SCORE: Tennessee 3, Florida 4 | FINAL (Series tied 1-1)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Third-ranked Tennessee baseball (38-8, 16-6 SEC) is set to battle the Florida Gators (23-22, 9-13 SEC) Friday in game two of a three-game series in Gainesville at Condron Ballpark.
First pitch is at 7:02 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. The game will serve as game two of a Friday doubleheader after the Thursday night series opener was postponed due to weather.
The Vols are aiming to clinch the series in game two of the doubleheader after winning game one of the doubleheader and the series, 6-2, behind a dominant relief outing from AJ Causey and a pair of three-hit days from Dylan Dreiling and Billy Amick.
For the update thread from Tennessee’s series-opening win, click here.
Read the recap of Tennessee’s series-opening win over Florida here.
Today is Tennessee’s first doubleheader of the season after participating in three last year (vs. Morehead State, at Missouri, at South Carolina). Tennessee won both games of the Morehead State doubleheader, lost both against Missouri and split against South Carolina.
With the series-opening win over Florida, Tennessee bounced back from their midweek loss to Lipscomb on Tuesday. It was Tennessee’s first midweek loss of the season.
Prior to the midweek loss, Tennessee swept Missouri in a three-game series last weekend in Knoxville. Elite pitching led the way for the Vols in back-to-back 3-2 wins on Friday and Saturday. Tennessee won the series opener, 10-1, with a big night at the plate.
Before sweeping Missouri, the Vols beat (then) third-ranked Kentucky in a three-game series on the road. Tennessee won games two and three 9-4 and 13-11, respectively, after dropping the opener in Lexington, 5-3. The Kentucky series win is Tennessee’s most impressive to date.
Additionally in SEC play, Tennessee owns a series sweep over defending national champions LSU in Knoxville, series wins over No. 19 Georgia and Ole Miss at home, and a series victory over Auburn on the road.
In addition to the six conference series wins, some highlights from Tennessee’s season have been its series sweep over Illinois, 10-run midweek win over Kansas State, and wins over Texas Tech and Baylor in Arlington.
As for Florida, the Gators have had an up-and-down season after finishing as the College World Series runner up last season. Florida’s lack of pitching depth has been its downfall, but there’s no question the Gators have a lot of talent, headlined by two-way player Jac Caglianone, who is one of the best players in college baseball.
Tennessee will look to avenge last year’s series loss to Florida with a series win on Friday, as the Gators won games one and two in Knoxville last season.
Injury Note
-Redshirt-sophomore star outfielder and elite bat Kavares Tears is out of the lineup for the second straight game as he deals with a hip injury. He is considered day-to-day, and his status for the series finale on Saturday is unknown.
-Sophomore RHP AJ Russell remains out as he deals with forearm soreness. Russell will likely be out for a while, but he didn’t suffer a very serious injury.
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including what Tony Vitello said previewing the Florida series, click here.
For RTI’s latest Press Pass Baseball Podcast, click here.
More From RTI: Tennessee Infielder Christian Moore Named Player of the Month for April
‘A Quintessential Vol’: Kavares Tears Is Tennessee Baseball’s Latest Homegrown Star
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)
LF Dylan Dreiling (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
DH Dalton Bargo (L)
SS Dean Curley (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
C Cal Stark (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Same lineup as game one of the doubleheader EXCEPT the DH spot.
- Dalton Bargo gets the nod at DH over Bradke Lohry.
- Kavares Tears is not in the lineup as he deals with a hip injury. He is day-to-day.
- Stark behind the plate as he’s been in SEC play. But catching back-to-back games in a doubleheader is a tad surprising.
- Reese Chapman gets the start in right with Tears out of the lineup.
- Ensley moves up the order with Tears not in the lineup. Dreiling batting cleanup.
FLORIDA STARTING NINE:
RF Ty Evans (R)
DH Jac Caglianone (L)
SS Colby Shelton (L)
1B Luke Heyman (R)
3B Tyler Shelnut (R)
2B Cade Kulrand (R)
LF Hayden Yost (L)
C Brody Donay (R)
CF Michael Robertson (L)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP Drew Beam (6-1, 3.29 ERA, 11 app., 11 starts, 2 CG, 63.0 IP, 68 H, 31 R, 23 ER, 13 BB, 57 K, .276 opp. batting avg., 1.29 WHIP)
vs.
Gators Fr. RHP Liam Peterson (1-4, 7.41 ERA, 10 app., 8 starts, 37.2 IP, 40 H, 31 R, 31 ER, 22 BB, 46 K, .265 opp. batting avg., 1.65 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Beam continues to start in game two of the series.
- Peterson was one of UF’s weekend starters before Pierce Coppola – who was going to start Thursday night’s game – returned from injury, putting Peterson in a bullpen role. But with the postponement of Thursday’s game and Coppola seemingly being unavailable today, Neely started game one and Peterson now starts game two of the doubleheader.
- Peterson has been hit around in most of his SEC outings but is coming off a strong relief performance against Vanderbilt (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R). Last start he made was at Missouri when he allowed four hits and four runs in 6.0 IP.
