SCORE: Tennessee 10, Alabama 7 | FINAL
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No. 1 Tennessee baseball (20-2, 3-1 SEC) is set to battle the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide (22-1, 4-0 SEC) Friday night in Tuscaloosa in game two of a three-game series.
First pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is at 7:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
For a full preview of the Alabama series, including information on how to watch all three games and a prediction, click HERE.
Tennessee enters Friday’s contest coming off a 6-5 series-opening loss Thursday night against the Tide. The Vols could not overcome a five-run second inning from Alabama and came up just short.
Liam Doyle wasn’t his usual dominant self but bounced back well after a poor start, saving the bullpen. Dylan Loy was incredible in two innings out of the bullpen. Read more about Tennessee’s series-opening loss below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Fails to Overcome Early Deficit, Loses Series Opener at Alabama
Tennessee enters the Alabama series coming off its first loss of the season. The Vols dropped a midweek game to ETSU Tuesday night, 7-6, in 10 innings. The Vols had key performances from Hunter Ensley and Brayden Krenzel but two late, costly homers proved to be the difference.
After a 20-0 start, Tennessee has lost two straight and will aim to even the series with a win over the Tide Friday.
In the ETSU loss, Kilen suffered a lower-body injury when an ETSU player slid into him. The star second baseman remains OUT after missing game one as well. Tony Vitello said in Thursday’s in-game interview that Kilen is dealing with a hamstring issue and is “day-to-day.” UT’s coach said the most Kilen would do this series is pinch hit.
Prior to the midweek loss, Tennessee swept Florida in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols used an elite relief outing from Nate Snead, solid start from Liam Doyle and a handful of crucial hits to earn a 5-3 series-opening win. Tennessee then run-ruled Florida 10-0 on Saturday behind an elite Marcus Phillips start before winning the series finale, 7-4.
With his complete-game shutout in Tennessee’s 10-0 win last Saturday, Phillips earned Co-SEC Pitcher of the Week honors with Alabama’s Bobby Alcock, who was tremendous in a 7.0-inning start in a series-sweeping win over Texas A&M.
Following the sweep of the Gators, Tennessee became the consensus No. 1 team in the country.
RANKINGS: Tennessee Baseball The Consensus Top Team In Nation Following Sweep Of Florida
The worst part of Tennessee’s undefeated season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge last Monday.
In response, Osuna penned a letter to the NCAA requesting they make things right and grant him eligibility.
Read more about the court’s decision and its impact on Osuna HERE.
With Osuna still ineligible, Andrew Fischer figures to get the vast majority of reps at first base. With Fischer playing first instead of third base, his natural position, Manny Marin and Dalton Bargo will get the majority of opportunities at third.
Injury/Availability Notes
Tennessee is relatively healthy but not 100%. See notable injuries/unavailabilities below.
- 2B Gavin Kilen is OUT with a lower-body injury. He suffered it against ETSU when a runner slid into him. The most Kilen will do in the Alabama series is pinch-hit, per head coach Tony Vitello.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- RHP AJ Russell is fine and did not suffer a setback after making his return from UCL surgery against North Alabama, but Tennessee is exercising caution and likely won’t ramp up his action until April.
- 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
Alabama has had a very hot start to the season. Before the Tennessee series, the Tide are coming off a road sweep of Texas A&M that they capped off with a 2-0 win in the series finale. Day three pitching was the worry for the Tide entering the season, but Bobby Alcock shoved in a 7.0-inning start.
Alabama also has arguably the best player in the nation in infielder Justin Lebron. Lebron is hitting .360 on the season with 12 home runs, which is tied for the most in the NCAA. He’s also hit six doubles, one triple, and stole five bases.
The Tide own series sweeps over NDSU and Bradley in addition to A&M as well as a series win over Presbyterian. Alabama’s only loss of the season came to Presbyterian in the series finale. The Tide also beat NC State, Ohio State and Coastal Carolina in the Jacksonville Classic in February.
Alabama was picked to finish 13th in the SEC in the 2025 Preseason Poll, and the Tide have exceeded expectations thus far. Head coach Rob Vaughn is entering his second season in Tuscaloosa and boasts three Preseason All-Conference selections in SS Justin Lebron, DH/UTL Will Hodo and starting pitcher Zane Adams, who started Thursday.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Suffered First Loss of the Season
For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep Florida, click here.
