By Nate DeVille
The Tennessee Volunteers captured game 2 of their series against Missouri on Saturday night, thanks to the arm of freshman Cam Appenzeller.
The freshman Appenzeller appeared as a reliever in a crucial conference game against the Tigers, after struggles from starting pitcher Landon Mack, who surrendered six hits, three walks, and loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning without recording an out.
Taking over for Mack in the most crucial of situations, Appenzeller did not cave. Instead, the
6-foot-5 Illinois native displayed a fiery fastball and electric swagger that got his team out of a bind that was sure to change the trajectory of the game and series if it had gone sour.
Delivering back-to-back strikeouts and a pop fly to earn the third out in his fifth inning arrival, Appenzeller then pumped his fist and confidently returned to the dugout. His teammates, overjoyed by the freshman’s heroics, were able to feed off that momentum, ultimately cruising to a 4-2 victory over Mizzou behind Appenzeller’s seven strikeouts and two-hit performance.
“Anytime I get to go in the game, I’m amped up and excited,” Appenzeller said following his third pitching win of the season. “I like having the pressure.”
The 19-year-old has made several crunch-time appearances like Saturday night’s fifth inning several times this season, and has succeeded in those roles, much to the amazement of head coach Josh Elander.
“He’s not a normal freshman,” Elander said of Appenzeller. “I think we’ve all seen that.”
As one of the younger pitchers on the roster, Appenzeller has had his work cut out for him to earn a role in this year’s pitching rotation. Where most would falter or fail to remain consistent in SEC ball, Appenzeller has thrived.
“It comes easy for him,” Elander said of the freshman’s drive. “He’s a premier athlete… [there’ll be] a lot of good days ahead, with him on the mound.”
Tennessee will square off once again with the Tigers on Sunday at 1 p.m., with the series on the line. Senior pitcher Evan Blanco will be on the mound to start for the Volunteers.