SCORE: Tennessee 8, Vanderbilt 4 | FINAL (Vols lead series 1-0)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Top-ranked Tennessee baseball (40-9, 17-7 SEC) is set to battle Vanderbilt (33-16, 11-13 SEC) Friday night in game one of a three-game weekend series in Nashville.
First pitch in Charles-Hawkins Field is at 7:00 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.
Friday night’s game is the only one of the series to not be televised. Game two will air on SEC Network, and the series finale will air on ESPN2.
The Vols are looking to continue their winning ways in SEC play after beating Florida in two of three games last weekend to win the series in Gainesville. After splitting a Friday doubleheader with a 6-2 win and 4-3 loss, Tennessee used an 11-run sixth inning to run-rule the Gators in game three, 16-3.
Tennessee’s bats came alive as Florida’s pitching depth deteriorated late Saturday, and Hunter Ensley’s seven RBI led the way in the Vols’ statement win.
Thanks to another impressive and seventh straight series win from Tennessee and a pair of series losses from Texas A&M and Arkansas, the Vols catapulted their two SEC counterparts in Monday’s rankings to takeover the No. 1 spot. Tennessee is now the unanimous number 1 team in the country for the first time since early June of 2022.
The first time Tennessee achieved the nation’s top ranking was in the middle of the 2022 season, a ranking they kept until their NCAA Super Regionals loss to Notre Dame. Therefore, this week’s No. 1 ranking marks the second time the Vols have ever been number one.
For more on Tennessee being atop the polls for the second time in program history, click here.
Christian Moore Chasing History Amidst Home Run Race with Blake Burke
Tennessee followed up its series win in Gainesville with a 6-3 midweek win over Queens. In addition to the Florida series win, Tennessee owns series sweeps over defending national champions LSU and Missouri in Knoxville, series wins over No. 15 Georgia and Ole Miss at home, and series wins over No. 4 Kentucky and Auburn on the road.
As for Vanderbilt, the Commodores have had a shaky season and are currently in a five-game losing streak, having been swept by Georgia last week after losing two of three to Mississippi State two weeks ago. While Vanderbilt has simply been an average SEC squad so far this season, it has been great at home. The ‘Dores are 26-6 in Nashville and have only lost one SEC series at home (Mississippi State). Vandy has swept two SEC series at home (Missouri, Auburn).
Injury Note
-Sophomore RHP AJ Russell is still not on the active roster as he deals with forearm soreness, per a UT spokesperson. There is still a chance Russell returns in the regular season and a good chance he pitches in the postseason.
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including what Tony Vitello said after Tennessee’s midweek win over Queens on Tuesday, click here.
For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, click here.
More From RTI: No. 1 Tennessee Baseball at Vanderbilt: How To Watch, Pitching Matchups, Prediction
Tennessee Baseball’s Designated Hitter Conundrum Currently Its Biggest Question
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)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
SS Dean Curley (R)
DH Dalton Bargo (L)
C Cal Stark (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Bargo gets the DH nod over Chapman, Backus, Peebles and Villeneuve.
- Other 8 starters the same as its been.
VANDERBILT STARTING NINE:
SS Jonathan Vastine (L)
1B RJ Austin (R)
3B Davis Diaz (R)
C Alan Espinal (R)
2B Camden Kozeal (L)
DH Colin Barczi (R)
LF Matthew Polk (R)
RF Jacob Humphrey (R)
CF Calvin Hewett (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Gr-Sr. LHP Chris Stamos (3-0, 3.32 ERA, 15 app., 4 starts, 21.2 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 22 K, .181 opp. batting avg., 1.06 WHIP)
vs.
Commodores Jr. RHP Bryce Cunningham (6-3, 4.36 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 1 CG, 64.0 IP, 50 H, 35 R, 31 ER, 25 BB, 77 K, .207 opp. batting avg.)
Pitching notes:
- Stamos sees his fifth straight SEC start. Will be used as an opener before giving way to AJ Causey.
- Cunningham is one of Vandy’s best arms and has been mostly solid this season. His best outing came two weeks ago in a win over Mississippi State (9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
Vanderbilt: Black and gold pinstripes with black caps
*NOTE* There IS a RUN-RULE today. If Tennessee or Vanderbilt leads by 10 or more runs in the seventh inning or later, the game is OVER.
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC games.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Christian Moore knocks a solo leadoff homer to right field.
