Join hundreds of other Tennessee fans in our game thread where you can follow along for live play-by-play updates and commentary as Tennessee plays host to Rhode Island in game three of the series Sunday afternoon.
Starting Lineups
Here’s four quick takes on Sunday’s 12-3 win over Rhode Island that completed the weekend sweep.
Rounding 1st: Drew Beam steady
Tennessee’s true freshman Sunday starter improved to 3-0 on the season and looked sharp through 5.2 innings against the Rams.
He scattered three hits and allowed three runs, though two came via a two-run home run off the bat of Anthony DePino in the fourth. Beam responded well following the long ball, sitting down the next five in-a-row before allowing a two-out single in the sixth, his final batter.
Beam finished the day with five strikeouts and two walks.
Rounding 2nd: 5-run fifth inning
Tennessee plated five runs in the fifth inning, all coming from five different batters in the lineup. Talk about team work.
Jordan Beck opened the onslaught by singling in Christian Moore with the help of a fielding error. Trey Lipscomb then brought in Beck on a sacrifice fly before Evan Russell, Cortland Lawson and Seth Stephenson followed with consecutive RBI singles.
It was Tennessee’s biggest inning of the day as the Vols also scored four in the first inning.
Rounding 3rd: Jake Fitzgibbons dances with trouble
The Vols turned to Jake Fitzgibbons to pitch the eighth with a nine-run lead.
After striking out the first two batters he faced, the righty proceeded to walk the bases loaded. The reliever was able to escape with no damage when centerfielder Jack Cucinotta popped out to short stop to end the thread.
Fitzgibbons did not allow a run, nor a hit, but walked three with two strikeouts on six batters faced. He tossed 29 total pitches, 15 for strikes.
Headed for Home: Ho-hum series
Let’s be honest, our attention was on Tennessee’s run through the SEC men’s basketball tournament this weekend. Maybe that was the focus for the baseball team as well?
Can you really say that, though, considering the Vols combined for 37 runs on 42 hits in the series? We can, but it’s nothing to worry about. Rhode Island combined for just 10 runs in the series and never threatened to win. The Rams held only one lead all weekend.
Southeastern Conference play is just around the corner with South Carolina coming to town next weekend. It wasn’t perfect and there was some missed opportunities at the plate, but the Vols did what they were supposed to do.
It will need to take advantage of more opportunities moving forward with a talented Friday night starter for the Gamecocks.
Key Plays:
T1st: Rhode Island 1 (+1), Tennessee 0
Eric Genther drove in the first run of the ball game on a ground out to third. Leadoff man Addison Kopack scored following a single, stolen base and passed ball. Rhode Island stranded another base runner at second to end the frame.
B1st: Rhode Island 1, Tennessee 4 (+4)
Tennessee responded well as the first five men reach base. Vols plate four in the frame as Lipscomb doubled in two, Ortega singled in one and Lipscius brought one in via a sacrifice fly.
T4th: Rhode Island 3 (+2), Tennessee 4
Eric Genther walked to begin the fourth and then came around to score on a two-run homer from Anthony DePino.
B5th: Rhode Island 3, Tennessee 9 (+5)
Christian Moore walks to lead off the inning and takes second on a wild pitch. He later comes around to score on a Jordan Beck single and fielding error by the left fielder as the ball scoots off his glove and rolls to the wall. Trey Lipcomb brings home Beck a batter later on a sacrifice fly. Evan Russell, Cortland Lawson and Seth Stephenson added RBI base knocks later in the frame.
B7th: Rhode Island 3, Tennessee 12 (+3)
The Vols tacked on three more in the seventh. Luc Lipcius drilled an opposite-field solo home run to left field and was followed by RBI knocks from Jared Dickey and Blake Burke. Dickey’s RBI hit was a double down the right field line.
This Week's Schedule
Tuesday, March 8
Midweek game – James Madison (8) vs. No. 10 Tennessee (9) -- F(10)
Wednesday, March 9
Midweek game – James Madison (2) vs. No. 10 Tennessee (10)
Friday, March 11
Game 1 – Rhode Island (4) vs. No. 10 Tennessee (17)
Game 2 – Rhode Island (3) vs. No. 10 Tennessee (8)
Sunday, March 13
Game 3 – Rhode Island (3) vs. No. 10 Tennessee (12)
