SCORE: Tennessee 13, Kentucky 11 | FINAL (Vols win series, taking 2 of 3)
*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (32-7, 11-6 SEC) is set to battle the third-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (32-6, 15-2 SEC) Sunday in Lexington for game three of a top-five three-game series.
First pitch is at 1:00 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 win the series on Sunday after dropping the series opener, 5-3, and winning game two, 9-4. Sunday’s rubber match marks Tennessee’s fifth this season. The Vols are 3-1 in rubber matches so far this season.
A back-and-forth battle was decided late in the series opener 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.
In game two, Tennessee used five first-inning runs and a strong relief outing from Aaron Combs to earn a series-evening victory.
Read more about Tennessee’s game two win 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 15-2 record in conference play. The ‘Bat Cats’ have swept Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss. Surprisingly, Kentucky’s lone SEC loss prior to this weekend came to the league’s worst team in Missouri, as the Wildcats took two of three games in the series.
The Wildcats have not lost an SEC series yet this season, and they’ll look to make it six-for-six with a win over Tennessee on Sunday.
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 Aaron Combs’ recent relief outings change Tennessee’s ceiling and what Tony Vitello said after the game two win, click here.
For the most recent RTI Press Pass Podcast on Tennessee Baseball, click here.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball vs. Kentucky Game Two 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)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
DH Reese Chapman (L)
C Cal Stark (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Same lineup as Saturday.
- Only change is Ensley and Chapman swap spots in the order.
- Stark gets the catcher start for the third straight day. Stark has started every game of the series.
- Chapman gets the DH nod again over Bargo, who started Friday.
- Outfield rotation remains the same as it’s 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.
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 Sr. LHP Zander Sechrist (1-0, 3.34 ERA, 10 app., 9 starts, 32.1 IP, 31 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 6 BB, 37 K, .254 opp. batting avg., 1.14 WHIP)
vs.
Wildcats Jr. RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 3.45 ERA, 9 app., 9 starts, 47.0 IP, 33 H, 20 R, 18 ER, 22 BB, 43 K, .199 opp. batting avg., 1.17 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Sechrist logs his fifth straight start in SEC play. He’s coming off a great outing against LSU.
- Moore has started every weekend this season. Moore has largely been solid this season but is coming off his worst outing of the season at Auburn (5 ER in 2.1 IP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, grey bottoms
Kentucky: Black tops, white bottoms with blue accents
*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 flies out to RF.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 2B.
-Billy Amick grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Ryan Waldschmidt strikes out swinging.
-Emilien Pitre grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Grant Smith reaches on a bunt single to 3B.
-Smith caught stealing 1-3-6, picked off.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling pops up to SS in shallow CF.
-Dean Curley grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Nick Lopez strikes out swinging.
-Mitchell Daly slaps a single to right center.
-Ryan Nicholson strikes out looking.
-Nolan McCarthy lines out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.
-Cal Stark works a walk. Tennessee has its first baserunner of the game.
-Christian Moore smokes a two-run moonshot homer to RF. Opposite field shot.
- Moore is now tied with Burke for the program record at 44 home runs.
-Blake Burke flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-James McCoy grounds out to SS.
-Devin Burkes hammers a solo homer to LF into the bullpen.
-Ryan Waldschmidt reaches on a bunt single to C.
- Stark’s throw to first was errant, but it wouldn’t have been in time to get Waldschmidt out. Waldschmidt could’ve advanced to second but stumbled rounding first.
-Emilien Pitre delivers a single through the left side. Waldschmidt advances to second.
-Grant Smith flies out to CF in right center. Waldschmidt advances to third.
-Nick Lopez flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.
-Kavares Tears grounds out to P. Nice play by Moore.
-Dylan Dreiling pops up to SS in shallow LF.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Mitchell Daly smacks a leadoff solo home run to RF.
-Ryan Nicholson singles through the right side.
- Moore miscalculated the bounce and the ball hopped over him into the outfield.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Andrew Behnke (1-0, 1.54 ERA) on to pitch for Sechrist*
-Nolan McCarthy HBP. Nicholson advances to second.
Tennessee challenges the ruling. Call STANDS.
-James McCoy reaches on a fielder’s choice to 1B on a bunt. Nicholson out at third, 3-5.
- One of the best defensive plays of the season for Tennessee. Burke sniffed out the bunt perfectly and immediately cut the runner off at third. Perfection.
-Devin Burkes HBP to load the bases.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Nate Snead (6-1, 3.24 ERA) on to pitch for Behnke*
-Ryan Waldschmidt drills a two-run double to RF. Nicholson and McCarthy score. Burkes advances to third.
-Emilien Pitre knocks a sac fly to right center to score Burkes.
- Great job by Tears to run it down and make the catch.
Waldschmidt steals third.
