SCORE: Tennessee 20, Bellarmine 5 | FINAL

*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*

Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (30-6, 10-5 SEC) is set to battle the Bellarmine Knights (6-29, 5-10 ASUN) Tuesday evening in Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a midweek contest.

First pitch is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. Reminder that the online broadcasts can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. You can also watch or listen to the game using the links.

Tennessee is looking to extend its six-game winning streak after sweeping the LSU Tigers last weekend in Knoxville. The sweep marked Tennessee’s first in SEC play and propelled them to 10 conference wins and second in the SEC East. The Vols’ pitching staff had their best weekend collectively so far in league play as AJ Causey, Drew Beam, Nate Snead, Zander Sechrist, Chris Stamos, Kirby Connell and Aaron Combs all shined.

After most of their SEC wins had been in high-scoring affairs or run-rule victories, Tennessee found a way to win close, low-scoring games on Friday and Saturday before turning it up a notch on Sunday with an 8-4 win.

Read about Tennessee’s sweep over LSU here. For everything head coach Tony Vitello said after the sweep, click here.

In addition to Tennessee’s sweep over LSU, the Vols have earned series wins over Auburn on the road and No. 24 Georgia and Ole Miss in Knoxville. Tennessee also owns a sweep over Illinois, midweek win over Kansas State, and wins over Baylor and Texas Tech in Arlington during opening weekend.

Tennessee opened SEC play in Tuscaloosa against Alabama, who are the only team to beat the Vols in a series this season, winning games two and three.

As for Bellarmine, the Knights have struggled significantly this season and are currently on a six-game losing streak. From February 17 to March 26, Bellarmine lost 23 games in a row.

Tennessee has hosted Bellarmine three times in the past two seasons, winning all three contests by a combined score of 39-9. The Vols dominated the Knights, 19-1, in the most recent meeting on April 25, 2023, in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tonight’s contest will primarily serve as a tune-up for the Vols before they hit the road to battle No. 3 Kentucky in a three-game series in Lexington. On paper, Kentucky will is the best opponent remaining on Tennessee’s regular-season schedule.

Injury Note

-AJ Russell remains out as he deals with forearm soreness. Russell will likely be out for a while, but he didn’t suffer a very serious injury.

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including where Tennessee stands in the most recent rankings after its sweep over LSU, click here.

More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Where Vols Stand At The Halfway Point In SEC Play

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

Starting Lineups

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

C Cannon Peebles (S)

1B Blake Burke (L)

3B Billy Amick (R)

RF Kavares Tears (L)

LF Dylan Dreiling (L)

SS Dean Curley (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

DH Dalton Bargo (L)

2B Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Peebles gets the midweek start behind the plate over Taylor or Stark. Peebles is now clearly behind Stark in the pecking order at the position.
• Peebles leading off as the coaching staff is likely trying anything to get him going.
• Ariel Antigua starting at shortstop. Christian Moore rest day.
• Bargo gets the DH nod.
• Chapman gets an outfield start and Tears moves to center.
• NO Hunter Ensley tonight.

BELLARMINE STARTING NINE: 

CF Will Aubel (R)

1B Casey Sorg (R)

3B Reed Blaszczyk (R)

SS Luke Scales (R)

DH Jacob Rowold (L)

RF Jake Argarwal (R)

2B Webster Walls (L)

LF Joey Milto (R)

C Charlie Rife (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols RS-So. RHP Marcus Phillips (0-0, 1.35 ERA, 8 app., 0 starts, 1 SV, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, .208 opp. batting avg., 1.65 WHIP)

vs.

Knights Gr-Sr. RHP Nolan Pender (1-4, 9.43 ERA, 16 app., 3 starts, 1 SV, 21.0 IP, 30 H, 28 R, 22 ER, 19 BB, 28 K, .326 opp. batting avg., 2.33 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Phillips receives his first start as a Vol. He has been mediocre in his appearances so far this season, but there’s no denying his power and size on the mound. Certainly a high upside. His season-long in IP is 2.0.
• Pender is among the top pitchers on Bellarmine’s roster in innings pitched. He’s obviously struggled with his command, but he is one of the Knights’ more trusted arms.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Midweek pinstripes

Bellarmine: Black tops, grey bottoms

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*NOTE* There is NO RUN-RULE today.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Will Aubel grounds out to SS.

