KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Second-ranked Tennessee baseball completed the series sweep of seventh-ranked Florida Sunday in Lindsey Nelson Stadium, besting the Gators 7-4 behind a handful of crucial hits and strong outings from Tegan Kuhns, Dylan Loy and Nate Snead on the mound.
The Vols improved to 20-0 (3-0 SEC) with the win and have now swept the Gators in two of the past four seasons.
Here’s how it happened on a beautiful Sunday in Knoxville.
Tegan Kuhns Looks Great in Opener Role
Freshman right-hander Tegan Kuhns started for Tennessee on the mound Sunday and was the best he’s been all season.
Kuhns sat the Gators down in order in the first with a pair of strikeouts before retiring the side around a one-out single in the second frame.
After logging back-to-back outs to open the third, Kuhns’ day was done. While Kuhns went through the lineup once before getting pulled, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said there was no specific plan for Kuhns’ usage.
“There wasn’t any one specific plan,” Vitello said. “But I thought he was as composed as he was against Arizona. His stuff was even a little better… The presence was even, I would say, even better than it was at Arizona. You knew we were going to get their best punch today, so for him to go out and do what he did was outstanding.”
In his second career start and fifth appearance, Kuhns looked as good as he has all season, a great development for Tennessee given the likelihood that he will start Sundays until AJ Russell is all the way back.
Poor Defense & Pitching Struggles Lead to a Florida 4-Spot in the Fourth
A day after Tennessee displayed elite defense in a series-clinching win, defensive mistakes paved the way for four Florida runs in the fourth.
Jay Abernathy dropped a fly ball in the left-center gap allowing the leadoff man to reach, then Tennessee reliever Brandon Arvidson gave up a single and one-out walk to load the bases.
Right-hander Tanner Franklin then got the ball for the Vols, giving up a two-run double on his first pitch to give Florida a 2-1 lead.
After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases again for Florida, Reese Chapman dropped a line drive, leading to another Florida run. It was ruled a fielder’s choice, though, as Chapman threw the runner who was at first out at second.
Florida’s fourth and final run of the inning came when Florida’s Ty Evans, who had doubled, scored while Luke Heyman got caught in a pickle between first and second base.
“It was frustrating the way that it went down,” Vitello said when looking back on the fourth inning. “Jay’s (Jay Abernathy) was probably the most difficult of all of them. I think part of the problem was Dean (Curley) and Reese (Chapman) had a chance to catch and then throw after, so that’s just my perspective. Then the first-and-third (situation) was mishandled poorly.”
“So it’s one thing to give up runs, but it’s another thing how we got there. It was a walk and not making a catch and not making a catch… It was a wacky inning. You’ve got to regroup. Our players need to not pay attention to me when I get too emotional from that situation and just keep fighting, because nine innings is a long time.”
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Cannon Peebles’ Big Hit Gives Tennessee the Lead in the Sixth
Tennessee struck first in the third inning on a Dean Curley RBI groundout to score Jay Abernathy but quickly lost the lead in the fourth. The Vols would chip away at the Gators’ lead in the fourth and fifth with a Reese Chapman bases-loaded walk and Gavin Kilen solo homer, respectively.
UT was able to regain the lead in the sixth off the bat of Cannon Peebles, who didn’t start but pinch-hit in the fifth then caught the rest of the way.
After walks from Manny Marin and Abernathy, Peebles roped a two-run double to right field to give Tennessee a 5-4 lead.
Given his recent inconsistencies at the plate, Peebles’ go-ahead double was a big moment for the junior catcher.
Abernathy’s speed was on full display on Peebles’ double, too, as he scored all the way from first and just beat the throw home.
The true freshman’s speed is his most dangerous trait and led to a pair of Tennessee runs Sunday, as he used his elite speed to advance to third on a Stone Lawless single in the third, which allowed Curley to score him on a ground ball.
Dylan Loy Settles Things Out of the Bullpen & Snead Slams the Door
Sophomore lefty Dylan Loy got the ball to open the fifth inning and turned in an incredible 3.0-inning relief performance.
Loy allowed just two baserunners in his outing while striking out five and walking none. He also earned the win on the day, improving to a 3-0 record on the year.
The Pigeon Forge native has been a key bullpen arm all year, but his appearances have been short. In a longer relief appearance, Loy provided a much-needed presence on the mound after things had unraveled a bit in the fourth.
“It was massive,” Vitello said when reflecting on Loy’s outing. “Dylan Loy was our best battler today.”
Junior right-hander Nate Snead got the ball to begin the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings to close things out, earning his third save of the season.
After Tennessee’s offense added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with a two-run Reese Chapman home run, Florida brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth. But Snead got a fly out and three-pitch strikeout to slam the door as he’s done so many times as a Vol.
Snead’s appearance marked his second of the weekend, too, as he threw 37 pitches in a fantastic 3.2-inning relief outing Friday.
Up Next
Tennessee is back in action Tuesday against ETSU at 5 p.m. ET in Lindsey Nelson Stadium before heading to Alabama for a three-game series.