-Grant Smith lines out to 1B. Nice jumping catch by Burke.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 5
5th Inning:
T5
-Dean Curley sends a leadoff single up the middle.
-Hunter Ensley grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Nick Lopez singles to RF.
-Mitchell Daly flies out to CF.
-Ryan Nicholson singles to RF. Lopez advances to third.
-Nolan McCarthy drives an RBI single up the middle. Lopez scores, Nicholson advances to second.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (3-0, 4.58 ERA) on to pitch for Snead*
-James McCoy grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Huge for Tennessee to get out of the inning.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 6
6th Inning:
T6
-Cal Stark HBP.
-Christian Moore spanks a double to LF. Stark advances to third.
- Big opportunity for Tennessee.
-Blake Burke gets an RBI single to drop in LF. Moore advances to third. Burke advances to second on the throw home.
- Waldschmidt lost it in the sun. Bad mistake.
-Billy Amick hits an RBI single to 2B, advances to second on a fielding error by 1B. Burke scores on the error.
- Amick would’ve been safe had the first baseman made the catch on the stretch anyway, but Nicholson dropping the ball allowed Amick to advance to second and Burke to score.
-Kavares Tears is issued a four-pitch walk.
-Dylan Dreiling rips an RBI single through the right side to score Amick. Tears advances to second.
- Dreiling just always. comes. through. That’ll do it for the UK starter.
*Pitching change: RHP Cameron O’Brien (1-0, 2.20 ERA) on to pitch for Moore*
-Dean Curley works a walk to load the bases for Hunter Ensley. No outs.
*Cannon Peebles pinch-hitting for Hunter Ensley*
*Pitching change: LHP Jackson Nove (1-0, 3.26 ERA) on to pitch for O’Brien*
-Cannon Peebles knocks a sac fly to the warning track in right center. Dreiling advances to third. Tears scores.
-Reese Chapman grounds into a 6-3 inning-ending double play.
- Great five-run inning for Tennessee, but it could’ve been more as the frame ended prematurely with the double play.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
*Dalton Bargo to RF for Cal Stark*
*Cannon Peebles to C*
*Tears to CF*
-Devin Burkes works a leadoff walk.
-Ryan Waldschmidt lines out to CF.
-Emilien Pitre flies out to CF.
Burkes advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Grant Smith launches a two-run homer to LF.
- Wildcats re-take the lead.
-Nick Lopez strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Wildcats 8
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Travis Smith (3-2, 5.08 ERA) on to pitch for Nove*
-Dalton Bargo flies out to CF.
-Christian Moore lifts a solo homer to RF.
- Moore is now the sole program HR leader with 45 career bombs. Two homer day for Moore. 18th on the season.
-Blake Burke singles up the middle.
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
Burke steals second.
-Kavares Tears uncorks a go-ahead two-run home run to right field.
- 13th home run of the season for Tears. Arguably his most significant.
-Dylan Dreiling grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Mitchell Daly grounds out to P on a bunt.
-Ryan Nicholson strikes out swinging.
-Nolan McCarthy beats a solo homer straight away to CF.
- Kept carrying to the deepest part of the park.
*Patrick Herrera pinch-hitting for James McCoy*
-Patrick Herrera strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 9
8th Inning:
T8
*Herrera to RF*
-Dean Curley slaps a leadoff single to LF.
- Two-hit day for Curley.
-Cannon Peebles works a walk. Curley advances to second.
*Pitching change: RHP Johnny Hummel (2-0, 0.92 ERA, 5 SV) on to pitch for Smith*
-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B as Peebles is out at second, 4-6. Curley advances to third.
-Dalton Bargo flies out to CF.
-Christian Moore obliterates a three-run homer to LF.
- Just an UNBELIEVABLE day, and series, for Moore. Playing like one of the best players in the country.
- No. 46 for Moore’s career. He’s up two on Burke for the program lead. 19th on the season.
- First three-homer day of Moore’s career.
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Colby Backus to CF for Dalton Bargo*
*Tears to RF*
-Devin Burkes lines out to SS.
- Great jumping catch by Curley
-Ryan Waldschmidt flies out to CF.
-Emilien Pitre singles to 2B.
-Grant Smith flies out to CF.
- Some nice nabs from Backus in center that inning.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 13, Wildcats 9
9th Inning:
T9
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears strikes out looking.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked on four pitches.
-Dean Curley flies out to CF in right center.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*
*Reuben Church pinch-hitting for Nick Lopez*
-Church flies out to CF in left center.
- Three above-average catches from Colby Backus in center field so far.
-Mitchell Daly blasts a solo home run to CF.
-Ryan Nicholson smokes a solo home run to right center.
-Nolan McCarthy grounds out to 2B.
-Patrick Herrera singles up the middle. Tying run up to the plate.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Marcus Phillips (0-0, 1.04 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Devin Burkes flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 13, Wildcats 11
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 13, Kentucky Wildcats 11