-Corey Sorg grounds out to 2B.

-Reed Blaszczyk flies out to RF. Flat-out incredible diving catch by Reese Chapman in right field.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to SS.

-Blake Burke singles up the middle.

• Burke’s hit streak is now at 27 games. That ties Condredge Holloway’s program record of longest hit streak (27 games).

-Billy Amick is walked. Burke advances to second.

-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.

-Dylan Dreiling flies out to the warning track in RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Knights 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Luke Scales grounds out to 3B.

-Jacob Rowold strikes out swinging.

-Jake Agarwal strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Cooper Hellman (1-2, 4.60 ERA) on to pitch for Pender*

-Dean Curley works a walk.

-Reese Chapman ropes a two-run homer to the Tennessee bullpen in right field.

• 109 mph, 335 feet. 3rd HR of the season for Chapman.

-Dalton Bargo works a walk.

-Ariel Antigua smokes a double down the LF line. Bargo advances to third.

-Cannon Peebles is walked on four pitches to load the bases for Blake Burke with no outs.

-Blake Burke obliterates a grand slam off the top of the scoreboard.

• 113 mph, 406 feet. Burke’s 13th of the season and 43rd of his career.
• Burke is now in sole possession of UT’s all-time HR record. One ahead of teammate Christian Moore.
• 10th grand slam of the season for Tennessee. Vols add to what is already a program record.

*Pitching change: RHP Arren Hash (0-0, 16.05 ERA) on to pitch for Hellman*

-Billy Amick fouls out to 1B.

-Kavares Tears smacks a moonshot solo homer to right center.

• 105 mph, 41 degree launch angle, 356 feet. Tears’ 11th HR of the season.

-Dylan Dreiling grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Knights 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Pitching change: RS-Fr. RHP Austin Hunley (1-0, 4.70 ERA) on to pitch for Phillips*

*Robin Villeneuve to 1B for Burke*

-Webster Walls singles to 3B, advances to second on a throwing error by Amick.

-Joey Milto HBP. Walls advances to second.

-Charlie Rife infield fly to 1B.

-Will Aubel launches a three-run homer to the left-field porches.

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Dylan Loy (1-0, 1.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hunley*

-Corey Sorg launches a solo homer to the second deck of the left-field porches.

-Reed Blaszczyk grounds out to 2B.

-Luke Scales grounds out to 2B.

• Incredible play by Antigua to prevent it from going to the outfield. Ariel is simply a natural in the infield.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Ryan Johnson (1-1, 10.32 ERA) on to pitch for Hash*

-Reese Chapman pops up to SS.

-Dalton Bargo knocks a single to RF.

Bargo advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Ariel Antigua is walked.

-Cannon Peebles is walked to load the bases for Robin Villeneuve. One out.

-Robin Villeneuve strikes out looking.

-Billy Amick is issued a four-pitch bases-loaded walk.

-Kavares Tears grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Knights 4

4th Inning: 

T4

-Jacob Rowold grounds out to 2B.

-Jake Agarwal strikes out looking. Poor strike three call as the pitch was low.

-Webster Walls strikes out swinging. SWORD on strike three.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Pitching change: So. RHP Cole McMichael (0-0, 5.40 ERA) on to pitch for Johnson*

-Dylan Dreiling works a leadoff walk.

-Dean Curley lines into a double play at SS. Dreiling out at first, 6-3.

-Reese Chapman slaps an opposite field solo homer to left field.

• His second of the night. 4th of the season. 100 mph, 380 feet.

-Dalton Bargo HBP.

-Ariel Antigua flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Knights 4

5th Inning: 

T5

-Joey Milto strikes out looking.

-Charlie Rife grounds out to SS. Really nice by Curley at short.

-Will Aubel is walked on a full count.

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Matthew Dallas (0-0, 3.27 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*

-Casey Sorg grounds out to 1B unassisted. Hard-hit ball right to Villeneuve.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Sam Matherly (0-1, 11.17 ERA) on to pitch for McMichael*

*Brady Willis to LF for Jake Agarwal*

*Andres Castro to 2B for Webster Walls*

*Milto to RF*

-Cannon Peebles flies out to RF. Nearly had his first homer of the season.

-Robin Villeneuve grounds out to 3B.

