SCORE: Tennessee 11, Alabama 3 | FINAL
*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT- BY AT-BAT FEED*
Fifth-ranked Tennessee baseball (17-1) is set to battle fourteenth-ranked Alabama (15-2) in Tuscaloosa at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Friday night in game one of a three-game series. Friday night’s contest will serve as the SEC opener for both sides.
First pitch is at 8 p.m. ET on SECN+ after being moved back one hour (originally 7 p.m. ET) due to rain in the area. Reminder that the online broadcasts can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. You can also watch or listen to the game using the links.
The Vols enter the matchup on a 16-game winning streak, with their last 15 wins coming in Knoxville at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee’s offense has been incredible so far this season, totaling 49 home runs and 196 runs. Tennessee’s win streak includes series sweeps over UAlbany, Bowling Green and Illinois along with wins over Kansas State and Baylor.
In addition to Tennessee’s electric offense, the Vols’ pitching staff has been above average so far this season, with Jacksonville State transfer AJ Causey being a significant reason why. Causey, who has started the past two Fridays for Tennessee, will get the ball in the SEC opener against the Tide.
As for Alabama, the Tide have had a similar start to the season as Tennessee, going 2-1 in a tournament while holding serve in all but one home game. In fact, the Tide’s lone loss in Tuscaloosa came on Tuesday against Southern Miss.
But there’s no question this game will be the toughest test of the season for each side.
More From RTI: No. 5 Tennessee Baseball at No. 14 Alabama: How To Watch, Projected Pitching Matchups, More
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:
2B Christian Moore (R)
1B Blake Burke (L)
3B Billy Amick (R)
RF Kavares Tears (L)
LF Dylan Dreiling (L)
DH Robin Villeneuve (R)
SS Dean Curley (R)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Burke returns to the starting lineup after missing Tuesday’s game against Eastern Kentucky due to suspension.
- Peebles gets the catcher start. Expect him and Cal Stark to rotate this weekend.
- Outfield the same as it was in the season opener after a lot of rotation in non-conference play.
- Villeneuve gets the DH start. Expect him and Dalton Bargo to see action there this weekend.
ALABAMA STARTING NINE:
3B Gage Miller
CF TJ McCants
LF Ian Petrutz
RF Evan Sleight
DH William Hamiter
C Mac Guscette
1B Will Hodo
SS Justin Lebron
2B Bryce Eblin
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP AJ Causey (3-0, 1.31 ERA, 4 app., 2 starts, 1 SV, 20.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 30 K, .164 opp. batting avg., 0.73 WHIP)
vs.
Crimson Tide Jr. RHP Ben Hess (3-0, 2.65 ERA, 4 app., 4 starts, 17.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 28 K, .172 opp. batting avg., 0.94 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Causey starts for the third straight Friday. The Jacksonville State transfer has been tremendous so far this season.
- AJ Russell, who started the first two Fridays of the season, is available for Tennessee this weekend, but it remains to be seen if he will start on Sunday or come out of the bullpen.
- Along with Sunday starter Greg Farone, Hess has been a staple in Alabama’s rotation and has had a strong 2024 campaign thus far outside of last week against Lipscomb, when he gave up three earned runs in four innings.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Christian Moore pops up to SS.
-Blake Burke singles through the right side.
-Billy Amick works a walk.
-Kavares Tears strikes out looking on three pitches.
-Dylan Dreiling is walked to load the bases.
-Robin Villeneuve works a bases-loaded walk and the Vols are on the board.
-Dean Curley strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Gage Miller strikes out swinging.
-TJ McCants homers to CF.
-Ian Petrutz makes it back to back homers with a solo shot to RF.
-Evan Sleight strikes out swinging.
-William Hamiter strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Crimson Tide 2
2nd Inning:
T2
-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 3B.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking.
-Christian Moore strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Mac Guscette strikes out swinging.
-Will Hodo singles up the middle.
-Justin Lebron strikes out looking.
-Bryce Eblin singles through the left side. Hodo advances to second.
-Gage Miller works a walk to load the bases.
-TJ McCants strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Crimson Tide 2
3rd Inning:
T3
-Blake Burke grounds out to 2B.
-Billy Amick works a walk on a full count.
-Kavares Tears pops up to SS.
-Dylan Dreiling smokes a two-run homer to right center.
-Robin Villeneuve works a walk on a full count.
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Ian Petrutz lines out to CF.
-Evan Sleight flies out to CF.
-William Hamiter flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 2
4th Inning:
T4
-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore HBP.
*Pitching change: RHP Aidan Moza (2-0, 6.39 ERA) on to pitch for Hess*
-Blake Burke greets Moza with a two-run home run to right field.
-Billy Amick grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Mac Guscette grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Will Hodo grounds out to SS.
-Justin Lebron grounds out to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 2
5th Inning:
T5
-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling triples to right center. Big night for Dreiling.
-Robin Villeneuve strikes out swinging.
-Dean Curley works a walk.
-Cannon Peebles smacks an RBI single to left center. Curley advances to third, Dreiling scored.
*Dalton Bargo pinch-hitting for Ensley*
Peebles steals second.
-Dalton Bargo rips a two-run double to right center.
*Pitching change: RHP Coulson Buchanan (1-1, 5.40 ERA) on to pitch for Moza*
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
*Tears to CF*
*Bargo to RF*
-Bryce Eblin out at first 1B to P.
-Gage Miller flies out to RF.
-TJ McCants legs out a single on a bunt.
-Ian Petrutz singles to 2B. Back-to-back infield singles for the Tide. McCants advances to second.
-Evan Sleight strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Crimson Tide 2
6th Inning:
T6
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.
-Billy Amick singles through the left side.
-Kavares Tears smacks a two-run home run to center field.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to CF.
-Robin Villeneuve grounds out to 3B.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-William Hamiter grounds out to SS.
-Mac Guscette grounds out to SS. Great throw by Curley.
-Will Hodo strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 10, Crimson Tide 2
7th Inning:
T7
-Dean Curley lines out to RF.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.
-Dalton Bargo singles through the right side.
-Christian Moore strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Reese Chapman to RF for Bargo*
-Justin Lebron grounds out to P.
-Bryce Eblin lines out to LF.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Andrew Behnke (0-0, 2.00 ERA) on to pitch for Causey*
-Gage Miller pops up to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 10, Crimson Tide 2
8th Inning:
T8
*Pitching change: RHP Pierce George (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Buchanan*
-Blake Burke singles through the left side.
-Billy Amick singles to left center. Burke advances to third.
Burke scores on a wild pitch. Amick advances to second on the wild pitch but is thrown out at third.
-Kavares Tears is walked on four pitches.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to LF.
-Robin Villeneuve strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-TJ McCants HBP.
McCants advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Ian Petrutz strikes out swinging.
-Evan Sleight strikes out looking.
*Mason Swinney pinch-hitting for Hamiter*
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (0-1, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Behnke*
-Swinney works a walk.
-Mac Guscette strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 11, Crimson Tide 2
9th Inning:
T9
-Dean Curley ropes a double to left center.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
*Charlie Taylor to C for Peebles*
-Will Hodo knocks a solo homer to center field.
-Portera is walked.
-Bryce Eblin pops up to LF. Portera advances to second.
-Gage Miller grounds out to 3B.
-TJ McCants strikes out swinging.
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 11, Alabama Crimson Tide 3
