by Jack Glennon
KNOXVILLE, Tenn – On Friday, the Tennessee Volunteers Baseball team kicked off SEC play with a 5-3 victory over the visiting Florida Gators.
Friday baseball on Rocky Top seems to always bring about a lights-out performance from Tennessee ace Liam Doyle. Doyle struck out 4 of the first 6 batters he faced, retiring 7 consecutive Florida hitters to begin the game.
However, Doyle’s domination continued well beyond the first 7 Gators he faced. The 20 year-old southpaw finished the day with 1 earned run, 6 strikeouts, and allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks (including HBP) across 4.2 IP. He fell just 0.1 IP short of potentially qualifying for his 5th pitching win of the season.
After the game, I was able to ask Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello why he was hesitant to allow Doyle to qualify for the pitching win. He told me, “… don’t know the right answer… Tanner Franklin… was ready… was definitely [going to] start the next inning…”
Regardless, pulling Doyle out of the game was a puzzling move, especially given the fact that he is without a doubt the best pitcher on the Volunteers’ staff.
Once again, Tennessee’s lineup supported its pitchers well.
The scoring in this one commenced in the 2nd inning, with a 2-out RBI single from Jay Abernathy. This flipped the lineup over, but Dean Curley struck out swinging to end the inning.
Florida fumbled away their first real chance at bringing some runs home against Doyle in the 3rd, as Bobby Boser stranded Gators on 1st and 2nd.
Doyle’s outing would not remain spotless forever, though, as Florida’s Blake Cyr blasted one over the left field wall, evening the score at 1-1.
As previously mentioned, Doyle’s outing came to an abrupt end in the 5th inning. He was replaced by Tanner Franklin, who produced a quick pop-out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 5th, Jay Abernathy drew a leadoff 4-pitch walk. Curley and Kilen then singled, loading the bases for Hunter Ensley.
Ensley delivered, shooting a line-drive down the right field line for a double. Curley and Kilen scored, giving Tennessee a 3-1 lead.
This ended Florida pitcher Liam Peterson’s outing after 4 IP. He finished the evening with 4 earned runs, while giving up 6 hits and issuing 3 walks. He struck out 8 Volunteers, but ultimately collected the pitching loss.
After pulling Peterson, Florida handed the ball to the right-handed Luke McNeillie.
But before the inning was over, Gavin Kilen scored on a wild pitch, making it 4-1 Vols.
Cannon Peebles followed by rolling out to third to end the inning.
Florida wasted no time in trying to mount a comeback, as they shelled Tanner Franklin for three straight singles, loading the bases with nobody out in the 6th. Florida catcher Brody Donay lined a 4th-straight Florida base hit up the middle. This knock plated a pair, shaving the Tennessee lead to 1.
This prompted Coach Vitello to go back to his bullpen, ending Tanner Franklin’s day with 2 ER on 4 hits. Franklin pitched just one-third of an inning.
In his second pitching change, Vitello summoned left-hander Dylan Loy. Loy would face just two hitters, walking one and retiring the other.
He was quickly replaced by Nate Snead, who got pinch-hitter Landon Stripling to roll into a double play.
Tennessee answered in the bottom of the 6th, as Dean Curley’s triple gave way to a Gavin Kilen sacrifice fly. Tennessee entered the final third of the game with a 5-3 lead.
Snead rolled through the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings, giving up no runs on two hits. He finished the day with no earned runs, and 4 strikeouts. He threw just 37 pitches in his 3.2 innings of work.
Florida’s Luke McNeillie was a true bright spot in the loss. He threw 4.0 innings of 1-run ball, giving up 1 hit, while walking 3 and striking out 3.
After Friday’s clash, these two teams will meet again tomorrow for game 2 of the weekend series.