SCORE: Tennessee 14, Queens 3 | FINAL

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

No. 1 Tennessee baseball (22-2, 5-1 SEC) is set to battle the Queens Royals (4-18, 2-4 ASUN) Tuesday in a midweek contest in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Tennessee enters Tuesday’s contest coming off a series win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Vols dropped the series opener, 6-5, before exploding for 19 runs across the next two games to win 10-7 in game two and 9-2 in the series finale.

Hunter Ensley, Dalton Bargo, Tegan Kuhns Brayden Krenzel, Ariel Antigua, Dylan Loy and others all have big performances in the series. Read recaps of all three games in Tuscaloosa below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Fails to Overcome Early Deficit, Loses Series Opener at Alabama

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Takes Game Two To Even Up Weekend Series At Alabama

GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Coasts Past Alabama To Win Weekend Series

Following the Alabama series win, Tennessee remained the No. 1 team in four of five polls. The NCBWA poll was the only poll to drop Tennessee this week, moving the Vols down two spots to No. 3.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Rankings After Suffering First Loss Of Season

Prior to the Alabama series, the Vols dropped a midweek game to ETSU last Tuesday night, 7-6, in 10 innings. The ETSU marked Tennessee’s first of the season, as the Vols won their first 20 games, a program record.

In the ETSU loss, star second baseman Gavin Kilen suffered a hamstring injury when an ETSU player slid into him. The star second baseman was OUT for all three games in Tuscaloosa and is not in the lineup Tuesday.

Head coach Tony Vitello said Saturday that Kilen will have to work his way back from the hamstring injury and that it’s “at least an eight, nine, 10-day thing.” Vitello said Kilen will pinch-hit before doing anything else then probably DH before starting in the field.

Manny Marin will most likely be Tennessee’s primary second baseman with Kilen sidelined. In Friday and Saturday’s wins over Alabama, Ariel Antigua started at shortstop and Dean Curley moved to third base. Dalton Bargo is also an option to start at third.

The worst part of Tennessee’s season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge at the beginning of March.

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.

Injury/Availability Notes

• 2B Gavin Kilen is still out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. He will be slowly worked back into the fold.
• 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

Queens has struggled so far this season, winning just four games. Two of the Royals’ wins came in a series win over Appalachian State to open the season. After a 13-game losing streak, Queens then won two-of-three games in a weekend series over West Georgia, who Tennessee narrowly beat a couple of weeks ago.

After the West Georgia series win, Queens was swept by North Florida last weekend. Queens is 0-8 vs. Power-4 competition this year and 0-4 against the SEC. South Carolina beat the Royals in a midweek affair, and Mississippi State swept a weekend series.

UNC Asheville is only other common opponent Tennessee and Queens share. The Bulldogs beat the Royals two weeks ago in a 15-10 midweek contest.

Queens was picked to finish 9th in the ASUN this season. Head coach Jake Hendrick’s second team at Queens has zero Preseason All-Conference selections and should be well overmatched Tuesday in Knoxville.

Expect a stress-free win for the Vols and for Tony Vitello to let many players see playing time.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Won the Alabama Series

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series win over Alabama, click here.

VIDEO: Tennessee Baseball’s Tony Vitello, Hunter Ensley React to Vols’ Series-Clinching Win Over Alabama

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

3B Dean Curley (R)

LF Dalton Bargo (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

C Stone Lawless (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

2B Chris Newstrom (R)

DH Blake Grimmer (L)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• With Gavin Kilen still out with a lower-body injury, Chris Newstrom gets the nod at second base. His first infield start this season.
• Ariel Antigua stays at shortstop where he has started the last two games. Curley moves over to third.
• Stone Lawless gets the catcher nod today. He started one game in the Alabama series.
• First start for Blake Grimmer in his UT career. Tony Vitello shaking things up going with Grimmer at the DH spot.
• Jay Abernathy, Manny Marin AND Levi Clark all not in the lineup for the first time this season.
  • Marin and Abernathy probably sitting to get other guys reps. Clark is back in a DH competition with Bargo and others due to his recent slump at the plate.

