SCORE: Tennessee 9, Kentucky 4 | FINAL
*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (31-7, 10-6 SEC) is set to battle the third-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (32-5, 15-1 SEC) Saturday in Lexington for game two of a top-five three-game series.
First pitch is at 2:00 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.
All three games are on SECN+ this weekend.
Tennessee is looking to even the series with a win on Saturday after dropping the series opener, 5-3. A back-and-forth battle was decided late when a costly error gave Kentucky the lead. The Vols’ offense couldn’t find any late-inning magic against Kentucky’s bullpen, and the Cats were able to earn the narrow victory in game one.
Read more about Tennessee’s series-opening loss here.
Most recently in SEC play prior to this weekend, Tennessee earned a series sweep over LSU in Knoxville, using great pitching from AJ Causey, Drew Beam, Nate Snead, Aaron Combs and Zander Sechrist to take all three games. The way Tennessee won the series was highly encouraging given the Vols’ pitching had been underwhelming in SEC play going into the LSU series.
The series win over LSU marked Tennessee’s fourth straight, as it also owns series wins over Georgia and Ole Miss at home and Auburn on the road.
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.
In addition to the series wins over Ole Miss, LSU, Georgia and Auburn, some highlights from Tennessee’s season have been its series sweep over Illinois, 10-run midweek win over Kansas State, plus wins over Texas Tech and Baylor in Arlington.
As for Kentucky, the Wildcats have an SEC-best 15-1 record in conference play. The ‘Bat Cats’ have swept Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss. Surprisingly, Kentucky’s lone SEC loss came to the league’s worst team in Missouri, as the Wildcats took two of three games in the series.
The Wildcats not lost an SEC series yet this season, and they’ll look to make six-for-six with a win over Tennessee on Saturday.
There’s no question Kentucky is Tennessee’s toughest test to date and, on paper, will likely be Tennessee’s toughest test in the entire regular season.
STAT OF THE SERIES: This is the highest-ranked series matchup between Tennessee and Kentucky baseball in history.
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 how Blake Burke broke a longstanding program record Friday night and what Tony Vitello said after the loss, click here.
For the most recent RTI Press Pass Podcast on Tennessee Baseball, click here.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball vs. Kentucky Game One Update Thread
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:
2B Christian Moore (R)
1B Blake Burke (L)
3B Billy Amick (R)
RF Kavares Tears (L)
LF Dylan Dreiling (L)
SS Dean Curley (R)
DH Reese Chapman (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
C Cal Stark (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Stark gets the catcher start for the second straight night. Likely will start all three games given how key defense will be for the Vols in the series.
- Chapman gets the DH nod this time over Bargo, who started Friday. Expect the two to rotate.
- Outfield rotation remains the same as its been with Ensley getting the nod in center. Seems like the outfield rotation that will be used more times than not.
- Top six of the order remain the same.
- Same lineup as last Sunday.
KENTUCKY STARTING NINE:
LF Ryan Waldschmidt (R)
2B Emilien Pitre (L)
SS Grant Smith (R)
DH Nick Lopez (S)
3B Mitchell Daly (R)
1B Ryan Nicholson (L)
CF Nolan McCarthy (R)
RF James McCoy (S)
C Devin Burkes (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP Drew Beam (5-1, 3.16 ERA, 9 app., 9 starts, 2 CG, 51.1 IP, 55 H, 25 R, 18 ER, 10 BB, 45 K, .274 opp. batting avg., 1.27 WHIP)
vs.
Wildcats Gr-Sr. LHP Dominic Niman (7-2, 3.40 ERA, 9 app., 9 starts, 1 CG, 53.0 IP, 44 H, 24 R, 20 ER, 14 BB, 47 K, .221 opp. batting avg., 1.09 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Beam gets the Saturday start per the usual.
- Niman is a Central Connecticut State transfer who has started every weekend this year. Has only had two bad outings (Kennesaw St. and Ole Miss). Was tremendous in a complete game two weeks ago against Alabama (3 H 0 R) and was great last week vs. Auburn.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, grey bottoms
Kentucky: Blue tops, white bottoms
*NOTE* There IS a RUN-RULE today. If Tennessee or Kentucky leads by 10 or more runs in the seventh inning or later, the game is OVER.
- Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC games.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Christian Moore smokes a leadoff no doubt solo home run to right field.
-Blake Burke mashes a solo home run to RF. 420-foot monstrous shot.
- HOT start for Tennessee. Moore’s homer tied him and Burke at 43 home runs for the program record, then Burke took the lead right back. Now 44 career homers for Burke.
-Billy Amick reaches on a fielding error by 1B.
-Kavares Tears drills an RBI double to right center. Amick scored all the way from first.
-Dylan Dreiling delivers an RBI double to left field to score Tears. Vols are teeing off on Niman.
-Dean Curley ropes an RBI double deep into left field.
- Unbelievable first inning from Tennessee. Five extra base hits. No outs.
*Pitching change: RHP Cameron O’Brien (1-0, 2.35 ERA) on to pitch for Niman*
- That’ll do it for Kentucky’s starter. By far the worst outing of his season.
-Reese Chapman works a walk.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore grounds into a fielder’s choice to 3B to end the inning. Chapman out, 5-4.
END OF FIRST HALF
B1
-Ryan Waldschmidt sends a solo homer to the bullpen in left field on the first pitch he sees.
-Emilien Pitre grounds out to SS.
-Grant Smith is walked on four pitches.
-Nick Lopez reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Smith out at second, 4-6.
Lopez advances to second on a passed ball.
