By Jay King
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 12th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers faced off against the 10th-ranked Auburn Tigers in a crucial rubber match. Auburn took game one in a blowout win, but the Vols took game two in walk-off fashion in extras on a Chris Newstrom single after the game was postponed to Sunday. This meant that this game would have to be only seven innings.
The top of the first was a quick one for the Vols, as pitcher AJ Russell, who is still recovering from surgery, got out of the game with only one walk, while also getting two strikeouts. Gavin Kilen, Dean Curley, and Andrew Fischer couldn’t get anything going, though, as Kilen popped out, and Curley and Fischer flew out into the outfield.
Russell took care of business in the top of the second as well, with a 1-2-3 inning, and the Vols got the bats going. Hunter Ensley hit a leadoff single that got right past Auburn shortstop Eric Snow. Dalton Bargo then hit the ball right to Auburn second baseman Chris Rembert, which caused a double play. Levi Clark was able to respond, though, as he hit the ball deep to right field, which just stayed in play. He was able to get a double. Nothing came out of it, as Reese Chapman grounded out.
The wheels came off for the Vols at the top of the third, as AJ Russell gave up three base runners to load the bases. Nate Snead then came in. A wild pitch brought Chase Fralick home to get the scoring started for Auburn. Cade Belyeu then hit a single to center field to bring home Eric Snow. In a fielder’s choice that got Belyeu out, Chris Rembert got home. Cade McMurray then doubled, which got Ike Irish to third base. Irish then scored on a Lucas Steele sac fly. Auburn got out of the frame with four runs. Tennessee could not get anyone on base in the bottom of the third.
Without having runners on base, Nate Snead was able to take care of business in the top of the fourth. The bottom of the fourth was a key one for the Vols, as Cade Fisher came in for Auburn starter Christian Chatterton. After a Dean Curley groundout, Andrew Fischer walked. Hunter Ensley then got a base hit to get the runners to first and second. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third, but they could not capitalize.
The top of the fifth was an interesting one, for the wrong reasons. Back-to-back singles by Auburn caused Tennessee to make a pitching switch. Brandon Arvidson came in and walked Ike Irish to load the bases for the Tigers. Arvidson then got a strikeout, but then got pulled for Brayden Krenzel. Lucas Steele drew a walk to score a run, and Eric Guevara did the same thing, this time on a controversial check-swing call that made head coach Tony Vitello furious. Vitello ended up getting ejected. One more run scored for Auburn to extend their lead 7-0.
Tony Vitello said this about what led to his outburst, “probably the comparison of the check swings of Levi versus [Auburn]… Levi won’t like hearing it, but I think he went. I think both guys went so but I think that was a spillover too. I mean, from the first game, which I pat myself on the back, and everybody else for keeping composure.” This came after pitcher Liam Doyle got ejected in the second game of the series.
The bottom of the fifth saw Cannon Peebles hit a solo home run to left-center field, which gave him his 10th home run this season, but no one else could get on base.
The top of the sixth saw a 1-2-3 inning by reliever Tanner Franklin, but the Vols could only get one runner on base in the bottom, when Hunter Ensley got hit by a pitch. Nothing came out of that.
The top of the seventh saw Ike Irish get a leadoff walk, and he went to second on a wild pitch by Tanner Franklin. Cooper McMurray then hit an infield single, which saw the runners get to the corners. Lucas Steele then got an RBI single that brought Irish home. Austin Breedlove then came in for Tanner Franklin and got back-to-back outs. After a Levi Clark pop-up, Chris Newstrom then got on base by a HBP. That was short-lived lived though, as Cannon Peebles popped into a double play.
Auburn ended up getting the 8-1 win and the 2-1 series victory in what is four out of five series losses for the Vols, as they are getting closer to the postseason. Tony Vitello had this to say about what he wants to see improve in the future: “Play better. Be my first, easiest answer. It’d be nice if we had some normal weather… don’t have to be the best version of ourselves, but close to… Our guys need to handle adversity and control their emotions, and just push forward.”
The Vols’ next home game is versus the Indiana State Sycamores on Tuesday, May 6th, as they prepare for a key weekend series versus the arch-rival Vanderbilt Commodores from May 9-11.