Tennessee baseball trailed early but it mattered little as they poured it on with massive second and third innings on its way to a 29-4 run-rule victory over UNC Asheville.
Dalton Bargo had a big bounce back day and Jay Abernathy flashed his skills in his first start. Here’s how the Vols got it done.
Tennessee Faces Its First Bit Of Adversity
Before Tennessee annihilated UNC Asheville by tying the Tony Vitello era runs record, they faced a little but of early adversity against the Bulldogs in the second inning.
Brandon Arvidson walked Rylen Stockton to open the inning. Caiden Chilausky doubled to left field to give the Bulldogs two-on with one-out. Then Coleman McGinnis gave UNC Asheville the lead with a three-run homer to right field and the Bulldogs dugout let Tennessee hear about it.
Facing its first two-run deficit of the season, Tennessee responded the right way. Dalton Bargo got a run back on the first pitch of the bottom half of the inning, hitting a solo home run to right-center field.
Jay Abernathy and Dean Curley reached on walks then Gavin Kilen, after falling behind 0-2, hit his first Tennessee homer on a no doubt shot to right field.
Before UNC Asheville had retired two outs, Tennessee had reclaimed the lead. But they were far from done. The Vols scored five more runs on the inning including a second Bargo homer, this time a 426 foot grand slam over the batters eye.
The Vols entered the bottom of the second trailing by two runs. They exited it leading by seven runs thanks to a nine-run inning. A strong response to some early adversity.
Jay Abernathy Is A Bat Out Of Hell
Tony Vitello said Sunday that freshman Jay Abernathy deserved to start soon. He got that opportunity for the first time Tuesday and showed the way he can change the game with his speed.
Abernathy stole four total bases. During one sequence in the second inning, Abernathy walked, stole second, stole third and then scored when catcher Coleman McGinnis throw went to left field. Sure, that’s going to be much harder to do when the competition increases but it shows how Abernathy’s speed can change the game.
The versatile freshman started in left field and hit one-for-one with four walks and a sac fly. Abernathy can do a number of things well but his speed is his best trait. It was on display.
More From RTI: Tony Vitello Says Tennessee Freshman Jay Abernathy Deserves To Start
Dalton Bargo Bounces Back
Junior utility man Dalton Bargo had a disappointing first weekend of the season. He started one game and played in all three, hitting zero-of-five with a walk at the plate while committing an error in the field. With Tennessee’s talented freshman class pushing for playing time, Bargo couldn’t afford a prolonged slow start to the season.
The left-handed bat bounced back against UNC Asheville. He went three-for-five with a walk at the plate and became the third ever Tennessee baseball player to hit two home runs in the same inning.
The first home run helping spark Tennessee when they trailed made it feel a little more meaningful. It was just one game but Tuesday was a nice bounce back for Bargo.
A Few Pitching Notes
Brandon Arvidson is in the conversation to be a weekend starter for Tennessee and after a strong relief appearance on Saturday he got the first midweek start of the season. It was a rough outing for Arvidson as he allowed three runs and a pair of extra-base hits in two innings.
Freshman Nic Abraham made his Tennessee debut and he threw the ball really well. The right hander retired the side in order in his first inning and opened his second inning with an out before back-to-back errors behind him ended his day.
Junior college transfer Tanner Wiggins also had a nice outing in his Tennessee debut, working a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of strikeouts.
Freshman Brayden Krenzel was the third pitcher to make his Tennessee debut. The right hander record the final three outs, allowing a hit but facing the minimum thanks to a double play.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday evening when they open up a three-game series against the Samford Bulldogs. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET but cold weather could change that.
