KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — 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 (53-7) opens up its run in the NCAA Tournament against Alabama State (34-23).
First pitch: 6:06 p.m. ET
Watch: SEC Network
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Live stats: Click here
Starting Lineup
Four Takeaways
Here’s four quick takeaways from Tennessee’s 10-0 win over Alabama State on Friday to win its opener in the NCAA Tournament:
Rounding 1st — No Evan Russell
It was announced an hour and a half before first pitch that starting catcher Evan Russell would not be available for the game and that Tony Vitello would address the fifth-year player's status after the game.
"We'll give it some time to figure out what's going on because I have to get with (Dr. Chris Klenck), but obviously Evan Russell was not here," Vitello said. "He was sick this morning. I got a message from him.
"It opened up an opportunity for (redshirt freshman catcher) Charlie (Taylor) and also our guys to kind of rally around one another because clearly that's a big piece there."
Vitello added that he doesn't know whether or not Russell would be available for Tennessee's next game on Saturday night against Campbell.
"I don't know. I would say he wasn't able to be here today — I wouldn't think quick turnaround," Vitello said of Russell's availability the rest of the weekend. "In the fall, if you're out one day you have to come to me first before we'll see if we're going to push the envelope. ... Health first and then we'll push the envelope later."
Rounding 2nd — Charlie Taylor gets the start
Redshirt-freshman Charlie Taylor started in place of Russell and although he went 0-for-3, he drove in a run on a sacrifice bunt, and also was a couple feet away from hitting a two-run home run in his second at-bat.
The fans gave Taylor a standing ovation each time he stepped to the plate, acknowledging the circumstances.
"If you come to practice, I think Charlie has everyone on our roster beat in terms of how he shows up and plays ball," Vitello added. "It's why he's a fan favorite in the locker room."
Taylor started 10 games before starting against Alabama State. The Dunwoody, Georgia native was 2-for-31 throughout the regular season with nearly all of his action coming in midweek games. Taylor had driven in two runs and scored six times.
"That was pretty awesome," Taylor said. "I was honestly a little bit nervous, but the way that Blade threw the ball and the way Vol Nation kind of rallied around me, I'll probably never forget that. It was a pretty cool moment for me.".
Rounding 3rd — Tidwell shoves
Blade Tidwell was dominant against Alabama State as he made his eighth start of the season. The right-hander didn't allow a walk and threw 64 strikes within his 93 pitches to improve to 3-1 on the season. Tidwell struck out seven and didn't allow a run on three hits.
Headed for Home — Offensive firepower
Tennessee flexed its muscle at the plate to hit five home runs in the win over Alabama State.
Jorel Ortega hit his 16th home run of the season, while Drew Gilbert hit his ninth and Blake Burke hit his 12th, respectively. Jordan Beck hit two home runs on the night to bring his season total to 16.
The Vols will be back in action on Saturday night against Campbell at 7 p.m. ET. The winner of the game will advance to Sunday's regional final where they'll wait to see who comes out of the loser's bracket.
Sophomore right-hander Chase Dollander is expected to start for Tennessee on the mound.
Starting Pitchers
Tennessee's starting pitcher: Sophomore RHP Blade Tidwell (2-1, 2.54 ERA) made his eighth start of the season and his 12th appearance.
Tidwell's season stats entering the game: 28.1 IP, 21 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 11 BB, 41 K, .202 opponent batting average
Alabama State's starting pitcher: Senior RHP Breon Pooler (10-2, 3.19 ERA) made his 15th start of the season and his 17th appearance.
Pooler's season stats entering the game: 84.2 IP, 71 H, 34 R, 30 ER, 43 BB, 85 K, .225 opponent batting average
Scoring Plays
B-2nd: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 1 (+1)
After Trey Lipscomb singled through the right side to lead off the inning, Jorel Ortega hit an RBI double to left center that scored Lipscomb all the way from first to put the Vols on the board first.
B-4th: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 2 (+1)
Jorel Ortega hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to extend Tennessee's lead to 2-0.
B-5th: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 3 (+1)
Seth Stephenson and Luc Lipcius singled back-to-back to lead off the fifth. Jordan Beck then hit a sac fly to score Stephenson from third, who had advanced to third on Lipcius' single.
B-6th: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 8 (+5)
Tennessee scored five runs in the sixth inning on four hits.
Charlie Taylor laid down a squeeze bunt, Luc Lipcius hit an RBI single, Jordan Beck hit a two-run home run and Drew Gilbert hit a solo home. Beck and Gilbert's homers were back-to-back.
B-7th: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 9 (+1)
Freshman Blake Burke hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to extend Tennessee's lead to 9-0. It was Burke's 13th homer of the season.
B-8th: Alabama State 0, Tennessee 10 (+1)
Jordan Beck hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning, a solo home run to right field.
Final Box Score
Postgame Media
Where Tennessee is ranked this week:
Perfect Game: No. 1 (-)
USA Today Coaches Poll: No. 1 (-)
D1Baseball: No. 1 (-)
Collegiate Baseball: No. 1 (-)
NCBWA: No. 1 (-)
Baseball America: No. 1 (-)
This Week's Schedule
Friday, June 3
Game 1 – Georgia Tech (8) vs. Campbell (15)
Game 2 – Tennessee (10) vs. Alabama State (0)
Saturday, June 4
Game 3 – Georgia Tech vs. Alabama State | Noon ET
Game 4 – Tennessee vs. Campbell | 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 5
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 2 p.m. ET
Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. ET
Monday, June 6
Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 | 1 p.m. ET
