It took plenty of drama for Tennessee baseball to even up its weekend series with Alabama on Friday night. But it took no drama for the Vols to clinch the weekend series on Saturday as Tennessee rolled the Crimson Tide 9-2 in its first rubber match of the year.
Tennessee got strong outings on the mound from a pair of freshmen while its offense was a constant forced. Here’s how they go it done.
Dalton Bargo Stays Hot
Tennessee utility man Dalton Bargo didn’t start in game two on Friday night but did come in clutch off the bench, hitting a pinch hit RBI double and staying in the game before driving in a pair of runs with a single in his next at-bat.
Bargo picked up right where he left off on Sunday, hitting in the five-hole as the designated hitter. The lefty led off the second inning with a triple off the right field wall and scored one pitch later on a Reese Chapman sac fly to left field.
Then Bargo’s send at-bat was the most eventful of the game. Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn came out of the dugout to argue that his catcher caught a two-strike pitch that Bargo fouled off. Home plate umpire Kevin Sweeney ejected Vaughn during the argument, effectively firing up Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Bargo was unbothered by the interruption. He looked at ball two on the first pitch back before hammering the seventh pitch of the at-bat down the right field line for a solo home run. In Bargo’s first four at-bats after pinch hitting on Friday, he hit for the cycle and drove home runs in three of the plate appearances.
The junior didn’t record another hit but worked a few more competitive at-bats to finish off a strong weekend.
Tegan Kuhns Fantastic In Longest Outing Of Career
Talented freshman pitcher Tegan Kuhns entered Saturday’s series finale with a career-long outing of 2.2 innings after slowly getting worked up after missing the first 10 days of the season.
Kuhns had a new career long outing before Alabama’s first batter reached base. The lanky right hander retired the first 11 batters he faced before Coleman Mizell worked a two-out walk in the fourth inning to give the Crimson Tide their first baserunner.
The freshman pitcher got out of the fourth inning with a fly out to left field but wouldn’t get much further in the game. Kuhns walked Alabama’s leadoff hitter in the fifth inning then a one-out single to right field ended the freshman’s day.
Fellow freshman Brayden Krenzel got a big opportunity relieving Kuhns and made the most of it by retiring both batters he faced on five total pitches while stranding the runner on third.
Kuhns first road start in his college career was his best outing to date. He allowed one hit and two walks in 4.1 scoreless innings pitched.
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Two More Lesser Used Vols Have Big Games
Dalton Bargo has been in-and-out of the lineup for Tennessee so far this season and put his best foot forward in a pair of strong performances to close the weekend. But Bargo wasn’t the only lesser used Vol to have a big day.
Krenzel hadn’t pitched in Tennessee’s first five SEC games this season but made the post of his opportunities on Saturday. After getting out of the fifth inning jam, Krenzel stayed in the game and almost went the distance for Tennessee. The Crimson Tide finally got on the board against Krenzel in the eighth inning after he worked scoreless sixth and seventh innings.
The Ohio native allowed just four baserunners while striking out six batters in 4.1 innings pitched. Tennessee’s coaches were high on Krenzel in the preseason and the right hander made the absolute most of his first big SEC outing.
Krenzel did have help behind him in starting shortstop Ariel Antigua who made a number of difficult plays look routine. The sophomore started on both Friday and Saturday due to Gavin Kilen missing the series due to a hamstring injury.
Antigua always looks good defensively. His presence at the plate is the bigger question. The middle infielder had a strong weekend at the plater and hit three-for-four with a walk, double and an RBI single. Antigua made the most of two starting chances over the weekend and proved he was more than capable.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday night when they’ll face Queens in a midweek matchup. First pitch is at 6 p.m. ET and the SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
