Here’s four quick takeaways from Tennessee’s win over No. 9 Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon to sweep the Commodores:
Rounding 1st — Beams shines again
Drew Beam started on the mound and shined once again, throwing a complete game shutout.
The true freshman was as efficient as efficient gets, putting together eight scoreless innings of work. He gave up just two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four. Beam threw 110 pitches, 73 of which were strikes.
Beam finished his outing by retiring the last 16 batters he faced. Out of the nine innings he pitched, seven of the nine were 1-2-3 innings where he sat Vanderbilt down in order.
The Murfreesboro, Tennessee native’s complete game shutout was the first complete game shutout for the Vols since Garrett Stallings did so against Ole Miss on May 16, 2019.
Rounding 2nd — Big insurance runs
Tennessee scored four runs over the final three innings to put Vanderbilt to sleep.
Leading 1-0 in the seventh, Drew Gilbert hit a solo home run to make it 2-0. Gilbert then hit a two-run double in the ninth with two outs to make it 5-0. Gilbert finished the day 2-for-5, three RBIs and a run scored.
In between the pair of big hits, Jorel Ortega had a big RBI single in the eighth to make it a three-run game.
Rounding 3rd — Scott gets the start
Christian Scott received the start out in left field and made his presence known. In addition to a key diving catch down the left field line in the fifth inning, Scott finished 1-for-2 at the plate, with a walk, a hit by pitch, a run scored and a stolen base.
Scott tacked on a key insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when he singled to lead off the frame, stole second with two outs and then scored on a Luc Lipcius single back up the middle.
Headed for Home — Vols sweep
Tennessee’s sweep of Vanderbilt this weekend was its sweep of the Commodores since they did so back in 2009 in Nashville. The Vols secured their first series win over Vandy on Saturday night for the first time since 2016, and the first time in Nashville since 2009 as well.
It’s the third straight sweep to begin SEC play for Tennessee. At 9-0, it’s the best start to SEC play in program history.
NASHVILLE — Join hundreds of other Tennessee fans in our game thread where you can follow along for live play-by-play updates and commentary as the top-ranked Vols look to sweep No. 9 Vanderbilt for just the second time of the Tony Vitello era.
First pitch: 2 p.m. ET
Watch: SEC Network+
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Live Stats: Click here
Key Plays
T-2nd: Tennessee 0, Vanderbilt 0
Evan Russell worked a two-out walk in the top of the second for Tennessee's first baserunner of the game. Jorel Ortega then popped up to right field to end the inning.
B-2nd: Tennessee 0, Vanderbilt 0
Dominic Keegan hit an infield single to lead off the bottom half. Tennessee starter Drew Beam then got a ground ball to short to retire Keegan at second for the first out, and then a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
T-3rd: Tennessee 0, Vanderbilt 0
Christian Scott walked and Cortland Lawson singled for Tennessee's first hit of the game to start the third inning. After Christian Moore grounded out to first to put runners on second and third, the Vols were unable to take advantage. Luc Lipcius struck out and Jordan Beck grounded out to first to end the threat.
T-4th: Tennessee 1 (+1), Vanderbilt 0
Tennessee centerfielder Drew Gilbert crushed a solo home run in the fourth to get the Vols on the board and give them an early 1-0 lead.
T-5th: Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0
Jordan Beck walked with two outs, but Drew Gilbert struck out to end the inning.
T-7th: Tennessee 2 (+1), Vanderbilt 0
After Christian Scott singled to lead off the inning, he stole second base with two outs and then scored on a clutch RBI single from Luc Lipcius to extend Tennessee's lead to 2-0.
T-8th: Tennesse 3 (+1), Vanderbilt 0
The Vols added an insurance run in the eighth after Trey Lipscomb singled, Evan Russell walked and Jorel Ortega scored Lipscomb to make it 3-0.
Tennessee could have added more runs, but with runners on the corners and one out, Christian Scott popped up a bunt to the pitcher that allowed Vandy to double off Ortega at first.
T-9th: Tennessee 5 (+2), Vanderbilt 0
Drew Gilbert hit a two-run double in the ninth with two outs to make it a 5-0 game.
Final Box Score
Postgame Media
Where Tennessee is ranked this week:
Perfect Game: No. 1 (+4)
Collegiate Baseball: No. 1 (+1)
NCBWA: No. 1 (+3)
USA Today Coaches Poll: No. 1 (+4)
D1Baseball: No. 1 (+4)
Baseball America: No. 1 (+6)
This Week's Schedule
Wednesday, March 30
Midweek game – Western Carolina (1) vs. No. 1 Tennessee (11)
Friday, April 1
Game 1 – No. 1 Tennessee (6) vs. No. 9 Vanderbilt (2)
Saturday, April 2
Game 2 – No. 1 Tennessee (5) vs. No. 9 Vanderbilt (2)
Sunday, April 3
Game 3 – No. 1 Tennessee (5) vs. No. 9 Vanderbilt (0)
