SCORE: Tennessee 22, Radford 9 | FINAL (7 inn. run-rule)

***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***

Third-ranked Tennessee baseball (11-0) is set to battle the Radford Highlanders (5-5) Tuesday in a midweek matchup in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 6 p.m. ET on SECN+.

Tennessee is looking to remain undefeated on the season after going 3-0 last weekend in Houston at the Astros Foundation College Classic. The Vols passed their first two challenging tests of the season with flying colors, beating Oklahoma State 5-2 and Arizona 5-1.

Tennessee also achieved a 13-3 win over weaker opponent Rice. The Vols have also swept weekend series over Hofstra and Samford while beating UNC Asheville and North Alabama in midweek games.

HONORS: Gavin Kilen Named SEC Baseball Player of the Week

Tennessee’s pitching staff was dominant yet again in Houston, allowing just six runs across the three games. Additionally, infielder Gavin Kilen stole the show, totaling four home runs, seven RBI and 24 total bases on the weekend. The junior received SEC Player of the Week honors Monday.

After the 4-0 week, Tennessee moved up one spot in D1 Baseball’s rankings to No. 2. However, the Vols are No. 1 in all four other polls.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Rankings Following Successful Weekend In Houston

With Tennessee playing stiffer competition in Houston, everyone was able to get more clarity on which players have firmer holds on positions. Manny Marin started all three games at first base, and Jay Abernathy started all three games in left field, an indication that both freshmen will be consistent starters moving forward.

Marin’s role was further solidified Monday when UNC 1B transfer Alberto Osuna’s preliminary injunction was denied, deeming him still ineligible to play. It remains to be seen if Tennessee will explore another option and if that will work.

As of now, Andrew Fischer is Tennessee’s top option at first base with Marin handling duties at third.

INELIGIBLE: Judge Denies Alberto Osuna Preliminary Injunction, Slugger Remains Ineligible For Tennessee Baseball

Injury/Availability Notes

With key arms AJ Russell, Tegan Kuhns and Dylan Loy coming back in the past week, Tennessee is closer to 100%, but some players are still unavailable.

• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
• Infielder Alex Perry, who was in competition to start at first base before Osuna’s arrival, left the program in January to tend to a personal matter. It remains to be seen when or if Perry will return. He is in his second season at Tennessee.

Opponent Scout

Radford was picked to finish 8th in the Big South in the preseason, and the Highlanders season is off to a mediocre start.

Head coach Alex Guerra’s squad has lost series to Akron and Quinnipiac while also dropping a midweek contest to James Madison. Radford is coming off a series sweep of Mercyhurst.

The Highlanders have two Preseason All-Big South selections on their roster is infielder Hunter Keen and pitcher Drew Stanley.

This will be the seventh overall meeting between Tennessee and Radford’s baseball programs. The Vols are 6-0 with the most recent meeting happening in 2009 in Knoxville (11-4 UT win).

The Vols should win comfortably Tuesday.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Knocked Off Arizona

For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, including how head coach Tony Vitello thinks Tennessee basketball deserves a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, click here.

For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep of Samford, click here.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Recaps Win Over Arizona to Cap Off Undefeated Weekend in Houston

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

SS Dean Curley (R)

2B Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

3B Andrew Fischer (L)

1B Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

C Stone Lawless (R)

DH Cannon Peebles (S)

LF Chris Newstrom (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Chris Newstrom getting his first start since opening weekend. Vitello and the coaching staff like Newstrom’s defensive skillset in the outfield.
• First game of the season Stone Lawless and Cannon Peebles are in the lineup. Lawless behind the plate today.
• Levi Clark getting the nod at first base, his second 1B start of the season (Rice).
• Manny Marin gets a day off and Andrew Fischer starts at his more natural position (3B).

RADFORD STARTING NINE: 

LF Jhonkeanu Perez (L)

SS Hunter Keen (R)

1B Breckin Nace (L)

3B James Ward (R)

RF Tyler Kehoe (L)

C Brady Whitcare (R)

2B Noah Toole (R)

DH Eli Hudgins (S)

CF Corbin Grantham (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Fr. RHP Nic Abraham (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 3 app., 0 starts, 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 XBH, .267 opp. batting avg., 1.50 WHIP)

vs.