QUEENS STARTING NINE: 

SS Anibal Rivera (L)

2B Jake Barbour (L)

1B Will Budnick (L)

3B Nick Aldefer (R)

LF Tyler Peters (R)

DH Justin Hudson (R)

RF Jay Polite (R)

CF Jacob Grimes (L)

C Matthew Suppa (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols R-Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 6 app., 0 starts, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 4 XBH, .231 opp. batting avg., 1.33 WHIP)

vs.

Royals Fr. RHP Ryan Brown (0-2, 6.86 ERA, 9 app., 1 start, 1 SV, 19.2 IP, 30 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 5 BB, 10 K, 8 XBH (5 HR), .249 opp. batting avg., 1.78 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Sharman’s first start of his Tennessee career. He’s been a bullpen depth piece this season and has not pitched against SEC competition yet.
  • He’s been hit or miss but is coming off two strong performances against St. Bonaventure and West Georgia.
• Brown has been a bullpen arm for Queens this season. His lone start came against West Georgia. He gave up five runs in four innings.
  • He gave up 10 combined runs in 7.1 IP across two appearances vs. West Virginia and Mississippi State, the only P4 competition he’s faced this year.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Pinstripes

Queens: Grey shirts and pants with tan caps

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*NOTES*

• There IS NOT a run-rule tonight.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Anibal Rivera strikes out swinging.

-Jake Barbour strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Will Budnick grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley lines out to RF.

-Dalton Bargo knocks a solo homer to left field.

• 353 feet, 93 mph. A true Lindsey Nelson special.
• Bargo’s 7th HR for Bargo this season.

-Hunter Ensley doubles to left-center.

-Andrew Fischer singles to right field, out at second 9-6.

• Hard-hit ball bounced right off the wall and into the right fielder’s glove, making it easy to catch Fischer at second.

-Stone Lawless pops up to 2B in shallow right field.

• Eventful play. The right fielder and first baseman were in the area and neither called the other off, then the second baseman comes sprinting in to make a sliding catch.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Royals 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Austin Breedlove (1-0, 1.04 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*

-Nick Alderfer strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Peters strikes out looking.

-Justin Hudson strikes out looking on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Reese Chapman doubles to left-center.

• Queens LF Tyler Peters nearly made a diving catch but couldn’t come up with it.

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to 1B unassisted. Chapman to third.

-Blake Grimmer sends an RBI groundout to SS. Chapman scores.

-Ariel Antigua flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Royals 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Bryson Thacker (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*

-Jay Polite strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Jacob Grimes HBP.

-Matthew Suppa grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

• Nice play by Ariel.
• 6-pitch inning for Thacker.
• Tennessee pitchers have faced the minimum through three. Have only thrown 27 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Dean Curley flies out to CF.

-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.

-Hunter Ensley fouls out to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Royals 0

4th Inning: 

T4

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Andrew Behnke (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Thacker*

-Anibal Rivera smacks a solo homer to left-center.

-Jake Barbour singles up the middle.

-Will Budnick fouls out to LF. Barbour to second.

-Nick Alderfer HBP.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Austin Hunley (2-0, 3.52 ERA) on to pitch for Behnke*

-Tyler Peters strikes out swinging.

Runners steal second and third. Barbour scores on a throwing error by C.

• Lawless went to catch Alderfer stealing second but no one was covering the bag. Barbour easily scores on the error that is issued to Lawless.

-Justin Hudson sends an RBI single through the left side.

-Jay Polite strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Andrew Fischer flies out to RF.

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Andrew White (0-0, 7.94 ERA) on to pitch for Brown*

-Stone Lawless works a walk.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

-Chris Newstrom strikes out looking on three pitches.

• Pitcher beat his chest like a gorilla after strike three.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Royals 3

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) on to pitch for Hunley*

-Jacob Grimes strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Matthew Suppa strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Anibal Rivera grounds out to 2B.

