*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*
Score: Vols 6, Cardinal 4 | FINAL
Tennessee baseball (43-21) is set to take on Stanford (44-19) at Charles Schwab Field in an elimination game. First pitch for Tennessee’s second game of the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, is set for 2 p.m. ET.
ESPN has the broadcast. You can also watch the WatchESPN stream.
The Vols enter the elimination game coming off a 6-3 loss to LSU on Saturday night. Tennessee’s offense struggled mightily against the great Paul Skenes until the eighth inning, but the Vols’ comeback bid fell short.
Stanford enters the game coming off a close 3-2 loss to Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinal led 2-1 for the majority of the game until Wake Forest was able to take the lead in the eighth inning.
If Tennessee beats Stanford, they will face off against the loser of Monday night’s Wake Forest vs. LSU matchup on Tuesday night. If Tennessee loses, their season is over.
For all of RTI’s Tennessee baseball coverage leading up to the Monday afternoon matchup, including a full game preview, LSU game recap podcast and how Tennessee is no stranger to this situation, click here.
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Maui Ahuna
CF Hunter Ensley
LF Jared Dickey
DH Griffin Merritt
2B Christian Moore
1B Blake Burke
3B Zane Denton
RF Christian Scott
C Cal Stark
Lineup Notes:
–Some changes in the order this time around.
–Merritt moves back up to cleanup spot, Moore moves down to five-hole.
–Burke moves up to six-hole, Denton moves down to seven-hole.
STANFORD STARTING NINE:
CF Eddie Park
3B Tommy Troy
1B Carter Graham
RF Braden Montgomery
LF Alberto Rios
C Malcolm Moore
2B Drew Bowser
DH Owen Cobb
SS Temo Becerra
Pitching Matchup
Vols Jr. RHP Chase Dollander (7-6, 4.50 ERA, 16 app., 16 starts, 1 CG, 86.0 IP, 79 H, 45 R, 43 ER, 28 BB, 118 K, .239 opp. batting avg., 1.24 WHIP)
vs.
Cardinal Sr. LHP Quinn Mathews (10-4, 3.60 ERA, 18 app., 17 starts, 2 CG, 120.0 IP, 106 H, 55 R, 48 ER, 39 BB, 152 K, .235 opp. batting avg., 1.21 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
Mathews threw 156 pitches last Sunday against Texas, comfortably setting a career-high. However, Mathews has only thrown under 100 pitches in a start once all season. Additionally, in only two starts has he thrown under 110 pitches.
While 156 pitches is on another level, Mathews should still be able to go deep based off his track record.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
*Stanford is the home team*
Why? Stanford and Tennessee were each the away team in their respective first round matchups. Stanford now gets to be the home team this time around because they are the higher seed.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Maui Ahuna hits a leadoff single to right center on the first pitch of the game.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.
-Jared Dickey ropes a single down the RF line. Ahuna advances to third. Runners on the corners with one out.
-Griffin Merritt flies out to LF. Maui Ahuna is easily tagged out at the plate trying to score. Great throw by the Stanford left fielder, but still not a great decision at all to go home as the catch was made more in shallow left field. Missed opportunity early for Tennessee.
End of Top Half.
B1
-Eddie Park lines out to SS.
-Tommy Troy flies out to CF.
-Carter Graham works a walk on a full count.
-Braden Montgomery singles to LF. Graham advances to second.
-Baserunners steal second and third. Throwing error by Cal Stark attempting to catch Montgomery at second allows Graham to score. Montgomery stays at second.
-Alberto Rios smacks an RBI double into left field. Montgomery scores.
-Malcolm Moore flies out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Cardinal 2
2nd Inning:
T2
-Christian Moore pops up to SS in shallow LF.
-Blake Burke singles past the shortstop.
-Zane Denton knocks a single into left field. Burke advances to second.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging.
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B2
-Drew Bowser strikes out swinging.
-Owen Cobb flies out to LF.
-Temo Becerra grounds out to SS.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Cardinal 2
3rd Inning:
T3
-Maui Ahuna strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.
-Jared Dickey flies out to shallow RF.
10-pitch, 1-2-3 inning for Mathews.
End of Top Half.
B3
-Eddie Park is plunked on the first pitch of the inning.
