How it Happen: Tennessee powers way to doubleheader split with South Carolina
The Tennessee baseball team finished off the 2023 regular season with a doubleheader split at South Carolina. The Vols dropped game one 6-1 before winning 12-1 in game two. With the win, Tennessee locks up the seventh seed for the SEC Tournament and will play 10-seed Texas A&M on Tuesday in the second game of the single elimination round of the tournament. The win in the nightcap of the doubleheader Saturday also secured Tennessee’s first road series-win of the season.
How did it happen for the Volunteers?
Game 1 Recap
South Carolina plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to blow out the Volunteers with a 6-1 final score. The Gamecocks pulled even at one game apiece in the regular season series-finale, setting up the rubber match for the final game.
Tennessee lone run of the ballgame came via an RBI double off the bat of Christian Scott in the fifth inning. Chase Dollander (6-6) was charged with the loss, despite pitching arguably his best game of the season. The righty matched a career-high 13 strikeouts with no walks, allowing two hits and two runs across 5.1 innings on the bump. He left the ballgame tied at one run apiece.
Jack Mahoney (6-2) picked up the win after allowing only one run over six innings of three-hit baseball. The righty struck out nine Vols and walked just one. Five different Gamecocks producing run scoring hits in the ballgame.
Game 2 Recap
Tennessee responded, taking the nightcap of the Saturday twin billing 12-1 over South Carolina on the road in Columbia. Tennessee ends the regular season with a 38-18 record and 16-14 mark in Southeastern Conference play and will be the seventh seed in the league tournament beginning this week in Hoover, Ala.
The Vols will take on the 10-seed Texas A&M Tuesday during the second game of the single elimination round of the tournament.
Drew Beam (7-4) took home the win for the Volunteers, tossing six innings of one-run ball where he allowed five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Matthew Becker (4-3) is charged with the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits in four innings of work.
Christian Scott finished the day going 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBI, including a seventh inning three-run home run.
Game 1: South Carolina 6, Tennessee 1 | Final Stats
Game 1 – Scoring Summary
Bottom 1st: With one out, Braylen Wimmer sent a solo home run over the left field wall. With two outs, Ethan Petry was hit by a pitch and later stole second base. Gavin Casas struck out to end the inning.
1R, 1H, 0E, 1LOB – Score: South Carolina 1-0
Top 5th: Zane Denton led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a Dylan Drieling flyout. Christian Scott doubles to the wall in right to drive in Denton. Jared Dickey grounded out, moved the runner to third. Maui Ahuna struck out.
1R, 2H, 0E, 1LOB – Score: Ties, 1-1
Bottom 6th: With one out, Braylen Wimmer singled up the middle. Cole Messina singled through the left side. Ethan Petry singled off the glove at Maui Ahuna at short, plating Wimmer. Gavin Casas singled in a runner to right. Talmadge LeCroy doubled in tow down the left field line. Michael Braswell singled in one up the middle.
5 R, 6H, 1E, 1LOB – Score: South Carolina 6-1
Game 2 – Tennessee 12, South Carolina 1 | Final Stats
Game 2 – Scoring Summary
Top 4th: Griffin Merritt reached on a fielding error at third. Christian Moore singled to right field. Zane Denton singled to centerfield, plating Griffin Merritt. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Christian Scott reached on a fielding error by the second baseman and Moore scored. Cal Stark struck out. Maui Ahuna doubled down the left field line, plating two. Blake Burke popped out. Hunter Ensley walked. Jared Dickey flied out to end the inning.
4R, 3H, 2 E, 2LOB – Score: Tennessee 4-0
Bottom 4th: Cole Messina homered to left field to leadoff the frame.
1R, 2H, 0E, 1LOB – Score: Tennessee 4-1
Top 5th: Griffin Merritt led off the inning with an opposite field line drive home run. Christian Moore struck out. Zane Denton struck out. Christian Scott flied out.
1R, 1H, 0E, 0LOB – Score: Tennessee 5-1
Top 6th: Cal Stark sent a solo leadoff home run over the left-centerfield wall. Maui Ahuna flied out to left field. Blake Burke flied out to left field. Hunter Ensley grounded out.
1R, 1H, 0E, 0LOB – Score: Tennessee 6-1
Top 7th: Jared Dickey doubled. Griffin Merritt singled to put runners on the corners. Christian Moore walked the bases loaded. Zane Denton flied out to centerfield and Dickey tagged up to score. Christian Scott homered to right field for a three-run shot. Cal Stark walked. Maui Ahuna doubled. Blake Burke popped out at short. Kavares Tears walked. Dylan Drieling walked, Stark scored. Auste Jaslove walked, Ahuna scored. Christian Moore struck out.
6R, 4H, 0E, 3LOB – Score: Tennessee 12-1
Tennessee’s weekly schedule
Tuesday: Tennessee 9, Belmont 5 (8 innings) | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes
Friday: Tennessee 5, South Carolina 0 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes | Vitello Transcript
Saturday (Game 1): South Carolina 6, Tennessee 1 | Box Score
Saturday (Game 2): Tennessee 12, South Carolina 1 | Box Score
Tennessee in the weekly polls
Perfect Game – No. 9 (+2)
D1 Baseball – No. 18 (+5)
USA Today – No. 19 (+1)
Baseball America – 19 (+6)
NCBWA – No. 19 (-3)
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper – No. 29 (-1)
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