SCORE: Tennessee 3, Missouri 2 | FINAL (Vols sweep the series)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Third-ranked Tennessee baseball (36-7, 14-6 SEC) is set to host the Missouri Tigers (19-25, 6-14 SEC) Saturday in game three of a three-game series in Knoxville.
First pitch is at 12:00 p.m. ET on the 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.
Game three is the second game of the series to be televised, as game one aired on the SEC Network. Game two was streamed on SEC Network +.
This is Tennessee’s first of three Thursday–Saturday weekend series. Next week at Florida is a Thursday–Saturday series, and the final series of the season vs. South Carolina will be Thursday–Saturday.
Tennessee is looking to sweep the weekend series over the Tigers with a win on Saturday after blowing out Missouri in the series opener, 10-1, and winning an ‘ugly’ battle in game two, 3-2, to clinch the series.
AJ Causey provided the Vols with yet another elite relief outing on Friday while the offense tied a season-high with six home runs in the game. Billy Amick left the yard twice, and Tennessee also debuted the black helmets with their ‘Dark Mode’ alternate uniforms.
Read more about Tennessee’s dominant series-opening win here.
In game two, Drew Beam turned in an elite start and Tennessee’s defense was arguably the best its been in a single game this season.
Read more about Tennessee’s series-clinching game two win here.
Prior clinching the series over Missouri, the Vols had their most impressive weekend to date last weekend, as they beat (then) third-ranked Kentucky in a three-game series on the road. Tennessee won games two and three 9-4 and 13-11, respectively, after dropping the opener in Lexington, 5-3.
The series win catapulted Tennessee over Kentucky in the rankings, and the Vols are the unanimous number three team in the country behind fellow SEC squads Texas A&M and Arkansas.
In addition to the monumental series win in Lexington, Tennessee owns a series sweep over defending national champions LSU in Knoxville, series wins over No. 20 Georgia and Ole Miss at home, and a series victory over Auburn on the road.
Saturday’s win over Missouri gave Tennessee its’ sixth straight SEC series win. A win on Saturday would give the Vols their second sweep in league play and fifth this season.
In addition to the six conference series wins, some highlights from Tennessee’s season have been its series sweep over Illinois, 10-run midweek win over Kansas State, and wins over Texas Tech and Baylor in Arlington.
As for Missouri, the Tigers have been among the worst teams in the SEC this season. Sitting at a 6-14 conference record, Missouri has lost all but one series in conference play. The Tigers’ lone conference series win came against Florida, who they swept. Missouri also owns wins against Kentucky, Georgia and LSU. Vanderbilt and Arkansas are the only teams to sweep Missouri this season, but Tennessee is aiming to become the third.
On paper, Missouri is the least difficult series remaining on Tennessee’s schedule, and a sweep should be the Vols’ goal.
Injury Note
-Sophomore RHP 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 what Tony Vitello said after the low-scoring, series-clinching victory over Missouri, click here.
For RTI’s latest Press Pass Baseball Podcast, click here.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball vs. Missouri Game Two LIVE Thread
WATCH: Tony Vitello Breaks Down ‘Ugly’ Series-Clinching Win Over Missouri
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:
- Reese Chapman gets his second DH start of the weekend after Dalton Bargo got the nod on Friday. The two have been rotating at the DH spot regularly.
- Cal Stark starting behind the plate for the seventh straight time in SEC play. That makes back-to-back series Stark has started every game of the series. Stark is the bona-fide No. 1 catcher now for the Vols.
- Outfield trio remains the same as its been in SEC play.
- Top seven of the order remain the same.
MISSOURI STARTING NINE:
LF Brock Daniels (L)
3B Trevor Austin (R)
C Mateo Serna (S)
2B Matt Garcia (S)
1B Danny Corona (L)
DH Thomas Curry (R)
CF Kaden Peer (L)
SS Drew Culbertson (R)
RF Jackson Lovich (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Sr. LHP Zander Sechrist (1-0, 3.82 ERA, 11 app., 10 starts, 35.1 IP, 38 H, 15 R, 15 ER, 6 BB, 40 K, .277 opp. batting avg., 1.25 WHIP)
vs.
Tigers Covid-Sr. RHP Carter Rustad (4-5, 5.87 ERA, 10 app., 7 starts, 46.0 IP, 45 H, 33 R, 30 ER, 10 BB, 43 K, .249 opp. batting avg., 1.20 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Sechrist logs his sixth straight start on the series finale in SEC play. Expect Nate Snead to pitch a lot today, as well.
- Missouri starting Rustad is a surprise, as their projected starter in their pre-series game notes, Javyn Pimental, is obviously not starting. Missouri notified Tennessee of the change after Friday night’s game. Who knows why they made the last-minute change.
- Rustad’s stats aren’t terrible but are also not great. He’s given up a combined 10 earned runs in 6.2 innings over his last two outings.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Creams
Missouri: Black tops, grey pants
*NOTE* There IS a RUN-RULE today. If Tennessee or Missouri 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
-Brock Daniels singles up the middle on the first pitch of the game.