-Park steals second as Stark drops the ball when trying to make the throw.
-Tommy Troy is walked after a long at-bat.
-Carter Graham strikes out swinging.
-Braden Montgomery sends an RBI single up the middle to score Park. Troy advances to third.
-Alberto Rios knocks a sac fly to CF.
-Malcolm Moore grounds out to p.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Cardinal 4
4th Inning:
T4
-Griffin Merritt strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore flies out to the warning track in LF.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
End of Top Half.
B4
-Drew Bowser singles up the middle.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Chase Burns (4-3, 4.64 ERA) on to pitch for Dollander*
-Owen Cobb’s bunt attempt pops up to Stark in foul territory.
-Temo Becerra strikes out looking.
-Eddie Park flies out to CF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 0, Cardinal 4
5th Inning:
T5
-Zane Denton singles on the first pitch of the AB.
-Christian Scott strikes out swinging. Ugly swing on the third strike.
-Cal Stark singles to LF. His first hit since game three vs. Charlotte in the Clemson Regional. Denton advances to second.
-Maui Ahuna slaps a single to LF. Bases loaded for Hunter Ensley with one out.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to the middle of LF for a sac fly. Denton tags up and is just safe at home plate. Stanford is challenging the play at home plate and whether or not Denton left early or not. Both original calls CONFIRMED.
-Jared Dickey delivers with an RBI single into shallow center field to score Stark. Ahuna advances to second.
-Griffin Merritt singles to LF to load the bases for Christian Moore.
-Christian Moore comes through with a two-run single into shallow center. Massive hit from Moore. Tie ballgame.
-Blake Burke is walked to load the bases for Zane Denton.
*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Drew Dowd (9-3, 4.62 ERA) on to pitch for Mathews*
-Zane Denton strikes out swinging. Third strike was ball four that bounced and hit him in the foot. Tough end to a great AB.
End of Top Half.
B5
-Chase Burns strikes out Tommy Troy after a competitive AB to open the bottom half.
-Carter Graham pops up to 2B.
-Braden Montgomery strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 4, Cardinal 4
6th Inning:
T6
-Christian Scott flies out to LF.
-Cal Stark HBP.
-Maui Ahuna strikes out looking. Poor strike two call.
-Hunter Ensley is HBP. Runners on first and second with two outs for Jared Dickey.
-Jared Dickey flies out to RF in foul territory.
End of Top Half.
B6
-Alberto Rios singles into left field.
-Malcolm Moore strikes out looking after an eight-pitch at-bat.
-Drew Bowser strikes out looking.
-Owen Cobb lays down a great bunt single down the 3B line. Burns’ throw was late. Rios advances to second.
-Temo Becerra lines out to LF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 4, Cardinal 4
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Matt Scott (5-4, 4.86 ERA) on to pitch for Dowd*
-Griffin Merritt works a leadoff walk.
-Christian Moore flies out to CF.
-Blake Burke doubles down the LF line. Merritt advances to third. Two-hit day for Blake Burke.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Brandt Pancer on to pitch for Scott*
-Zane Denton connects for an RBI groundout to SS. Merritt scores. Burke advances to third.
-Burke scores on a wild pitch. Big mistake from Stanford.
-Christian Scott strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B7
-Eddie Park grounds out to 2B.
-Tommy Troy grounds out to SS.
-Carter Graham strikes out swinging.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Cardinal 4
8th Inning:
T8
-Cal Stark flies out to RF.
-Maui Ahuna singles past the shortstop.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF in shallow RF.
-Ahuna caught stealing at second 2-6. Nice throw by Stanford catcher Malcolm Moore.
End of Top Half.
B8
-Braden Montgomery strikes out swinging, out c to 1b.
-Alberto Rios strikes out swinging.
-Malcolm Moore lines out to RF.
End of Bottom Half.
Score: Vols 6, Cardinal 4
9th Inning:
T9
-Jared Dickey rips a leadoff single through the right side.
-Griffin Merritt grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
-Christian Moore strikes out looking.
End of Top Half.
B9
-Drew Bowser strikes out looking.
-Owen Cobb fouls out to 1B.
-Temo Becerra flies out to CF.
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 6, Stanford Cardinal 4