VIDEO: Tony Vitello Reacts to Tennessee Baseball Loss to ETSU
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:
3B Dean Curley (R)
LF Jay Abernathy (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
DH Levi Clark (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
C Stone Lawless (R)
2B Manny Marin (R)
SS Ariel Antigua (R)
Lineup Notes:
- With Gavin Kilen OUT with a lower-body injury, Manny Marin starts at second base.
- Dean Curley is starting at third instead of short.
- Ariel Antigua gets the nod at short with Curley working at third.
- Antigua’s fourth SEC start of his career.
- Jay Abernathy moves up in the order to the two-hole with Kilen out. He also hit second Thursday.
- Abernathy makes more sense there than Fischer or Chapman given the style of play.
- Stone Lawless working behind the plate after Peebles started Thursday.
ALABAMA STARTING NINE:
RF Bryce Fowler (L)
SS Justin Lebron (R)
DH Coleman Mizell (L)
3B Jason Torres (R)
1B Will Hodo (L)
2B Brennen Norton (R)
LF Kade Snell (L)
C Will Plattner (R)
CF Richie Bonomolo Jr. (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP Marcus Phillips (2-0, 1.04 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 1 CG, 26.0 IP, 15 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 BB, 32 K, 5 XBH, .163 opp. batting avg., 0.85 WHIP)
vs.
Crimson Tide R-So. RHP Riley Quick (4-0, 1.33 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 20.1 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 20 K, 4 XBH, .167 opp. batting avg., 0.84 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Phillips continued to start in a game two settings. The junior shoved in a 7.0-inning complete game shutout last Saturday against Florida when the Vols run-ruled the Gators.
- The entire bullpen is available for the Vols after Liam Doyle bounced back from a bad start Thursday.
- Quick has been really good as a day two starter for Alabama.
- He is yet to give up more than two runs in an appearance this season. He is coming off a great start at Texas A&M (1 H, 0 R in 5.0 IP)
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange shirts grey pants
Alabama: Pinstripes
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Alabama leads by 10 or more runs at any point after the seventh inning, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Dean Curley singles up the middle.
-Jay Abernathy works a walk.
-Hunter Ensley slaps an RBI single to right field. Curley scores. Abernathy to third.
Ensley steals second.
-Andrew Fischer sends an RBI single through the left side to score Abernathy. Ensley to third.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
-Reese Chapman reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to SS. Ensley scores. Fischer out at second, 6U. Chapman safe at first.
- Throw was wide as Tennessee avoided the double play.
–Chapman caught stealing second, 2-6.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Bryce Fowler out at first 2B to P.
-Justin Lebron grounds out to SS.
-Coleman Mizell grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.
-Manny Marin singles through the left side, advances to second on a fielding error by LF, advances to third on the error.
- Disastrous play for Alabama. Ball bounced off the left fielder’s glove. Took an odd hop. Marin takes advantage.
-Ariel Antigua fouls out to 1B.
-Dean Curley works a walk.
-Jay Abernathy delivers an RBI single through the right side to score Marin. Curley to second.
-Hunter Ensley knocks an RBI single to right field. Curley scores. Abernathy to third.
- Curley just beats the throw home. Great throw by the right fielder.
Ensley steals second.
- Two stolen bases for Ensley this weekend.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk.
- Bases loaded with two outs for Levi Clark.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
- Clark is 2-18 in his last seven games (including tonight)
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Jason Torres pops up to 2B.
-Will Hodo flies out to CF.
-Brennen Norton HBP.
- First baserunner for Alabama tonight.
-Kade Snell strikes out looking.
- Phillips wins a six-pitch battle. Snell fouled off four pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 0
3rd Inning:
T3
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP JT Blackwood (2-0, 3.71 ERA) on to pitch for Quick*
- Alabama RHP Riley Quick entered the contest having given up three runs on 11 hits in 20.1 innings across 5 starts this season. He allowed 5 runs off 6 hits to the Vols in 2 innings.
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
-Stone Lawless pops up to SS.
-Manny Marin works a walk.
-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Will Plattner singles on a grounder to shortstop.
-Richie Bonomolo singles to right-center field. Plattner advances to third.