• 11-pitch inning for Arvidson.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

-Ariel Antigua flies out to RF.

-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.

-Dalton Bargo HBP. Grimmer to second.

-Hunter Ensley HBP.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Andrew Fischer.

-Andrew Fischer works an RBI walk. Grimmer scores.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Stone Lawless.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Johnny Joseph (0-0, 14.54 ERA) on to pitch for White*

-Stone Lawless works an RBI walk. Bargo scores.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman knocks a two-run single up the middle, advances to second on the throw to third. Lawless to third. Fischer and and Ensley score.

• Queens challenged the ruling of safe at second, and the call STOOD.

-Chris Newstrom is walked on four pitches.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Blake Grimmer.

-Blake Grimmer slaps a two-run single up the middle. Newstrom to third. Chapman and Lawless score.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Royals 3

6th Inning: 

T6

-Jake Barbour strikes out swinging.

-Will Budnick strikes out swinging.

-Nick Alderfer reaches on a throwing error by SS.

• Throw was too far wide and took Fischer off the bag, even though he still caught it. Was a tough play to make anyway. Could’ve been ruled a single.

-Tyler Peters fouls out to RF.

• Diving catch by Chapman. Incredible play.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Dean Curley singles to SS.

• Shortstop stopped the ball from going into the outfield but was too tough a play to make.

*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Curley*

-Dalton Bargo works a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to C. Runners advance to second and third.

-Andrew Fischer cracks a two-run single through the left side.

• Fischer now leads Tennessee with 29 RBIs.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Brodie McFadden (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Joseph*

Fischer steals second.

-Stone Lawless is walked on four pitches.

*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Hunter High HBP.

• Bases loaded with one out for Chris Newstrom.

-Chris Newstrom sends a sac fly to the warning track in left field. Fischer scores.

Runners steal second and third.

Lawless scores on a passed ball. High advances to third on a passed ball.

-Blake Grimmer is walked on four pitches.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Jack Brooker (1-0, 12.08 ERA) on to pitch for McFadden*

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Royals 3

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: So. RHP Thomas Crabtree (1-0, 3.68 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*

*Newstrom to 3B*

*Abernathy to LF*

*High to 1B*

*Colby Backus to CF for Hunter Ensley*

*Brayden Sharp to RF for Dalton Bargo*

*Manny Marin to 2B for Andrew Fischer*

*Levi Clark to C for Stone Lawless*

-Justin Hudson flies out to RF.

-Jay Polite grounds out to SS.

*Chase Fogg pinch-hitting for Jacob Grimes*

-Fogg strikes out swinging on three pitches, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Fogg to CF*

*Lenox Lively to C for Matthew Suppa*

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.

-Manny Marin flies out to the warning track in left field.

-Colby Backus SMOKES a double to left field.

• First hit of the year for Backus.

-Brayden Sharp is walked on four pitches.

-Levi Clark pops up to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Royals 3

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Ryan Combs (0-0, 5.48 ERA) on to pitch for Crabtree*

-Lenox Lively strikes out swinging.

-Anibal Rivera flies out to CF.

-Jake Barbour strikes out looking.

• 1-2-3 inning for Combs. He’s been struggling as of late. Needed that.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Landry Jurecka (1-3, 4.45 ERA) on to pitch for Brooker*

-Hunter High singles up the middle.

-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging.

-Blake Grimmer hammers a two-run homer to right-center.

• 380 feet, 102 mph.
• 3rd HR for Grimmer this season.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 3B.

-Jay Abernathy singles to center field.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 14, Royals 3

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: So. LHP Luke Payne (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*

-Will Budnick strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Nick Alderfer legs out an infield single to 2B.

Alderfer advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Tyler Peters is walked on four pitches.

-Justin Hudson strikes out looking.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Nic Abraham (1-0, 8.10 ERA) on to pitch for Payne*

-Jay Polite singles off of Abraham’s foot. Peters to second. Alderfer to third.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Chase Fogg

-Chase Fogg strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 14, Royals 3

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 14, Queens Royals 3