How it happened: Tennessee downs Kentucky in series opener
No.11 Tennessee bounced back in SEC play in a big way on Friday night with a 10-6 win over Kentucky. The Tennessee bats came to life and the Vols overpowered the No.15 Wildcats, who were unable to utilize their small-ball approach throughout the night. Volquest takes you through how Tennessee earned their 13th SEC win of the season and 34th overall.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 2nd: On the first pitch of the inning, Christian Moore bombs one over the porch in left field for the first run of the game. The ball left the bat at 112 mph and went 440 feet. Tennessee 1, Kentucky 0
Top 3rd: After getting the leadoff man on safely, Kentucky used their small ball approach to get the leadoff up to third. A hard hit grounder back to Lindsey, led to a throwing error on his part, allowing Kentucky to get their first run of the series across the plate.
Bottom 3rd: Maui Ahuna walks to leadoff the inning. Hunter Ensley hit a 2-run missile over The Porch in left field, followed by a solo home run from Jared Dickey to extend Tennessee’s lead to 4-1. After getting runners on the corners, and running the Wildcats starting pitcher, Griffin Merritt drove one over the wall and onto The Porch to extend Tennessee’s lead to 7-1. Cal Starks doubled down the left line to bring in Zane Denton from second. Tennessee extends the lead to 8-1.
Top 5: Kentucky Catcher Devin Burkes drives one over the right center wall to cut into the deficit. Tennessee still leads 8-2.
Bottom 6th: After a Christian Moore single, Griffin Merritt smashed a two-run home run to extend Tennessee’s lead to 10-2.
Top 7th: Kentucky managed to cut into the deficit with an RBI double from Jackson Gray. Tennessee maintains a 10-3 lead.
Top 9th: After working runners into scoring position, Kentucky managed a sacrifice fly to move their fourth run of the game across the plate. After the sac fly and a pitching change from the Vols, Kirby Connell gave up a two-run home run. Tennessee still leads 10-6
Projected Starting Pitchers for the weekend
Game 1 – Friday, May 12 (6:30 p.m. ET)
RHP Andrew Lindsey (0-2, 3.02 ERA) vs. RHP Travis Smith (4-1, 3.62 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday, May 13 (Noon ET) [SEC Network]
RHP Chase Dollander (5-5, 4.26 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Bosma (4-3, 5.04)
Game 3 – Sunday, May 12 (1 p.m. ET)
RHP Drew Beam (6-3, 3.97 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Lee (4-2, 3.54)
Tennessee’s weekly schedule
Tuesday: Tennessee 9, Austin Peay 4
Friday: No. 23 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Kentucky | 6:30 pm ET | SEC Network+
Saturday: No. 23 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Kentucky | 12 pm ET | SEC Network
Sunday: No. 23 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Kentucky | 1 pm ET | SEC Network+
Tennessee in the weekly polls (May 8)
Perfect Game – No. 11 (-5)
NCBWA – No. 19 (-3)
USA Today – No. 20 (-4)
D1 Baseball – No. 23 (-5)
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper – No. 28 (-9)
Baseball America – NR (No. 21 last week)
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