By Abby Doperak
The Volunteers struggled again in a 12-5 loss to UCLA.
No. 20 Tennessee faced No. 1 UCLA in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, with Tegan Kuhns starting on the mound for the Volunteers and Logan Reddemann for the Bruins.
A scoreless first inning, UCLA scored its first run in the second on a double by Cashel Bugger that drove in Aiden Aguayo. The Bruins added to their lead, scoring five runs through the first five innings. Tennessee managed just two hits and remained scoreless until the sixth, when Chris Newstrom hit a home run to spark a four-hit, four-run inning. The rally prompted UCLA’s first pitching change, as Ian May took the mound.
The sixth inning brought hope for Tennessee, cutting the deficit to 5-4 entering the seventh.
UCLA responded with four hits and six runs in the seventh. Tennessee made three pitching changes in the top of the inning, with Kuhns, Brandon Arvidson, Sawyer Deering and Taylor Tracey all seeing time on the mound. Offensively, the Volunteers recorded one hit and one run in the inning, as UCLA extended its lead to 11-5.
“We are still early in the year,” Tennessee head coach Josh Elander said. “We just need to play as much as we can, get these guys reps under their belt.
Tennessee made another pitching change in the eighth, with Nic Abraham replacing Tracey. The Volunteer did not score again, while UCLA added a run in the ninth to secure the 12-5 final.
“Feeling for it or hoping to have success, it is not a formula for success in this league,” Elander said. “I want our guys to cut it loose and play ball.”
Tennessee finished with seven hits to UCLA’s 11.
“When you don’t win, you have to look at everything,” Elander said. “From decisions you make with the pitching side, to who goes where, we have options.”
The Volunteers will face Arizona State on Saturday. First pitch is set for noon ET.