By Jay King
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In a highly anticipated game three in a tied series, the fourth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers faced off against the Kentucky Wildcats in a Sunday matinee game on Easter. Tennessee was coming off a loss to the Wildcats Saturday night, and they could not bounce back to take the series.
The top of the first could not go any better for the Vols, as they went three up, three down to start. They were unable to get the bats going in the bottom of the first, despite a Hunter Ensley two-out single, where he advanced to second base on a Kentucky balk. Andrew Fischer then lined out to center to end the inning with runners in scoring position, something that would be common this game for the Vols.
In the top of the second inning, Kentucky started to get their bats going, as after getting two outs, they were able to score two runs on a Ryan Schwartz single that brought Carson Hansen home, and a wild pitch by Brandon Arvidson that brought home Devin Burkes. Arvidson came in for starter Tegan Kuhns after the Schwartz hit. Arvidson was able to get out of the jam after striking out Tyler Bell with runners on second and third. The Vols responded by getting nobody on base in the bottom of the second.
The Vols then got a much-needed 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third, but were unable to do anything in the bottom, as after Manny Marin got a single, Chris Newstrom then struck out, and Dean Curley hit into a double play.
Kentucky scored again in the fourth inning, as Devin Burkes stole second, but the ball got past Manny Marin and went into the outfield, bringing home Carson Hansen. Arvidson was then able to get the strikeout, but then got substituted for Nate Snead. Snead got a strikeout and ended anymore scoring chances for the Wildcats. The Vols were still unable to score, despite a leadoff single by Gavin Kilen. The Vols left him on base as they got three straight outs.
Nate Snead was able to take care of Kentucky’s side, as he got three straight outs in the top of the fifth. Tennessee was again unable to score, ending the fifth inning.
In the sixth inning, it looked like it could have been a turning point for the Vols, as they took care of the Wildcat offense, including stranding Patrick Herrera at third base, who got to first safely on an error, then stole twice. In the bottom of the sixth, Tennessee finally got on the board, as Dean Curley drew a walk, then Hunter Ensley hit a home run to left field, cutting the Wildcats’ lead down to one. The Wildcats were able to prevent more damage, though, as they got two straight outs to end the sixth.
The promising play from the Vols carried on in the top of the seventh, as they got three straight outs after a Luke Lawrence leadoff single. They were unable to capitalize off of it though as they got three straight outs to end any chance to take the lead.
The defense then crumbled down in the top of the eighth, as the Wildcats got five hits, and were able to score three runs off of it by playing small ball perfectly. Dylan Koontz got a run in and was able to advance a runner off a sacrifice groundout. Patrick Herrera then hit an RBI single, and then Devin Burkes got another RBI single after a Carson Hansen double. Tennessee made an aggressive move that played off, though, as Luke Lawrence bunted to pitcher Tanner Franklin, who came in for Nate Snead, and threw it to Cannon Peebles to get an out at home plate. Peebles looked a little shaken up, as a piece of Carson Hansen’s batting helmet hit his lip, but he was able to come back in. Franklin then got the out to end the top of the eighth.
The Vols needed runs in the bottom of the eighth, but Dean Curley was the only one who could get on base after his second walk of the game, sending the game to the ninth inning.
In the ninth, the Wildcats added two more runs from a Griffin Cameron RBI double and a Dylan Koontz sacrifice bunt. In the bottom of the ninth, the Vols trailed by six, but Andrew Fischer was able to get a leadoff double. After the double, the Vols then got two straight outs. Dalton Bargo was able to draw a walk, but Blake Grimmer, who was pinch-hitting for Ariel Antigua, struck out to end the game. The Wildcats clinched the series upset by a score of 8-2.
This Tuesday, the Vols play a pivotal mid-week matchup against the Lipscomb Bisons, as they are trying to get prepared for a big-time, top-ten road weekend series versus the rival, ninth-ranked LSU Tigers. Head coach Tony Vitello said this about the adjustments he needs to make versus Lipscomb, “[The biggest adjustment is] for our guys to remember what happened this weekend and maybe last year, what happened against Lipscomb… just to look at Tuesday as an opportunity to come out and play good baseball, and should be as motivated as anybody in the country to do that.”