-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Knights 4

6th Inning: 

T6

-Reed Blaszczyk strikes out swinging.

-Luke Scales flies out to LF.

-Jacob Rowold singles up the middle.

-Brady Willis is plunked. Rowold advances to second.

-Andres Castro flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Mike Sokol (0-5, 15.19 ERA) on to pitch for Matherly*

-Kavares Tears out at first 1B to P.

-Dylan Dreiling works a walk.

-Dean Curley knocks a single into RF. Dreiling advances to second.

-Reese Chapman works a walk to load the bases for Dalton Bargo with one out.

-Dalton Bargo cracks a two-run single into left field to score Dreiling and Curley. Chapman advanced to third.

-Ariel Antigua sends an RBI single into shallow right field. Bargo advances to second.

• Right fielder can’t make the diving catch, but it was a good attempt.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Chase Carver (0-3, 15.34 ERA) on to pitch for Sokol*

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

-Robin Villeneuve is walked to load the bases for Billy Amick with two outs.

-Billy Amick flies out to CF.

• Was hit hard. 108 mph off the bat.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Knights 4

7th Inning: 

T7

*Ethan Payne to 3B for Billy Amick*

*Charlie Taylor to C for Cannon Peebles*

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Brady Robertson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Dallas*

-Joey Milto grounds out to SS. Nice play by Curley to corral a hard-hit grounder.

-Charlie Rife strikes out looking.

-Will Aubel fouls out to 2B in foul territory in right field. Antigua ran a fairly long way to catch it.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Hudson Cornett (0-1, 13.24 ERA) on to pitch for Carver*

*Matt Flaherty to C for Charlie Rife*

*Colby Backus pinch-hitting for Kavares Tears*

-Colby Backus singles up the middle.

*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Dylan Dreiling*

-Hunter High reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Backus beats the throw to second.

*Bradke Lohry pinch-hitting for Dean Curley*

-Lohry smacks an RBI single up the middle to score Backus. High advances to second.

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Ross Goldschlag on to pitch for Cornett*

*Camden Bates pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

Runners advance to second and third on a wild pitch.

-Bates strikes out swinging.

*Alex Perry pinch-hitting for Dalton Bargo*

-Perry gets an RBI single to drop in shallow CF. Lohry advances to third. High scores.

Perry steals second.

-Ariel Antigua pops up to 2B in shallow RF.

-Charlie Taylor cranks a three-run homer to LF.

Robin Villeneuve singles to left center.

-Ethan Payne flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 17, Knights 4

8th Inning: 

T8

*Bates to 3B*

*Payne to 1B*

*Backus to CF*

*High to LF*

*Villeneuve to RF*

*Lohry to 2B*

*Antigua to SS*

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Luke Payne (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Robertson*

-Corey Sorg smokes a leadoff solo homer to left-center field.

-Reed Blaszczyk strikes out swinging.

-Luke Scales strikes out swinging.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Derek Schaefer (2-0, 10.12 ERA) on to pitch for Payne*

*Jackson Case pinch-hitting for Jacob Rowold*

-Case is walked on four pitches.

Case advances to second.

-Brady Willis flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Sr. RHP Devin Ecklar (0-1, 10.12 ERA) on to pitch for Goldschlag*

-Colby Backus rips a solo homer down the LF line. First pitch of the at-bat.

• Tennessee has tied a single-game season-high with 6 home runs. 93 mph, 365 feet for Backus’ 3rd HR of the season.

-Hunter High doubles to left field. Outfield couldn’t make the play and the ball dropped.

-Bradke Lohry delivers an RBI double to deep left field. Off the wall. High scores.

-Camden Bates strikes out swinging.

-Alex Perry smacks an RBI single through the left side. Lohry scores.

-Ariel Antigua singles through the left side. Perry advances to second.

-Charlie Taylor strikes out looking.

-Robin Villeneuve works a walk to load the bases for Ethan Payne. Two outs.

-Ethan Payne flies out to CF to strand the bases loaded.

END OF THE BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 20, Knights 5

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: So. RHP JJ Garcia (1-0, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Schaefer*

-Andres Castro strikes out swinging.

*Brady Morse pinch-hitting for Joey Milto*

-Brady Morse grounds out to 2B.

-Matt Flaherty grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 20, Knights 5

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 20, Bellarmine Knights 5