Game two of Tennessee baseball’s series against Illinois has entered a rain delay in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tennessee leads the Fighting Illini, 10-0, with nobody out and nobody on base.
The delay began at 2:24 p.m. ET. Unlike lightning delays, there is no mandatory 30-minute stoppage of play. So once the heavy rain ceases, play will resume.
PLAY WILL RESUME AT 3:10 P.M. ET
Hoping to get back going at 3:10 p.m.
In the meantime, enjoy this video of Drew Beam striking guys out. #GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/8mriP4f4z2
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
The Vols opened things up early against Illinois, tallying 10 runs in the first three innings. Blake Burke recorded Tennessee’s first hit of the afternoon with a double down the left-field line and later scored on a passed ball.
Kavares Tears then extended his hit streak to 14 games by smoking a double to center field to score Billy Amick, who reached on an infield single.
Tennessee then took a commanding lead in the second, tallying six runs on just two hits. Illinois’ starting pitcher Logan Tabeling began to lose all command as heavy, heavy rain came down in Knoxville.
More From RTI: LIVE Updates, Score, Notes: No. 8 Tennessee Baseball vs. Illinois Game Two
After Tabeling surrendered a pair of walks, Burke blooped an RBI double into shallow left field. A pair of wild pitches then scored a pair of Tennessee runs, leading Illinois to turn to left-handed pitcher Sam Reed. Reed also struggled to throw strikes, and one of his few pitches that was in the zone was crushed 420-feet off the batter’s eye by Dylan Dreiling.
Christian Moore gave the Vols their 10-0 lead in the third, launching a two-run home run to right field to score himself and Reese Chapman, who previously hit a ground-rule double.
Drew Beam started for the Vols on the mound. The junior has been fantastic through four innings of work, giving up three hits, no runs and no walks. Beam’s day is likely done now due to the delay. Including last week’s outing against Bowling Green, Beam has given up eight hits, one run, issued one walk and struck out 13 in 10 innings.
The delay occurred early in Kavares Tears’ at-bat to begin the bottom of the fourth as heavy rain, which was heavier than cell that came over Lindsey Nelson Stadium in the second, came down.
For at-bat by at-bat updates for game two of the series, click here.
Tennessee won the series opener on Friday night, 6-3.
