No. 1 Tennessee sweeps Florida
GAINESVILLE — Here’s four quick takeaways from Tennessee’s extra-inning win over Florida on Sunday afternoon that completed the three-game sweep on the road.
Rounding 1st — Vols come up clutch
Tennessee’s bats struggled mightily for most of Sunday’s finale, but came up clutch when it mattered most. The Vols were no-hit until Drew Gilbert hit a one-out triple in the seventh inning. It not only was the Vols’ first hit, but it led to their first run when Trey Lipscomb hit an RBI groundout. Gilbert’s hit seemed to lift the spirits, as did a big time solo home run from Jorel Ortega to start the ninth inning. The Vols entered the ninth trailing 4-1 until Ortega cut it to two with a solo homer. Gilbert’s spark and Ortega’s bomb set the scene for true freshman Christian Moore.
Rounding 2nd — Moore steps up
After Ortega’s homer to lead off the frame, the Vols managed to load the bases for Moore. With two outs and his team trailing by two, Moore hit a game-tying two-run single to pull even at four. As if that wasn’t clutch enough, Moore proceeded to step to the plate in the 11th inning and hit a two-run homer to give the Vols a 6-4 lead. It proved to be the game-winner.
Rounding 3rd — Pitching staff battles
Drew Beam struggled by Drew Beam standards in his start against the Gators. The true freshman hadn’t walked a hitter in his first five SEC starts and then walked a Gator just two batters into his sixth conference outing. It led to Florida loading the bases and scoring two runs in the first. Beam battled though. He would only give up one more run as he pitched into the fifth inning. On the day, Beam allowed three runs on four hits. Beam walked three and struck out one on 64 pitches. 43 were strikes.
With Tennessee’s offense struggling, relievers Will Mabrey, Mark McLaughlin and Redmond Walsh kept the game within striking distance as the afternoon progressed. The trio combined to pitch the final seven innings of the extra-inning affair, allowing just one run (unearned) and two hits with five strikeouts compared to only three walks.
Walsh, who earned his second victory of the season, was on the mound when the Vosl took the lead for good. In three inning, Tennessee’s ‘closer’ walked three but allowed no hits – struck out two on 52 pitches.
Headed for Home — Vols make history, again
Sunday’s win marked the first time in 16 years the Gators were swept at home by an SEC team. It was also the first sweep in Gainesville for the Volunteers since the 2001 season and only the third ever (1971).
The Vols have now set a new program record with eight series-sweeps in a season. The previous record of seven was set by the 1994 SEC Championship squad.
Key Plays
Florida's starting pitcher: Freshman RHP Brandon Neely (1-0, 4.30 ERA) starts for the Gators. Neely is making his third start and 14th appearance.
Season stats: 25 H, 14 ER, 7 BB, 31 K, .221 opponent batting average in 29.1 innings.
Tennessee's starting pitcher: Freshman RHP Drew Beam (8-0, 1.50 ERA) starts for the Vols. Making his 10th start and appearance.
Season stats: 23 H, 9 ER, 6 BB, 46 K, .127 opponent batting average in 54.0 innings.
B-1st: Tennessee 0, Florida 2 (+2)
The Gators struck first in the finale, scoring two runs in the first after loading the bases. Drew Beam plunked Florida catcher BT Riopelle to bring in a run before first baseman Kendrick Calilao pushed a run across on a sac fly to center.
B-2nd: Tennessee 0, Florida 2
Drew Beam allowed a one-out single to Derec Fabian, but bounced back a pair of fly balls to Drew Gilbert in center to get out of the inning.
T-3rd: Tennessee 0, Florida 2
Christian Moore worked a one-out walk to become Tennessee's first baserunner. After Moore advanced to second on a balk, Cortland Lawson struck out for the second out.
Christian Scott was then plunked to put runners on first and second for Jorel Ortega, who struck out to end the inning.
B-3rd: Tennessee 0, Florida 2
Florida hit an infield single with one out in the third and advanced to second on a throwing error by Vols third baseman Trey Lipscomb. Beam handled it well, getting a ground ball and a fly ball to get out of the inning.
B-4th: Tennessee 0, Florida 3 (+1)
The Gators added to their lead in the fourth when designated hitter Jac Caglianone hit a solo home run to dead center. It was Caglianone's first home run of the season in only his third career at-bat.
B-5th: Tennessee 0, Florida 3
Jud Fabian walked to lead off the fifth and signal the end of Drew Beam's day.
Will Mabrey relieved Beam and proceeded to get a pair of ground balls and a strikeout to get out of the inning.
Beam's final line: 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 3 ER, 4 H, K, 64 pitches (43 strikes)
B-6th: Tennessee 1, Florida 4 (+1)
Josh Rivera laid down a bunt hit with one out in the sixth and was able to advance all the way to third on the plate as a result of a throwing error from Vols third baseman Trey Lipscomb. A batter later, Jac Caglianone hit a sac fly to center to make it 4-1.
T-7th: Tennessee 1 (+1), Florida 4
Tennessee's first hit of the game came with one out in the seventh when Drew Gilbert smokes a triple off of the wall in right. Trey Lipscomb then hit an RBI groundout to score Gilbert and the Vols' first run of the game.
B-7th: Tennessee 1, Florida 4
Florida's Sterlin Thompson singled with two outs to end Will Mabrey's day. Mark McLaughlin relieved Mabrey and got a fly ball to right field to end the inning.
Mabrey's final line: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 38 pitches (27 strikes)
T-9th: Tennessee 4 (+3), Florida 4
Tennessee scored three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game. After Jorel Ortega hit a lead off home run to make it a two-run game, the Vols loaded the bases to set up freshman Christian Moore for a game-tying two-run single with two outs.
B-11th: Tennessee 6 (+2), Florida 4
Tennessee freshman Christian Moore hit a two-run homer in the 11th to give the Vols the lead. It proved to be the game-winner.
Final Box Score
Postgame Media
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, April 19
Midweek Game – Bellarmine (3) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (9)
Friday, April 22
Game 1 – No. 1 Tennessee (8) @ Florida (2)
Saturday, April 23
Game 2 – No. 1 Tennessee (3) @ Florida (0)
Sunday, April 24
Game 3 – No. 1 Tennessee (6) @ Florida (4) | 11