Drew Beam pitches against Ole Miss // Photo via UT Athletics
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8 Tennessee baseball (20-4, 2-3 SEC) dropped game two of the series to Ole Miss (17-7, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday night in Knoxville, 8-5.
After struggling against Ole Miss’ starting pitcher Liam Doyle for several innings, the Vols found late life at the plate to take the lead heading into the final frame.
However, the Rebels were able to score four go-ahead runs in the ninth against AJ Russell, who began to experience discomfort in his throwing arm, and reliever Aaron Combs.
Here’s how it went down on a chaotic night in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Ole Miss’ Starter Shoves
Ole Miss’ starting left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle shoved in a lengthy start, giving Tennessee’s lineup fits throughout his outing.
Outside of a Dylan Dreiling walk and Hunter Ensley two-run home run in the second inning, Tennessee did not have a single base runner until the seventh.
Doyle had retired 13 straight batters until Billy Amick’s leadoff single in the seventh, shutting down a Tennessee offense that scored 15 runs and hit five home runs the night prior for the vast majority of the game.
The sophomore finished the evening with a whopping 10 strikeouts and allowed three hits and three earned runs while walking just one batter.
“I don’t know him well enough to say whether he was on or not,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said about Doyle’s dominant outing. “But he certainly seemed to be on his game from the get go, and our guys weren’t. But if you look at what our guys did, they competed the whole time… I think some people in the stands and other people didn’t realize he was throwing the ball as well as he did.”
Tennessee’s starter Drew Beam was not as good as Doyle but put together a solid outing.
Until designated hitter Will Furniss hit a one-out single in the fifth, Beam had only allowed two baserunners, both of which were via solo home runs.
In fact, until a throwing error scored a run for Ole Miss in the sixth, each side had only scored runs via long balls.
Beam’s day ultimately ended in the sixth after giving up a one-out solo home run and back-to-back singles. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native finished the day allowing no walks, six hits and three earned runs (all of which were HR), while striking out five batters in 5.1 innings.
“He went five-plus innings, and he gave us a chance to win,” Vitello said on Beam’s outing. “He did about exactly what he does. To me, last week’s body of work was really impressive, how he bounced back with that lineup and being on the road. I don’t think it was one of his better outings, but his outings, usually there’s not a wide gap… I would say he was a little bit better this week than maybe he was last week. But I don’t think it was his best outing, which means somewhere around the corner, with his determination and work ethic, probably got a good one [coming].”
After Beam gave up a one-out home run to Andrew Fischer – his second of the day – in the sixth inning, Tennessee pitching coach Frank Anderson called a mound meeting. While conversing with Beam, Anderson seemingly said something to home-plate umpire Derek Mollica that resulted in his ejection.
Anderson continued to exchange words with Mollica while walking back to Tennessee’s dugout before exiting the game.
Note: Anderson will be suspended for Tennessee’s series finale against Ole Miss due to his ejection
Beam gave up back-to-back singles after Anderson’s ejection, and UT head coach Tony Vitello went to the bullpen to bring in sophomore right-hander AJ Russell, who was the day three starter last week.
The runners on first and second then stole second and third, and catcher Cal Stark committed a throwing error while trying to catch Ethan Lege stealing at third. Lege scored, unearned, on the error, giving the Rebels a two-run lead.
Russell issued two walks afterward to load the bases but got a softly-hit ground ball to strand all three, keeping the Vols within striking distance.
Vols Find Late Life at the Plate
Tennessee’s offense found life in the seventh inning as Amick and Kavares Tears recorded back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, giving the Vols their first base runners since the second inning.
Doyle’s day was done after that, as right-hander Josh Mallitz relieved him. Dylan Dreiling then worked another walk after a great at-bat to load the bases.
Dalton Bargo then pinch-hit for Robin Villeneuve and grounded into a fielder’s choice, which led to a wild sequence that scored two Tennessee runs to tie the game.
Amick scored on the fielder’s choice as Dreiling was out at second, but shortstop Luke Hill committed a throwing error trying to turn two at first that scored Tears.
Tennessee continued their success against the Ole Miss bullpen in the eighth, as Blake Burke roped an RBI single deep into right field to score Cal Stark, who walked. Burke’s single extended his hit streak to 14 games.
Ole Miss Scores Four Go-Ahead Runs in the Ninth
Tennessee’s lead was short-lived, however, as Ole Miss put up a four-spot in the ninth to take the lead that they did not relinquish in the bottom half.
After a pair of strong innings, Russell struggled in the final frame, issuing a leadoff walk before giving up a one-out RBI double. After intentionally walking Fischer and throwing two balls to Lege, Tennessee trainer Jeff Wood came out to check on Russell, who was experiencing discomfort in his throwing arm. Russell was clearly not himself in the ninth, as he walked three batters to bring his game total to six walks allowed.
Russell exited the game afterward, and Aaron Combs came out of the bullpen. Combs quickly gave up a two-run single an at-bat later, followed by an RBI groundout that gave the Rebels their 8-5 lead.
The tying run came to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but pinch-hitter Cannon Peebles struck out to end the game.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee will aim to clinch the series on Sunday against Ole Miss in the rubber match. First pitch is at 1 p.m. ET in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“We are kind of right back where we were last weekend,” Vitello said. “Came out and played really well on a Friday. Competed really well on a Saturday and came up short. Lot of frustration. You add in a lot of emotion, whether it’s celebrating the good things – really in both games – or getting down on the bad things. Really all that is a wash. You can cross it out and it doesn’t matter once tomorrow when the sun comes up, which I think it’s going to for the start of the day for once around here. And then it becomes who can find a way to win the last game. Usually on Sunday in our conference, or any conference really, when you get into these three-game battles – it’s all about finding a way.”