Bonomolo steals second. Manny Marin throwing error to third base. Plattner scores. Bonomolo advances to third.
-Fowler grounds out to second base. Bonomolo scores.
-Lebron flies out to center field.
-Mizell flies out to left field.
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Curley flies out to right field.
-Abernathy flies out to left field.
-Ensley singles to left field.
-Fischer lines out to right field.
B4
-Torres grounds out to third base.
-Hodo walks.
-Norton strikes out swinging.
-Snell singles to left field.
-Platter grounds into a 5-3 fielder’s choice.
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 2
5th Inning:
T5
RHP Austin Morris (1-0, 5.87 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 7.2 IP) is in to pitch for Alabama
-Clark strikes out swinging.
-Chapman flies out to right field.
-Lawless strikes out swinging.
B5
-Bonomolo is hit-by a pitch.
Bonomolo advances to second base on a wild pitch.
-Fowler grounds out to first base (3-1).
-Lebron drives in a run with a RBI single to left field. Bonomolo scores.
-Mizell strikes out looking.
Lebron steals second and advances to third on a throwing error by Stone Lawless.
-Torres walks.
LHP Dylan Loy (3-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.27 WHIP, 11 IP) is coming in to replace Phillips.
-Hodo walks. Torres advances to second.
-Brennen strikes out swinging to strand the bases loaded.
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 3
6th Inning:
T6
-Marin grounds out to shortstop.
-Antigua strikes out swinging.
-Curley strikes out swinging
B6
RHP Nate Snead (1-0, 0.47 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) is coming in to pitch for Tennessee.
-Snell infield single to third base.
-Hunter Ensley makes a nice diving catch in the center field to take away a hit from Plattner.
-Bonomolo grounds into a fielder’s choice 5-4 fielder’s choice.
Bonomolo steals second.
-Fowler strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 3
7th Inning:
T7
RHP Tyler Fay (0-0, 0.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 12.2 IP) is coming in to pitch for Alabama
-Abernathy flies out to center field
-Ensley pops out.
-Fischer walks.
Dalton Bargo pinch hits for Levi Clark
-Bargo doubles deep to right-center field. Fischer scores.
-Chapman strikes out swinging
B7
-Lebron singles to left field.
Lebron steals second.
-Mizell grounds out to second base. Lebron advances to third.
-Torres singles to center field. Lebron scores.
-Hodo grounds into a 4-6-3 inning ending double play.
Score: Vols 6, Crimson Tide 4
8th Inning:
T8
-Lawless strikes out looking.
-Marin strikes out swinging.
-Antigua singles to shortstop.
-Dean Curley two-run homer to left-center field. Antigua scores. Curley scores.
LHP Beau Bryans (1-0, 5.06 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 5.1 IP) is coming in to pitch for Alabama
-Abernathy walks.
-Ensley is hit-by a pitch. Abernathy advances to second.
Abernathy steals third with a great slide.
Ensley steals second.
-Fischer walks.
LHP Connor Ball (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3 IP) is coming in to pitch for Alabama.
-Bargo singles to center field. Abernathy scores. Ensley scores.
-Chapman strikes out swinging.
B8
-Norton softly lines out to short stop.
-Snell flies out to left field.
-Plattner is hit by a 3-2 pitch.
-Bonomolo singles to left field. Plattner advances to third base.
-Fowler singles to center field. Plattner scores.
Lawless catches Fowler stealing second to end the inning.
Score: Vols 10, Crimson Tide 5
9th Inning:
T9
RHP Packy Bradley-Cooney is coming in to pitch for Alabama
-Lawless strikes out swinging.
-Marin grounds out to shortstop.
-Antigua walks.
-Curley walks. Antigua advances to second.
RHP Jack Ketchum (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1 IP) is coming in to pitch
-Abernathy grounds out to second base.
B9
-Lebron strikes out swinging.
-Mizell hits a solo homer to right field. Mizell scores.
-Torres walks.
-Hodo singles to left field. Torres advances to second base.
-Norton singles to center field. Torres scores. Hodo advances to second.
LHP Andrew Behnke (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 IP) is coming in to pitch
-Snell lines out to left field.
RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.2 IP) is coming in to pitch.
-Plattner strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 10, Crimson Tide 7
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Crimson Tide 7
