HOUSTON, Tex. – Tennessee baseball used a pair of big early innings and more strong pitching to defeat Rice in Houston, 13-3.
The Vols took advantage of weak starting pitching from Rice and scored four runs in the second to take a sizable early lead.
Tennessee was able to coast and ride the big lead to the finish line, as starting pitcher Marcus Phillips rebounded after a subpar start to turn in a solid performance, and many bullpen arms helped preserve the comfortable lead.
Here’s how Tennessee won its 10th game of the year and second in Houston.
Poor Rice Pitching, Levi Clark GIve Tennessee Big Early Lead
Tennessee led 7-1 after two innings, scoring three runs in the first and four in the second.
Poor Rice pitching led to the three-run opening frame. The Owls’ starting pitcher and two-way player Blaine Brown walked four of the five batters he faced. A throwing error by catcher Landon West allowed the first Tennessee run to come across.
Former Tennessee pitcher JD McCracken relieved Brown with one out and the bases loaded, and he did a good job of settling the game down a bit. Tennessee scored its second and third run of the inning via a Reese Chapman ground ball and Manny Marin sac fly.
Tennessee found more traditional offense in the second frame. Gavin Kilen got the two-out rally going with a double that Hunter Ensley followed up with an RBI single.
After an Andrew Fischer walk, Levi Clark blew the game open with a three-run homer to right field, his fourth of the season.
More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball vs. Rice GAME THREAD
Marcus Phillips Settles In After Shaky Start
Phillips got off to his worst start of the season in the first inning, giving up a walk and a pair of singles with one out to load the bases.
A wild pitch would allow Rice’s first run of the day to score, but Phillips settled in quickly thereafter.
The hard-throwing right would retire his next two batters to strand runners on second and third then log back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.
Phillips retired nine straight batters until a one-out double in the fourth. The South Dakota native would allow another baserunner in the frame but got a key strikeout to strand two more runners.
Phillips’ day ended after a two-out double in the fifth as sophomore lefty Brayden Sharp relieved him. The junior’s outing got off to a shaky start, but he did a tremendous job settling in.
FINAL LINE for Marcus Phillips: 4.2 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (tied career-high), 63 strikes on 89 total pitches
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) March 1, 2025
Gavin Kilen Power Surge Continues
Kilen’s incredible power surge early in the season continued on Saturday. The junior recorded two solo homers to give him back-to-back games with two homers.
Kilen’s four long balls in Houston so far bring his season total to seven, which leads the team.
The homers led off the fourth and sixth innings, the latter of which was a 110 mph rocket.
In addition to the homers, Kilen also doubled, walked and smoked a two-run triple in the eighth. He finished 4-5 at the plate with two homers, a triple and a double.
Kilen had just nine homers last season at Louisville. With seven through 10 games, he’s on pace to hit 39 this regular season, which would break Tennessee’s single-season record.
Many Arms See Action Out of the Bullpen
Many Tennessee arms saw action out of the bullpen after Sharp’s scoreless 1.1-inning outing. Nic Abraham, Michael Sharman, Austin Breedlove, Tanner Wiggins and Brayden Krenzel all saw time on the mound, with none logging a full inning outside of Krenzel.
Abraham was the most underwhelming of the group, allowing a runner to reach on a wild pitch third strike, who later scored on an RBI groundout.
Sharman gave up an RBI double to the first batter he faced, but the run went on Abraham.
Sharp was the biggest storyline of the group given the timing of his appearance. It’s clear Vitello and co. have trust in the sophomore lefty, and he could potentially be a back-end of the bullpen guy in SEC play.
Up Next
Tennessee is back at it in Daikin Park bright and early Sunday morning against Arizona. First pitch is at 11:05 a.m. ET.