-Mitchell Daly slaps an RBI single to right center.
Tennessee CHALLENGES the call on a pickoff attempt. Ruled safe. It’s close.
-Daly picked off at first.
Call OVERTURNED. Great tag by Burke.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Wildcats 2
2nd Inning:
T2
*Pitching change: RHP Robert Hogan (1-0, 2.04 ERA) on to pitch for O’Brien*
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Billy Amick lines out to 2B.
-Kavares Tears smacks a solo home run to the Kentucky bullpen in LF. Opposite field shot for Tears.
-Dylan Dreiling fouls out to 3B.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Ryan Nicholson works a leadoff walk.
-Nolan McCarthy knocks a single through the right side. Nicholson advances to second.
-James McCoy strikes out looking.
-Devin Burkes flies out to CF.
-Ryan Waldschmidt HBP. Bases loaded with two outs.
-Emilien Pitre flies out to RF. Great job by Beam to strand the bases loaded.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Wildcats 2
3rd Inning:
T3
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
-Reese Chapman singles to CF.
Chapman advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Grant Smith strikes out looking.
-Nick Lopez strikes out swinging.
-Mitchell Daly flies out to CF in right center.
- Strong bounce back from Beam after a rocky first two innings.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Wildcats 2
4th Inning:
T4
-Christian Moore flies out to LF.
-Blake Burke works a walk after a good at-bat.
-Billy Amick reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Burke out at second, 6-4.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Ryan Nicholson strikes out swinging.
-Nolan McCarthy grounds out to 3B.
-James McCoy grounds out to 2B.
- Beam has retired 7 straight.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Wildcats 2
5th Inning:
T5
-Dylan Dreiling hammers a line drive solo homer to the bullpen in RF.
- His 14th of the season. 107 mph. Ball was a missile.
-Dean Curley reaches on a fielding error by SS. Bounced off of Grant Smith’s glove.
-Reese Chapman lines out to RF.
Curley steals second.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark HBP.
*Pitching change: RHP Ryan Hagenow (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hogan*
-Christian Moore connects for an RBI single through the left side to score Curley. Stark advances to second.
-Blake Burke lines out to 3B.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Devin Burkes grounds out to SS.
-Ryan Waldschmidt sends a single up the middle.
-Emilien Pitre spanks an RBI double to left field to score Waldschmidt.
-Grant Smith delivers an RBI single up the middle to score Pitre.
-Nick Lopez singles to LF. Smith advances to second.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (0-1, 4.67 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
-Mitchell Daly grounds into a 5-3 double play.
- Amick fielded the grounder and made the easy tag at third before throwing Daly out at first. Incredible pick by Burke as the throw was behind him. Caught it while falling backwards and kept his foot on the bag. Play of the game.
Combs gets the double play ball to end the Kentucky run!
What a play by Burke at first 🤯🤯🤯
📺https://t.co/ITdEh7lZ6a (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatUK pic.twitter.com/Oyp4iflyji
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 20, 2024
Call was reviewed at first. CONFIRMED.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 4
6th Inning:
T6
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears dumps a single into LF.
-Dylan Dreiling pops up to 3B in shallow LF.
-Dean Curley drives a single into right field. Tears advances to second.
-Reese Chapman HBP. Bases loaded with two outs.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 2B to strand the bases loaded.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Ryan Nicholson strikes out swinging.
-Nolan McCarthy strikes out swinging.
-James McCoy strikes out looking.
- Nasty, nasty stuff from Combs in that inning as he strikes out the side in order.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 4
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: LHP Jackson Nove (1-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hagenow*
-Cal Stark strikes out looking.
-Christian Moore knocks a single to CF.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Billy Amick strikes out looking.
- Burke and Amick had a very tough time against Nove’s movement.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Devin Burkes drops a single in right center.
*Kyuss Gargett pinch-running for Burkes, who pulled a hamstring on Tuesday vs. Louisville*
-Ryan Waldschmidt legs out an infield single to SS. Nice play by Curley, but Waldschmidt was just too quick.
Call under review. Very close. Call STANDS.
-Emilien Pitre pops up to 3B.
Billy Amick just dropped a very easy foul out during Grant Smith’s AB. Bad missed opportunity.
-Grant Smith infield fly to 1B.
-Nick Lopez grounds out to P. Nice nab by Combs on the grounder.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 4
8th Inning:
T8
*Austin Fawley to C for Kyuss Gargett*
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling cranks a solo homer to RF. No doubter.
- 15th of the season for Dreiling, who is Tennessee’s most underrated player. He’s one behind Moore for the team lead.
- Two homer day for Dreiling. He also has a double.
*Pitching change: RHP Colby Frieda (0-0, 10.80 ERA) on to pitch for Nove*
-Dean Curley grounds out to SS.
-Reese Chapman grounds out to P.
- Unorthodox but frankly great play by Frieda to field the ground ball. Did a front flip to field it then flipped it to first for the out.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Mitchell Daly grounds out to 2B.
-Ryan Nicholson singles to 1B. Hard-hit ball that bounced off of Burke’s glove.
-Nolan McCarthy strikes out looking.
-James McCoy fouls out to C. Nice job by Cal to locate it and make the play.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 9, Wildcats 4
9th Inning:
T9
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore singles to left center.
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Curley*
*Eli Small pinch-hitting for Fawley*
-Small strikes out swinging.
-Ryan Waldschmidt strikes out swinging.
-Emilien Pitre strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 9, Wildcats 4
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 9, Kentucky Wildcats 4