- No. 22 of the season for Moore. 49th of his career. Now four HR ahead of Blake Burke for the all-time program lead. Two away from tying the single-season HR record (24).
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears is walked.
Tears advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Dylan Dreiling ropes an RBI double down the RF line. Tears scores from second.
-Hunter Ensley HBP.
-Dean Curley strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Jonathan Vastine works a leadoff walk.
-RJ Austin slaps a single to CF. Vastine advances to third.
-Davis Diaz strikes out swinging.
Austin steals second.
-Alan Espinal strikes out swinging.
-Camden Kozeal grounds out to 1B unassisted.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Commodores 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore lines out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Colin Barczi strikes out swinging.
-Matthew Polk strikes out swinging.
- Stamos has tied his season-high in Ks with 4.
-Jacob Humphrey smacks a solo homer to RF.
-Calvin Hewett flies out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Commodores 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Billy Amick sends a single to LF.
-Kavares Tears grounds out to SS. Amick advances to second.
Amick advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Dylan Dreiling drives an RBI single into centerfield to score Amick.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
- Now a season-high 5 K for Stamos.
-RJ Austin flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Davis Diaz is walked on four pitches.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP AJ Causey (8-3, 4.12 ERA) on to pitch for Stamos*
-Alan Espinal flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Dean Curley flies out to RF.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out looking.
-Cal Stark flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Camden Kozeal grounds out to 2B.
-Colin Barczi drills a single over Christian Moore’s head into centerfield.
-Matthew Polk reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B as Barczi is out at second, 5-4.
-Jacob Humphrey flies out to CF.
- Nice sliding catch by Hunter Ensley. Initially misjudged the ball but adjusted and made the play.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
-Blake Burke grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Billy Amick strikes out looking after a long at-bat.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Calvin Hewett strikes out swinging.
-Jonathan Vastine grounds out to 2B.
-RJ Austin flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Kavares Tears grounds out to 2B.
-Dylan Dreiling pops up to 3B in the middle of the infield.
-Hunter Ensley singles to CF.
-Dean Curley grounds into a fielder’s choice to 2B as Ensley is out at second, 4-6.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Davis Diaz strikes out looking.
-Alan Espinal strikes out swinging.
-Camden Kozeal works a walk.
-Colin Barczi sends a single up the middle. Kozeal advanecs to third.
-Matthew Polk ropes an RBI double to left center. Barczi advances to third.
-Jacob Humphrey rips a two-run single through the left side, advances to second on the throw home.
*Troy LaNeve pinch-hitting for Calvin Hewett*
-LaNeve strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 4
7th Inning:
T7
*Humphrey to CF*
*JD Rogers to RF for Troy LaNeve*
*Bradke Lohry pinch-hitting for Dalton Bargo at DH*
-Lohry strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark works a great walk.
-Christian Moore strikes out looking.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Miller Green (1-3, 2.16 ERA) on to pitch for Cunningham*
-Blake Burke grounds out to 3B.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Jonathan Vastine flies out to CF.
-RJ Austin grounds out to P on a bunt.
- Heck of a play by Causey and great stretch by Burke.
Call under REVIEW. Call STANDS.
-Davis Diaz grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Commodores 4
8th Inning:
T8
-Billy Amick slaps a single to RF.
-Kavares Tears hammers a two-run homer to LF.
-Dylan Dreiling triples to left-center.
- Centerfielder dove for it and couldn’t make the play. Went back to the wall.
- Dreiling is a home run away from hitting for the cycle.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Brennan Seiber (3-0, 3.62 ERA) on to pitch for Green*
-Hunter Ensley delivers an RBI single into centerfield to score Dreiling.
-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B. Ensley advances to second.
*Cannon Peebles pinch-hitting for Bradke Lohry*
-Peebles cranks a two-run homer to RF.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Alan Espinal strikes out swinging.
-Camden Kozeal grounds out to 2B.
-Colin Barczi strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Commodores 4
9th Inning:
T9
-Blake Burke flies out to LF.
-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.
-Kavares Tears grounds out to 1B unassisted.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Billy Amick*
*Curley to 3B*
-Matthew Polk strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Humphrey fouls out to 1B.
- Nice catch by Burke along the fence of Tennessee’s dugout.
-JD Rogers cracks a single to CF.
-Jonathan Vastine fouls out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Commodores 4
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 8, Vanderbilt Commodores 4