Daniels steals second. Stark’s throw was on time, but Moore couldn’t hang on to the ball.
-Trevor Austin smokes an RBI single up the middle to score Daniels.
Looks like the hard-hit single hit off of Sechrist’s left hand on its way to the outfield. Sechrist clearly experiencing some discomfort but will stay in the game after being checked on by trainer Jeff Wood.
-Mateo Serna strikes out swinging.
Austin caught stealing second, 2-4. Nice play by Stark and Moore.
-Matt Garcia flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Christian Moore slices a single up the middle.
- Ricocheted off of the shortstop’s glove.
-Blake Burke drives a single through the right side. Moore advances to second.
- First hit of the weekend for Burke, as he breaks out of a mini, mini slump.
-Billy Amick infield fly to SS.
-Kavares Tears smacks a single to RF, advances to second on a throwing error by RF. Moore scores on the throwing error. Burke advances to third on the error.
- Lovich was trying to throw Tears out at first as he was coming back to the bag, but the throw sailed over Danny Corona’s head at first base.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.
-Dean Curley sends a two-run single through the left side.
- Perfectly placed in the gap.
Curley steals second. Now leads Tennessee with 7 stolen bases.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 1
2nd Inning:
T2
-Danny Corona strikes out swinging.
-Thomas Curry pops up to 1B.
-Kaden Peer strikes out swinging.
- Nice bounce back inning from Sechrist as he goes 1-2-3.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Reese Chapman singles up the middle.
-Cal Stark flies out to LF.
-Christian Moore drills a single to center field. Chapman advances to second.
-Blake Burke grounds into an easy 6-3 double play.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Drew Culbertson works a leadoff walk.
-Jackson Lovich fouls out to 1B on a pop up bunt.
-Brock Daniels flies out to RF.
-Trevor Austin flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Billy Amick flies out to LF.
- Great catch by the left fielder. Initially mis-judged it, so he had to catapult himself back to make the catch.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Mateo Serna flies out to CF.
-Matt Garcia strikes out swinging.
-Danny Corona singles up the middle.
-Thomas Curry reaches on a fielder’s choice as Corona is out at second, 6-4.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Dean Curley flies out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Reese Chapman pops up to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Kaden Peer is walked.
-Drew Culbertson is walked.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Nate Snead (6-1, 3.37 ERA) on to pitch for Sechrist*
Kaden Peer caught stealing, 2-6-5. Tagged out at third.
-Jackson Lovich knocks an RBI double to the right-center gap. Lovich advances to third on a throwing error by Christian Moore who was trying to throw Peer out at home.
-Brock Daniels reaches on a fielder’s choice to 1B as Lovich is out at home, 3-2. Good decision by Blake Burke.
Missouri is challenging the call. Call CONFIRMED.
-Trevor Austin flies out to LF.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
*Tucker Moore to CF for Kaden Peer*
-Cal Stark flies out to LF.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
- Got jammed on strike three.
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2
6th Inning:
T6
-Mateo Serna works a leadoff walk.
- Serna had an animated bat flip to the dugout after ball four.
-Matt Garcia grounds out to 1B unassisted on a bunt. Burke fielded it and tagged him. Serna advances to second.
-Danny Corona reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS as Serna is out at home, 6-2.
- Great decision by Curley, but Missouri has been really bad at baserunning this weekend, especially today. Horrific send.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (1-1, 3.63 ERA) on to pitch for Snead)
- Another short relief outing for Snead, as he once again wasn’t very crisp like he’s been this season.
-Thomas Curry is walked. Corona advances to second.
-Tucker Moore strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bryce Mayer (1-5, 6.30 ERA) on to pitch for Rustad*
-Billy Amick grounds out to 2B.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to RF.
- Missouri has retired 13 straight Tennessee batters.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2
7th Inning:
T7
-Drew Culbertson flies out to CF.
- Nice job by Hunter Ensley to run and get it in left center.
-Jackson Lovich singles to 3B.
- Amick’s throw was a little too high and wide and it took Burke off the bag. But it’s ruled a single.
-Brock Daniels strikes out swinging.
-Trevor Austin grounds out to P.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Dean Curley flies out to RF.
-Hunter Ensley works a one-out walk.
- First Tennessee baserunner since the second inning.
-Reese Chapman is walked. Ensley advances to second.
-Cal Stark HBP. Bases loaded for Christian Moore with one out.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 3B to strand the bases loaded.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (4-0, 5.33 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Mateo Serna grounds out to SS.
-Matt Garcia knocks a single to RF.
-Danny Corona singles to SS. Garcia advances to second.
- Dean Curley tried to backhand it and make a play, but he failed to pick the ball up off the ground.
-Thomas Curry reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Garcia out at third, 6-5. Corona advances to second.
-Tucker Moore strikes out looking to strand the two runners.
- Huge strikeout there from Kirby.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.
-Kavares Tears rips a double down the the 3B line.
- Shift-beater.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to LF.
-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2
9th Inning:
T9
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*
-Drew Culbertson fouls out to 3B.
-Jackson Lovich flies out to CF.
-Brock Daniels strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 3, Missouri Tigers 2