Highlanders So. RHP Trey Ludy (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 app., 0 starts, 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 XBH, .071 opp. batting avg., 0.21 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• First career start for Abraham.
  • Abraham has appeared in Tennessee’s pair of midweek games so far this season and against Rice in Houston.
  • Abraham was solid in his first appearance of the season but was shaky against North Alabama and Rice (3 R, 2 ER in 1.1 innings combined).
• Ludy has been a key bullpen arm for Radford on weekends and has been really good in two appearances so far this season.
  • This is his first start of the season and his collegiate career.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Midweek Pinstripes (NEW)

Radford: Blue shirts, white pants with red accents

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*NOTES*

• There IS a run-rule for today’s game. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
• Tennessee’s No. 2 ranking refers to D1 Baseball’s poll.
  • Tennessee is No. 1 in all other polls (USA Today Poll, NCBWA, Baseball America and Perfect Game).

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Jhonkeanu Perez singles to left field.

-Hunter Keen singles to right field. Perez advances to second.

-Breckie Nace walks. Keen advances to second. Perez advances to third.

• Bases loaded with no outs for James Ward.

-James Ward grounds into a 5-4-3 double play. Perez scores, no RBI.

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (0-0, 13.50 ERA) on to pitch for Abraham*

-Tyler Kehoe reaches on a fielding error by 1B. Keen scores on the error.

• Ball was solidly hit and Clark had to make a play across his body, couldn’t get it done and a run comes across.

Kehoe steals second.

-Brady Whitcare reaches on a throwing error by SS. Kehoe advances to third, scores on the error.

• Really poor throw from Curley. Had tons of time to make the throw and fired it low and outside to Clark.

-Noah Toole grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley smokes a leadoff homer over the fence in center.

• 402 feet, 105 mph
• 5th HR of the season for Curley.

-Gavin Kilen rips a single through the right side.

Kilen caught stealing, 2-6.

• Play was reviewed and STOOD.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking.

-Andrew Fischer launches a solo homer to right-center.

• 383 feet, 103 mph.
• 3rd HR of the season for Fischer.

-Levi Clark singles to SS.

• Shortstop dove to stop the ball from going into the outfield. Was a near impossible play to make.

-Reese Chapman flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Highlanders 3

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Eli Hudgins drops a single into shallow left-center.

Hudgins steals second.

-Corbin Grantham strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Jhonkeanu Perez reaches on a fielding error by SS. Hudgins to third.

• Curley bobbled the ball allowing Perez to easily reach. Two errors on Curley so far.

-Hunter Keen out at first 1B to 2B on a sac bunt. Hudgins scores. Perez to second.

-Breckin Nace strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Nick Petit (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Ludy*

Alberto Osuna is coaching first base.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to 3B.

• Really nice play by Radford 3B James Ward.

-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.

-Chris Newtstrom knocks a single to center field.

• Really nice poke by Newstrom, who had to extend to make contact.

Newstrom steals second.

-Dean Curley lines out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Highlanders 4

3rd Inning: 

T3

-James Ward strikes out looking.

-Tyler Kehoe strikes out swinging.

-Brady Whitcare strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• Sword for strike three.
• Big inning from Sharman.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Hunter Howard (0-0, 8.53 ERA) on to pitch for Petit*

Ross Kivett back coaching first base.

-Gavin Kilen strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Hunter Ensley works a walk.

-Andrew Fischer is walked.

-Levi Clark smokes a single to center. Fischer to second. Ensley to third.

• Bases loaded with one out for Reese Chapman.
• Absolute laser from Clark. 112 mph.

-Reese Chapman crushes a grand slam over the right-field wall off the light pole.

• 3rd HR of the season for Chapman.
• 2nd grand slam of the season for Chapman. 5th for Tennessee.
• 357 feet, 99 mph.

-Stone Lawless works a walk.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Trey Way (0-0, 12.00 ERA) on to pitch for Howard*

Lawless advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Cannon Peebles is walked.

Lawless advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Chris Newstrom is walked.

• Bases loaded with one out for Dean Curley.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Mason Hatcher (0-0, 9.45 ERA) on to pitch for Way*

• Pitching change came mid-count (1-0)

-Dean Curley is issued a four-pitch RBI walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Gavin Kilen.

-Gavin Kilen smacks a two-run single to center.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley pops up to 2B in shallow right field.

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Highlanders 4

4th Inning: 

T4

-Noah Toole reaches on a throwing error by SS.

