at one run apiece, but the Sooners were able to open things up in the 10th, scoring four runs. Tennessee could not overcome the deficit and suffered their first loss of the young season.
Here’s three takeaways from the loss:
Vols Display Elite Defense
Although Tennessee lost, the Vols had a stellar game defensively.
Two Vols made diving catches, catcher Cal Stark caught two runners stealing and made a great tag at home plate, a pair of infielders made significant plays, and Tennessee turned their first triple play in 27 years.
Billy Amick was the first to have a defensive highlight when he made a great play at third for the second out of the first inning. Blake Burke then did the same at first for out number two in the second inning before Drew Beam picked off a base runner at first to end the frame.
Stark kept the defensive highlights rolling in the third, fourth and sixth innings. The senior catcher made a brilliant tag at home to prevent a run in the third then caught a base runner stealing in the fourth and sixth. Dylan Dreiling’s name also entered the chat in the fourth inning defensively when he made a diving catch that prevented an RBI double.
Tennessee’s defense helped out starting pitcher Drew Beam significantly. Beam was shaky in 5.2 innings of work, allowing seven hits while throwing only two strikeouts. If it weren’t for Tennessee’s elite defense, Beam would’ve given up double-digit hits and potentially a couple more runs.
More From RTI: Tennessee Freshmen ‘Play The Right Way’ Against Vanderbilt
Beam’s day was done in the sixth with a runner on second and two outs. Sophomore right-hander Marcus Phillips relieved Beam, who had a short-lived outing.
Graduate Cal transfer RHP Chris Stamos got the ball in the seventh with a runner on first and no outs and executed a triple play that topped a long list of impressive defensive plays made in the game.
After walking his first batter, Stamos made a great diving catch on a bunt for the first out of the inning, then turned around and threw to Christian Moore who tagged up at second to get the first runner out. The second runner was left standing on second base, who Moore easily tagged to round out the triple play. It marked Tennessee’s first triple play since 1997, according to a UT spokesperson.
While Beam was shaky, the pitching was mostly strong in regulation. Oklahoma’s only run in regulation came on an RBI single by in the top of the fourth.
Offense Struggles Against Oklahoma’s Arms
While the Vols’ defense excelled, the offense struggled throughout. Oklahoma starter Brendan Girton threw nine strikeouts in four innings, and Kayson Witherspoon, who was arguably the best player on the field Saturday night, shoved in 4.1 innings of relief.
Tennessee’s first and only run came in the fourth inning thanks to Dylan Dreiling, who roped a 441-foot no-doubter deep into right center to tie things up at one run apiece.
Neither team were able to score another run in regulation. The Vols struggled against Witherspoon and any time they had momentum, they were unable to capitalize, leaving 10 runners on base.
While Witherspoon was ultimately relieved in the bottom of the ninth, Tennessee was once again unable to capitalize with runners on base.
Oklahoma Opens It Up in Extras
Aaron Combs provided two key scoreless innings of relief in the eighth and ninth, but once extras began, he struggled with his command. The junior gave up an RBI double after walking two batters to give the Sooners the lead in the 10th. Combs was relieved by freshman Matthew Dallas, who was quickly relieved by Derek Schaefer after just one batter.
Schaefer had a forgettable college debut, giving up an RBI single followed by a two-run single that gave the Sooners a commanding four-run lead.
The Vols were unable to do anything with Christian Moore’s leadoff single in the bottom of the frame and suffered their first loss of the 2024 season.
Tennessee will be back at it on Sunday in hopes of going 2-1 on opening weekend. The Vols battle the Baylor Bears at 7:30 p.m. ET in Globe Life Field.
