Tennessee baseball players Kavares Tears and Christian Moore met with the media following the Vols’ 11-5 win over Baylor on Sunday night.
Tears and Moore were instrumental in Tennessee’s explosion at the plate against the Bears, combining for four hits, five RBI, one home run and three walks. Tears put the Vols on the board in the second inning with a three-run blast, while Moore hit a crucial go-ahead two-run double in the fourth that gave Tennessee a lead in which they never relinquished.
Moore was the only Vol to start all three games and finish opening weekend with a batting average above .400, and Tears’ three RBI tied Billy Amick (also tonight) for the most RBI in a single game by a Tennessee player this weekend.
After the game, Tears and Moore each discussed their performances, thoughts on the weekend as a whole and what it meant for the team to bounce back after a loss the night before.
What each of them said is below.
Kavares Tears
On his three-run home run in the second inning:
“I just went up there hunting first pitch fastball. I know earlier in the week I had a little problem pulling off a little bit so I just tried to make sure that my approach today was to just stay through the ball, kind of hunt left-center field.”
On what he was thinking rounding the bases:
“Just excitement. I guess you would say a little bit of relief to just get that first hit out of the way but also to take the lead early in the game to get the team going a little bit. It was a great pitcher they had but I knew that at some point the way our lineup was set up we were going to get to him so it was nice to get to him early.”
On bouncing back from Friday:
“It was pretty nice. I wasn’t really, I guess, stressing too much Friday. Opening day, a little jittery but I kind of settled in a little bit and realized it was the same game that I’ve played since I was a kid. It kind of all just came back to me and I was able to kind of slow my heart rate level a little bit.”
On third baseman Billy Amick’s big performance:
“I would say that it’s impressive but I’ve been watching him do that all fall so I guess you kind of expect nothing else from him. He’s a great player. I think he’ll play a long time. I’ve played baseball for a long time so I guess it’s just something that you’re used to seeing and it’s also a blessing to see players like that and how he goes about his work.”
On Nate Snead’s performance on the mound:
“He shut it down, honestly. They have a great lineup, a great team overall, but he came in there and did what they needed to do. We just kept telling him between innings to keep throwing strikes and that we were going to play the best defense behind him.”
On him having a 409 foot fly out in his third at-bat:
“You can’t really get too mad. It’s baseball. Put a good swing on it. I mean, that’s all I could really ask for. To put a good swing on the ball.”
On what he learned most about the team this weekend:
“I learned how resilient we are. I know we took a loss yesterday. Never gave up, never fought, never, for a second, thought we were out of the game until that last out was made and even then as soon as that game was over we were thinking about tomorrow and firing on all cylinders.”
On it being a strong defensive series for the Vols, whether it was surprising:
“Honestly, no. We all work pretty hard every day. Coaches out there don’t make anything easy on us. So I think it’s just a testament to all the hard work we put in in the fall and even when we got back from Christmas break early in the spring.”
On having tough competition opening weekend:
“I love it. I think if you’re a real competitor and like competing and playing, there’s nothing better you can ask for going out into the last inning.”
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Christian Moore
On what went well for him at the plate:
“The scouting report we had before the game – like always – hunting heater and trying to sit back on the off-speed. Just get to their bullpen as fast as we could.”
On what he saw from Kavares Tears and his home run:
“I think it was huge. He had a pretty rough day on Friday and for him to hit a homer back side, I think that’s pretty cool in any setting. It definitely got us going and got the juices flowing for us. Good things happened after that.”
On how exciting a player Kavares Tears is:
“Man, he’s so exciting. I think he has some of the most raw power, speed and athleticism on this team. When he is hot, he is hard to stop. It was really good to see him go out there and perform tonight.”
On bouncing back offensively from Saturday to Sunday:
“That’s the type of team we are. We are going to compete day in and day out. Last night, we faced some good arms and they found holes and we didn’t. That’s part of the game. Today, we were going into it knowing we are obviously a good team and we are going to fight hard and compete pitch by pitch.”
On the power up and down the lineup:
“It’s super exciting. It really reminds me of my freshman year. I think going into this season, we are just trying to stack wins and be good guys – figure out ways to win each day.”
On playing shortstop every game this weekend:
“It feels good. I was a shortstop in high school. Obviously, I had a few guys in front of me last year and freshman year, but it feels really good to be back out there. Feels like home.”
On what he saw from Billy Amick this weekend:
“Billy just being Billy. I call him ‘Billy Barrels.’ He’s going to do what he does best and that’s hit. I’m super excited to have him here – right in the middle of the order, where we need him.”
On what he saw from Nate Sneed:
“The first inning he was out there, I think he hit 99 [mph]. Juices were flowing and it’s your first outing of the season in this amazing park. You’re probably going to be a little rushed and sped up. For him to settle down for us and give us three or four innings, that was huge tonight. And then Stamos coming in and closing the door. I’m super proud of both of them.”
On if Billy Amick is one of the more dangerous hitters he’s played with:
“Absolutely, but I think 1-9 we are all dangerous in a way. But yeah, he’s definitely dangerous.”