• Curley’s throw was too far wide and took Clark off the bag, allowing Toole to reach.
• 3rd error on Curley tonight.

-Eli Hudgins singles to right-center. Toole to second.

Runners steal second and third.

RHP Austin Hunley is warming up in the bullpen.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Austin Hunley (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*

-Corbin Grantham is walked.

• Bases loaded with no outs for leadoff hitter Jhonkeanu Perez

-Jhonkeanu Perez grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Toole scores, no RBI. Hudgins to third.

• Great play by Clark, who had to stretch and scoop a poor throw from Curley.

-Hunter Keen ropes an RBI double to deep right field.

-Breckin Mace flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Levi Clark HBP.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

-Stone Lawless flies out to LF.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Highlanders 6

5th Inning: 

T5

-James Ward HBP.

-Tyler Kehoe drills a double to right-center. Ward to third.

• Chapman dove for it but couldn’t make the catch.

-Brady Whitcare sends an RBI groundout to SS. Kehoe to third.

• Another poor throw from Curley but Clark is able to trap it. Not a good night for Curley defensively.

-Noah Toole knocks an RBI single up the middle.

Toole steals second.

LHP Dylan Loy is warming up in the bullpen.

-Eli Hudgins strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Corbin Grantham rips an RBI single to LF. Toole scores.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hunley*

-Jhonkeanu Perez flies out to right-center.

• Sports Center Top 10 worthy play from Hunter Ensley, who makes a jumping catch at the wall and crashes into it.
• Highlight of the night so far and one of the best highlights of the season.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: So. RHP Noah Arnett (0-0, 13.50 ERA) on to pitch for Hatcher*

-Chris Newstrom strikes out looking.

-Dean Curley HBP.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

• Hard-hit ball.

-Hunter Ensley ropes an RBI double down the LF line.

Ensley caught stealing third, 2-5.

• Ensley thought he had enough time to advance on a ball in the dirt. But the catcher was able to fairly easily throw him out.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 10, Highlanders 9

6th Inning: 

T6

*Andrew Fischer to 1B*

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Chris Newstrom*

*Levi Clark to LF*

*Curley to 3B*

-Hunter Keen flies out to CF.

-Breckin Nace strikes out looking.

-James Ward strikes out swinging.

• Great 1-2-3 inning from Loy.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Andrew Fischer works a walk.

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Ben Keefe (1-0, 5.14 ERA) on to pitch for Arnett*

-Levi Clark singles to left field. Fischer to second.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

-Stone Lawless cracks an RBI double to right field. Fischer scores. Clark out at home, 9-4-2.

• Clark was initially ruled safe, but the call was OVERTURNED. Clark was tagged out by the catcher.

-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 11, Highlanders 9

7th Inning: 

T7

-Tyler Kehoe grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Brady Whitcare strikes out swinging.

-Noah Toole strikes out looking on three pitches.

• 7 up, 7 down for Loy so far.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Ariel Antigua bloops a single down the RF line.

Antigua advances to second on a passed ball.

-Dean Curley works a walk.

-Gavin Kilen is walked.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Hunter Ensley.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Jack McDonald (0-1, 8.44 ERA) on to pitch for Keefe*

-Hunter Ensley works an RBI walk. Antigua scores.

• Bases loaded for Andrew Fischer with nobody out.

-Andrew Fischer obliterates a grand slam to right-center.

• 427 feet, 108 mph. Monster shot.
• 4th HR for Fischer this season. 1st grand slam
• 6th grand slam for Tennessee this season. The record is Arizona State’s 2003 team (14)

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Matthew Lefevers on to pitch for McDonald*

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

-Reese Chapman smokes a double to left field.

-Stone Lawless delivers an RBI triple to center.

• Center-fielder dove for it and missed. Ball went past him and to deep center allowing Lawless to make it to third.

*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Cannon Peebles*

-Hunter High works a walk.

-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging.

-Dean Curley works a walk.

*Colby Backus pinch-hitting for Gavin Kilen*

-Colby Backus draws an RBI walk.

*Blake Grimmer pinch-hitting for Hunter Ensley*

-Grimmer punishes a walk-off grand slam to right field.

• 365 feet, 109 mph.
• Grimmer’s 2nd HR of the season, first grand slam of the season.
• 7th grand slam of the season for Tennessee. 3 in this game

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 22, Highlanders 9 

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 22, Radford Highlanders 9 (FINAL – 7 inn. run-rule)