SCORE: Tennessee 7, Vanderbilt 6 | FINAL (Vols clinch series, up 2-0)
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Top-ranked Tennessee baseball (41-9, 18-7 SEC) is set to battle Vanderbilt (33-17, 11-14 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game weekend series in Nashville.
First pitch at Hawkins Field is at 3:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network (2 p.m. local). This is the first of two televised games in the series as game three is on ESPN2. Game one was available via the SEC Network + stream.
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.
The Vols are looking to clinch the series with a win on Saturday after winning the opener, 8-4. The Vols led util the sixth inning, when Vanderbilt plated three runs thanks to a flurry of gap-finding ground balls. However, Tennessee’s offense came alive in the eighth, when Kavares Tears launched a three-run home run to put the Vols back out in front.
Tennessee didn’t relinquish the lead from there on out, winning a great baseball game under the lights in Hawkins Field.
RECAP: Vols take game one in Nashville
Prior to this weekend’s series, the Vols won their seventh straight SEC series last weekend, beating Florida in games one and three to win the series.
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.
Thanks to another impressive SEC 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.
WATCH: Tony Vitello Discusses Series-Opening Win Over Vanderbilt
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 six-game SEC losing streak, having been swept by Georgia last week after losing two of three to Mississippi State two weeks ago while also losing Friday night’s opener to Tennessee. Vanderbilt has simply been an average SEC squad so far this season, but it has been great at home. The ‘Dores are 26-7 in Nashville and have only lost one SEC series at home (Mississippi State). Vandy has swept two SEC series at home (Missouri, Auburn).
Tennessee would join Mississippi State as the only schools to win a series against Vanderbilt in Nashville with a win on Saturday.
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 series-opening win over Vanderbilt, 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
What Tennessee Players Said After Vols Took Series Opener At Vanderbilt
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 Reese Chapman (L)
C Cal Stark (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Chapman gets the DH nod after Bargo started there on Friday.
- Other 8 starters the same as its been.
VANDERBILT STARTING NINE:
SS Jonathan Vastine (L)
CF Jacob Humphrey (R)
1B RJ Austin (R)
3B Davis Diaz (R)
C Alan Espinal (R)
DH Colin Barczi (R)
2B Camden Kozeal (L)
LF Matthew Polk (R)
RF JD Rogers (L)
3B Davis Diaz (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP Drew Beam (6-2, 3.39 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 2 CG, 69.0 IP, 74 H, 34 R, 26 ER, 14 BB, 61 K, .275 opp. batting avg., 1.28 WHIP)
vs.
Commodores Jr. LHP Carter Holton (6-3, 4.88 ERA, 12 app., 11 starts, 62.2 IP, 52 H, 37 R, 34 ER, 23 BB, 89 K, .222 opp. batting avg.)
Pitching notes:
- Beam starts in game two of the series as he’s done all season.
- Holton has been solid but not great by any means. He’s gotten hit around by the likes of A&M, Miss St., UGA, and even FAU but has done really well against Florida, Mizzou, SC, LSU and Auburn.
- A solid arm that can certainly be on but Tennessee can easily chase him early if the bats are hot.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, grey bottoms
Vanderbilt: All whites 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 flies out to RF.
- Nice job by JD Rogers to run back to the wall to make the catch.
-Blake Burke pops up to SS.
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Humphrey fouls out to C.
-RJ Austin grounds out to 2B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Commodores 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to shallow LF.
-Hunter Ensley knocks a single to shallow RF.
- Check swing sent a softly hit single to no man’s land in right.
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Alan Espinal chops a leadoff single through the right side.
-Colin Barczi strikes out swinging.
-Camden Kozeal reaches on a fielder’s choice to 1B as Espinal is out at second, 3-6. Kozeal advances to second on a throwing error by Dean Curley, who was trying to turn two but sailed the throw into Tennessee’s dugout.
-Matthew Polk grounds out to 2B.
- Really solid defensive play by Christian Moore to prevent it from going into the outfield. One of the better defensive plays he’s made this season. Saved a run.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Commodores 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
-Cal Stark triples to RF.
- Right-fielder tried to make a sliding catch but failed. Ball bounced past him all the way to the wall, allowing Stark to easily reach third base.
- First triple for Stark in his Tennessee career.
-Christian Moore legs out an RBI single to SS as Stark scores.
-Blake Burke deposits a single in left center. Moore advances to second.
-Billy Amick flies out to the warning track in right field. Moore advances to second.
- Great jumping catch by JD Rogers at the wall to potentially save a home run. Might have made it over the wall. Was going off the top of the wall if not. Was close. Great play either way.
Burke steals second.
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-JD Rogers grounds out to 3B.
Tennessee CHALLENGED the initial ruling of safe and the call was OVERTURNED.
