Five Quick Takes on a back-and-forth thriller against Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee drilled a pair of two-run home runs and plated five total in the eighth inning to pull back in front for good as the Vols took game one of the Southeastern Conference series over Vanderbilt 8-4.
Tennessee has now won eight-straight over its in-state rival. The last time the Vols won eight-straight over the Commodores was from 1993-1995. Here’s Four Quick Takes on the Tennessee victory.
Vols Put It Away in the Eighth
They keep trying KT and they keep finding out. Tennessee’s right fielder lined a two-run homer off the top of the wall in left field to begin the five-run eighth inning – the frame where the Vols pulled back in front for good in the series opener.
Billy Amick singled to lead off the inning and Tears put the visitors back in front with the two-run blast. Dylan Dreiling followed with a triple as the Vanderbilt centerfielder attempted a diving catch and came up empty. Hunter Ensley brought him in with a base-hit up the middle for a run of insurance at 6-4.
Two batters later, pinch hitter Cannon Peebles came to the plate in the designated hitter slot that was 0-for-3 in the ballgame at the time. For the second time this season, the reserve catcher left the yard with a critical two-run homer to right field putting Tennessee ahead by four at 8-4.
UT plated the five runs off five hits in the frame and both of the two-run jacks from Tears and Peebles were massive daggers to the home crowd.
CANNONBAAAAAAAAAALL!!!!
https://t.co/dVZCI9loWC (SECN+) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/C09KwZQfF2
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 11, 2024
That’s A Good Start
Tennessee jumped out quickly in the series with a pair of runs off two hits in the opening stanza and contrary to what happened at Hawkins Field back in 2022, the bat wasn’t checked.
Of course, I’m referring to the Jordan Beck home run – non home run from the first inning of a contest two years ago. All good this go-around as Christian Moore led off the ballgame with an opposite field slice over the right field wall. The long ball is the 49th of his career, a program-best, and he moved within two of tying the single-season Tennessee home run record of 24, set by Sonny Cortex back in 1998.
The Vols weren’t done in the frame. After Blake Burke grounded out and Billy Amick struck out, Kavares Tears reached first on a walk. He later moved to second on a wild pitch and then trotted around on an RBI double off the bat of Dylan Dreiling on a ball that bounced into the corner in right field.
It was early, but a great start for the Big Orange.
Vols 1⃣ courtesy of Christian Moore!
https://t.co/dVZCI9loWC (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/w1ic0JFN6j
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 10, 2024
There Goes That Man [Again]
Dylan Dreiling has been Mr. Clutch for Tennessee this season. He’s come up big plenty of times in critical spots already – most recently on Tuesday with a three-run homer to break away from Queens late in the ballgame. The draft eligible sophomore was right back at it on Friday in the opener with Vanderbilt with a pair of early two-out knocks.
His first was the RBI double to the corner in right field – a drive that plated Tears easily from second base. Dreiling followed that up with a bloop single to shallow centerfield with Billy Amick standing at third base to extend the Volunteer lead to [another] two runs.
The left fielder has been productive all season long and with two more RBI on Friday, his season total bumps up to 56, which continues to lead the squad. Dreiling went on to finish the ballgame 3-for-4 with a triple in the five-run eighth inning.
Dylan Dreiling. Professional Hitter.
https://t.co/dVZCI9loWC (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/boTuT2W3Zk
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 10, 2024
The 1-2 Punch
Tennessee opener Chris Stamos got into some serious trouble in the bottom of the first inning, but was able to workout of the two runners in scoring position with less than two outs jam. In fact, there were runners at first and third with nobody out initially, but the southpaw buckled down to strikeout a pair and induce a groundout to Blake Burke at first base to end the inning, stranding two in scoring position.
The lefty was cruising in the second with two quick strikeouts but a two-out, opposite field home run from Jacob Humphrey (his second of the year) put the Commodores on the scoreboard. In the third, Stamos picked up two outs before walking the third and that would be his last batter in the ballgame. AJ Causey was summoned from the bullpen to corral the third out and preserve the line for the opener.
Stamos arguably had his best outing of the season as he racked up a season-high five strikeouts with just two walks and two hits. The lefty allowed one run to score on the home run, but that was it. A solid start to the game on the mound for Tennessee and then it turned over to Causey for the extended piggyback role.
The fourth was the first full inning for the Tennessee sidewinder and Causey worked around a one-out single for no damage. The righty retired the side in order in the fifth and recorded two quick out before three-straight hits brough in three runs for the home team. Vanderbilt had the lead through six innings at 4-3.
Causey responded with a clean 1-2-3 frame in the seventh and made one heck of a play fielding a bunt in the process. In the eighth and with the lead back in toe, the sidewinder sat down the Commodores in 1-2-3 fashion and followed up with a clean ninth to preserve the victory.
The righty earned his ninth win of the season after tossing the final 6.1 innings of the ballgame. Causey struck out seven and walked one, while giving up four hits and three runs. This combination on Friday nights has been really good for Tennessee.
Hat tip to Chris Stamos for another solid effort on the mound and providing the content for this awesome video.
https://t.co/dVZCI9loWC (SECN+) #GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/inf8HxdpZW
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 11, 2024
2-Out Rally Put Vandy In Front
AJ Causey was cruising in the sixth, having retired seven-straight before a Colin Barczi walk with two outs. Sometimes all you need is a chance and Vanderbilt got one there because what followed the two-out walk was three-straight hits that saw the Tennessee lead evaporate in a matter of moments.
Matthew Polk followed the freebie with a double in left-center field and with Barczi running on contact, the runner scored easily from first base. Jacob Humphrey then came up to bat and singled in two more runs on a base hit to left field. The knock came on an 0-2 pitch while Polk’s run-scoring drive was on a 2-1 count.
Regardless, it was three runs off three this in the bottom of the sixth as Vanderbilt grabbed its first lead of the ballgame. Tony Vitello was not happy at the frame (likely due to the zone) and appeared to be warned by the home plate umpire, Michael Banks.
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