- Peterson is coming back from an injury he sustained two weeks ago when he took a come-backer off the arm against Vanderbilt.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
Florida: Blue tops, white bottoms, white caps
*NOTE* There IS a RUN-RULE today. If Tennessee or Florida leads by 10 or more runs in the seventh inning or later, the game is OVER.
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC games.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Christian Moore flies out to LF.
-Blake Burke smokes a triple deep to right center.
- Michael Robertson is banged up after colliding with the fence.
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Ty Evans flies out to RF in right center.
-Jac Caglianone drills a single to right center.
-Colby Shelton strikes out swinging.
Caglianone picked off at first, 2-3, for the double play. Strike ’em out, throw ’em out. Another great play from Stark behind the dish.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Gators 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Hunter Ensley lines out to LF in left center.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Dean Curley HBP.
-Reese Chapman grounds out to P.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Luke Heyman strikes out swinging.
-Tyler Shelnut strikes out swinging.
-Cade Kurland singles up the middle.
Kurland steals second.
-Hayden Yost lines out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Gators 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Cal Stark strikes out swinging.
-Christian Moore flies out to CF.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
- Burke had a line drive that was ruled foul but it looked fair.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Brody Donay knocks a leadoff solo homer to LF.
-Michael Robertson flies out to LF.
-Ty Evans fouls out to SS.
-Jac Caglianone smokes a single to SS.
- Right to Amick and ricocheted off his glove. Was just hit so hard. Curley ultimately fielded it in shallow left field.
-Colby Shelton launches a two-run homer to right field.
-Luke Heyman fouls out to 1B.
- Great diving catch by Blake Burke in foul territory.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Gators 3
4th Inning:
T4
-Billy Amick strikes out swinging.
-Dylan Dreiling works a walk.
-Hunter Ensley lines out to LF.
- Great running catch by Hayden Yost in deep left field.
-Dalton Bargo HBP. Dreiling advances to second.
-Dean Curley works a walk after a long at-bat. Bases loaded with two outs for Reese Chapman.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging to strand the bases loaded.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Tyler Shelnut singles through the left side.
-Cade Kurland grounds out to SS. Shelnut advances to second.
-Hayden Yost grounds out to 1B unassisted. Shelnut advances to third.
- Another great play defensively by Burke.
-Brody Donay flies out to RF in right center.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Gators 3
5th Inning:
T5
*Pitching change: RHP Fisher Jameson (2-0, 4.14 ERA) on to pitch for Peterson*
*Cannon Peebles pinch-hitting for Cal Stark*
-Peebles strikes out looking.
-Christian Moore singles up the middle.
-Blake Burke rips an RBI double to right center.
-Billy Amick flies out to CF. Burke advances to third.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
*Peebles to C*
-Michael Robertson flies out to LF.
-Ty Evans flies out to RF.
-Jac Caglianone is walked.
-Colby Shelton strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Gators 3
6th Inning:
T6
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out looking.
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Luke Heyman flies out to RF.
-Tyler Shelnut flies out to RF in right center.
-Cade Kurland flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Gators 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.
-Christian Moore singles up the middle.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Kirby Connell (4-0, 4.76 ERA) on to pitch for Beam*
-Hayden Yost grounds out to 2B.
-Brody Donay singles to CF.
-Michael Robertson strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (1-1, 3.42 ERA) on to pitch for Connell*
-Ty Evans strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Gators 3
8th Inning:
T8
-Billy Amick hammers a solo homer to LF.
- 18th HR of the season.
-Dylan Dreiling flies out to LF.
-Hunter Ensley grounds out to C.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Jac Caglianone singles through the right side.
- Bounced off of Burke’s glove. Just another really hard hit ground ball.
-Colby Shelton strikes out swinging.
-Luke Heyman reaches on a fielder’s choice. Caglianone safe at second thanks to a throwing error by Billy Amick.
- Throw took Moore off the bag.
-Tyler Shelnut reaches on a fielder’s choice as Heyman is out at second unassisted. Runners on first and third with two outs.
- Should’ve been a double play. Moore tagged Heyman rather than flipping to Curley for what would have been a 4-6-3.
-Cade Kurland legs out an infield RBI single up the middle to plate Caglianone. Shelnut advances to second.
- Throw was wide from Moore. May have been on time. Would’ve likely been late anyway.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Dylan Loy (1-0, 3.31 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Hayden Yost strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Gators 4
9th Inning:
T9
-Dean Curley singles up the middle.
- Bounced off of the second base bag and went into the outfield.
*Ariel Antigua pinch-running for Dean Curley*
*Kavares Tears pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*
*Pitching change: RHP Luke McNellie (3-6, 7.28 ERA) on to pitch for Jameson*
Antigua advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Kavares Tears strikes out looking.
- Bad strike three call. Clearly inside.
Antigua advances to third on a passed ball.
-Cannon Peebles works a crucial walk. Runners on first and third with one out for Christian Moore.
*Colby Backus pinch-running for Cannon Peebles*
-Christian Moore connects for an RBI groundout to 3B to score Antigua. Backus advances to second.
-Blake Burke works a key walk. Battled.
-Billy Amick fouls out to 1B.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 3, Gators 4
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 3, Florida Gators 4