-Davis Diaz delivers a single to shallow RF.
-Jonathan Vastine is walked.
-Jacob Humphrey strikes out swinging.
-RJ Austin ropes an RBI double to LF. Vastine advances to third. Diaz scores.
-Alan Espinal strikes out swinging.
- Big strikeout there against one of Vandy’s best power hitters.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Commodores 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Dylan Dreiling reaches on a throwing error by 2B.
- Sailed the throw over the first baseman’s head. Would’ve been close at first anyway as Dreiling was booking it.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to the warning track in LF.
-Dean Curley drives a single to left center. Dreiling advances to third.
*Cannon Peebles pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*
-Peebles works a walk.
-Cal Stark drops an RBI single in left center. Bases loaded for Christian Moore.
- Dropped in no man’s land.
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke lines out to deep RF to strand ’em loaded.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Colin Barczi is walked on four pitches.
-Camden Kozeal smokes a two-run homer to RF. No doubter.
-Matthew Polk flies out to LF in left center.
-JD Rogers strikes out swinging.
-Davis Diaz strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Commodores 3
5th Inning:
T5
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Kavares Tears grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Dylan Dreiling knocks a single to RF.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Jonathan Vastine flies out to LF.
-Jacob Humphrey grounds out to P on a bunt.
- Nice job by Beam to make the throw on time.
-RJ Austin works a walk.
Austin steals second.
-Alan Espinal flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Commodores 3
6th Inning:
T6
*Pitching change: RHP Greysen Carter (4-1, 5.65 ERA) on to pitch for Carter Holton*
Tennessee is CHALLENGING that Dean Curley got hit by a pitch. Call STANDS
-Dean Curley HBP. That time it got him.
-Cannon Peebles works a walk.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
- Fouled a bunt for strike three.
-Christian Moore slices a three-run homer to opposite field in RF. Stayed fair.
- No. 50 of his career. 23rd of the season. He’s one behind the single-season UT record (24). Moore now 5 HR ahead of Burke for the program lead.
-Blake Burke singles to RF.
-Billy Amick legs out an infield single to 3B. Burke advances to third.
Burke scores on a wild pitch. Burke advances to second on the wild pitch.
-Kavares Tears is walked.
*Pitching change: LHP Ryan Ginther (1-0, 5.25 ERA) on to pitch for Greysen Carter*
-Dylan Dreiling is walked on four pitches. Bases loaded for Hunter Ensley.
-Ensley grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Colin Barczi flies out to the warning track in RF.
-Camden Kozeal chops a single up the middle.
-Matthew Polk ropes a double to left center. Kozeal advances to third.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (4-0, 4.50 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
*Jack Bulger pinch-hitting for JD Rogers*
-Bulger knocks an RBI single to 3B. Polk remains at second. Kozeal scores.
- Amick’s throw took Burke off the bag, but it was a tough play to make regardless.
Polk advances to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Connell.
-Davis Diaz sends an RBI single to LF. Polk scores. Bulger advances to second.
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (1-1, 3.20 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Jacob Humphrey is walked.
- Bases loaded with two outs for RJ Austin.
-RJ Austin grounds out to P.
- Nice play by Combs and big out to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Commodores 5
7th Inning:
T7
*Polk to RF*
*Bulger to LF*
-Dean Curley works a walk on a full count.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.
Curley advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Cal Stark grounds out to 2B. Curley advances to third.
-Christian Moore drills an RBI single to right center.
-Blake Burke ropes a single through the right side. Moore advances to third.
*Pitching change: RHP Luke Guth (1-1, 6.30 ERA) on to pitch for Ginther*
-Billy Amick flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Alan Espinal flies out to CF.
-Colin Barczi grounds out to SS.
-Camden Kozeal works a walk after a long at-bat.
-Matthew Polk reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B as Kozeal is out at 2B unassisted.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Commodores 5
8th Inning:
T8
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling grounds out to 3B.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Jack Bulger grounds out to P.
-Davis Diaz grounds out to SS.
-Jonathan Vastine strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Commodores 5
9th Inning:
T9
*Calvin Hewett to CF for Jack Bulger*
*Matthew Polk to LF*
*Jacob Humphrey to RF*
-Dean Curley flies out to RF.
-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 2B.
- Nice recovery by the second baseman after dropping what would have been a lineout.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging, tagged out after a dropped third strike.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*
-Jacob Humphrey works a walk. Tying run at the plate.
-RJ Austin ropes a double down the LF line. Winning run at the plate.
-Alan Espinal lines out to 2B.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Nate Snead (8-1, 2.82 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Colin Barczi delivers a sac fly to RF.
- Roped line drive right to Tears.
-Camden Kozeal grounds out to 2B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Commodores 6
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Vanderbilt Commodores 6
