LEXINGTON — Join hundreds of other Tennessee fans in our game thread where you can follow along for live play-by-play updates and commentary as No. 1 Tennessee (41-5, 19-3 SEC) takes on Kentucky (25-20, 8-14 SEC) in game two of this weekend's three-game series.
The Vols look to even up the series after losing the opener 3-2 in the 13th inning on Thursday night. Tennessee is debuting new black jerseys as it looks to avoid its first series loss of the season.
Friday night's game began after an hour and 43 minute weather delay. First pitch was originally scheduled for 6:32 p.m. ET, but didn't begin until 8:15 p.m.
The game was then suspended in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night and resumed on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
First pitch: 8:15 p.m. ET
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Starting Lineup
Here’s four quick takeaways from Tennessee’s 5-2 loss to Kentucky in game two to lose its first series of the season:
Rounding 1st — Vols drop first series
Tennessee’s game two loss to Kentucky resulted in its first series loss of the season. The Vols had won 10 series in a row on the road entering the weekend. Their last road series loss was against Arkansas in 2019.
The game was suspended due to weather in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night with one out and Drew Gilbert at the plate with a 2-2 count. The game resumed at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon, but the Vols couldn’t muster a comeback.
UT will look to avoid being swept on Sunday for the first time since that same Arkansas series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET. It will be a seven-inning game.
Rounding 2nd — Bats continue to struggle
The Vols’ dropped their first series of the season as a result of the bats struggling. The weather did them no favor, as it poured for the entire second half of the game, but they still managed just four hits on the night.
Three of Tennessee’s five hits were in the top of the fourth when they scored two runs courtesy of a pair of doubles from Trey Lipscomb and Jorel Ortega. It was UT’s first extra base hits of the weekend after not having one over the first 17 innings.
For the game, the Vols hit 5-for-32 (.156), 1-for-10 with two outs, 3-for-14 with runners on base and were 4-for-14 in advancement opportunities.
Rounding 3rd — Tidwell labors
Blade Tidwell struggled to make it through three innings against the Cats, giving up three runs on four hits although he struck out four and didn’t walk anybody. The sophomore threw 40 strikes on 57 pitches.
Headed for Home — Dollander picks up Tidwell
Chase Dollander relived Tidwell to start the fourth inning and put together a terrific outing. Dollander kept the Vols in the game by not allowing an earned run over 4.0 innings of work. He didn’t walk anybody, gave up just two hits and struck out five. Of his 52 pitches, 44 were strikes.
Key Plays
Friday night's game began after an hour and 43 minute weather delay. First pitch was originally scheduled for 6:32 p.m. ET, but didn't begin until 8:15 p.m.
Tennessee's starting pitcher: Sophomore RHP Blade Tidwell (1-0, 1.93 ERA) made his fifth start of the season for the Vols. Season stats: 14.0 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 23 K, .189 opponent batting average
Kentucky's starting pitcher: Sophomore RHP Austin Strickland (2-2, 7.53 ERA) made his first start of the season for the Cats. Season stats: 14.1 IP in 13 appearances, 18 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 6 BB, 20 K, .316 opponent batting average
T-2nd: Tennessee 0, Kentucky 0
Drew Gilbert led off the second with a single up the middle, but the Vols couldn't do anything with it. Trey Lipscomb and Jorel Ortega both struck out before Christian Moore lined out to single to end the inning.
B-2nd: Tennessee 0, Kentucky 1 (+1)
Kentucky took an early 1-0 lead in the second when shortstop Ryan Ritter hit his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.
T-3rd: Tennessee 0, Kentucky 1
Cortland Lawson walked with one out, but Seth Stephenson flew out to right and Luc Lipcius struck out to end the inning.
B-3rd: Tennessee 0, Kentucky 3 (+2)
Kentucky centerfielder John Thrasher led off the third with a single and then stole second on a wild pitch before catcher Alonzo Rubalcaba doubled him home to make it 2-0.
After Chase Estep hit a ground ball to advance Rubalcaba to third, Daniel Harris IV hit a sac fly to extend Kentucky's lead to 3-0.
T-4th: Tennessee 2 (+2), Kentucky 3
Tennessee quickly responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game.
After Jordan Beck led off the inning with a walk, he scored all the way from first on an RBI double from Trey Lipscomb to get the Vols on the board. Jorel Ortega then hit an RBI double to score Lipscomb and make it 3-2.
B-4th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 3
Chase Dollander relived Blade Tidwell on the mound to start the fourth. He promptly put together a 1-2-3 inning courtesy of a pair of strikeouts.
Blade Tidwell's final line: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 57 pitches (40 strikes)
B-5th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 3
Kentucky centerfielder John Thrasher reached with one out on catcher's interference, but was then thrown out at second after he slid past the bag.
B-6th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 4 (+1)
Jorel Ortega committed a throwing error with one out to put a runner on base. Then, with two outs, Cats designated hitter Oraj Anu hit an RBI double.
T-7th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 4
Evan Russell walked with one out and Seth Stephenson was plunked with two outs to put runners on first and second for Luc Lipcius. The Vols' first baseman hit it well, but Cats second baseman Daniel Harris IV made a diving stop to rob the Vols of a hit and a run.
B-7th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 4
Cats right fielder Adam Fogel hit a one-out double. Chase Dollander then picked up a strikeout for the second out and a ground ball to third to get out of the inning and strand the runner.
T-8th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 4
The game was suspended with Drew Gilbert at the plate in the top of the eighth due to a weather delay. There was one out at the time of the delay and Gilbert was facing a 2-2 count.
When the game resumed at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Drew Gilbert grounded out to second. Trey Lipscomb then flew out to right to end the inning.
B-8th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 5 (+1)
Kentucky led off the inning with a bloop single and a bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Jacob Plastiak then hit a ground ball to first to advance the runners to second and third with one out.
Kirby Connell, who pitched the eighth for the Vols, got Oraj Anu to ground out to shortstop with the infield playing in, but Cortland Lawson bobbled the ball, allowing a run to score and make it 5-2.
T-9th: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 5
After an Evan Russell two-out single, Cortland Lawson grounded out to second to end the game.
Final Box Score
Where Tennessee is ranked this week:
Perfect Game: No. 1 (-)
Collegiate Baseball: No. 1 (-)
NCBWA: No. 1 (-)
USA Today Coaches Poll: No. 1 (-)
D1Baseball: No. 1 (-)
Baseball America: No. 1 (-)
This Week's Schedule
Tuesday, May 3
Midweek Game – Alabama A&M (1) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (14)
Thursday, May 5
Game 1 (F/13) – No. 1 Tennessee (2) @ Kentucky (3)
Friday, May 6
Game 2 – No. 1 Tennessee (2) @ Kentucky (5)
Saturday, May 7
Game 3 – No. 1 Tennessee @ Kentucky — 2 p.m. ET
