Live Updates, Score, Game Notes: No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 12 Kentucky SEC Tournament Semifinals Matchup
HOOVER, Ala.-- Top-ranked Tennessee is set to square off with 12-seed Kentucky in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament in Hoover. First pitch is set for approximately 8:55 p.m. CT in Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The winner advances to the SEC Tournament Championship game to face Florida on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT. SEC Network has the broadcast.
The game serves as a nightcap for Kentucky, as the Wildcats faced off against LSU on Saturday afternoon, a game in which the 'Cats won 7-2.
Kentucky is the only team to have taken a series against Tennessee in the regular season, winning two of three games in Lexington, so Tennessee will get the chance to even the series with the 'Cats and exact some revenge.
Fun Fact: Just like Tennessee's men'sand women's SEC Basketball Tournament, the Vols and Wildcats meet in the semifinals.
The Vols enter Saturday coming off 10-1 and 5-2 wins over Vanderbilt and LSU in the tournament, respectively.
ALL links from Volunteer Country on SI coverage of the SEC Tournament are below:
Tennessee Mindset Resulting in Wins
Vitello and Players Game One Video and Transcriptions
Redmond Walsh and Evan Russell On the Brink of Making History
Chase Dollander Shoved Against LSU
Tennessee Fans Chirped Back at Vandy Whistler
Tennessee's starting lineup against Kentucky is below:
Lineup Notes:
-With a lefty starting, Lipcius is surprisingly starting at the two-hole, meaning Ortega is surprisingly starting at the six-hole.
-Moore starts at DH due to a lefty starting and finds himself in the eight-hole, with Russell at the seven.
Kentucky starting lineup:
CF Nolan McCarthy
LF Hunter Jump
2B Daniel Harris IV
3B Chase Estep
SS Ryan Ritter
DH Oraj Anu
RF Adam Fogel
C Devin Burkes
1B Jacob Plastiak
Lineup notes:
-Kentucky starting CF John Thrasher is inactive after getting injured in the WIldcats' game against LSU on Saturday afternoon.
-Wildcats' right fielder Adam Fogel has also been highly productive, hitting .400 with a .471 on-base percentage.
Pitching Matchup:
UT Fr. RHP Drew Beam (8-1, 2.73 ERA, 54 K/13 BB
vs.
UK So. LHP Magdiel Cotto (3-1, 6.14 ERA, 34 K/ 18 BB)
Notes:
-Due to a depleted pitching staff after playing four games in the tournament already, the Wildcats start Cotto.
-Beam getting the start for Tennessee, not Chase Burns. Interesting decision to use Beam before Burns, something that has not happened in any series this season. Burns will undoubtedly start for the Vols in the championship game if UT beats Kentucky.
Tennessee will be the ROAD team against Kentucky. They will don the Smokey Grey uniforms.
The section below will be continuously updated with LIVE updates and the score between the Vols and Wildcats in their Saturday night showdown in Hoover.
LIVE UPDATE THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Seth Stephenson strikes out looking.
-Luc Lipcius grounds out to 2B.
-Jordan Beck ropes a triple down the left field line.
-Beck scores on a wild pitch the very next pitch.
-Drew Gilbert flies out to CF.
B1
-Nolan McCarthy strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Jump is walked.
-Daniel Harris IV is walked.
-Chase Estep strikes out swinging.
-Ryan Ritter grounds out to SS.
Score: Vols 1, Wildcats 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Trey Lipscomb lines out to SS.
-Jorel Ortega fouls out to RF.
-Evan Russell flies out to LF.
B2
-Oraj Anu strikes out swinging.
-Adam Fogel strikes out swinging.
-Devin Burkes works a two-out walk.
-Evan Russell catches Burkes stealing at second.
Score: Vols 1, Wildcats 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Christian Moore grounds out to 2B.
-Cortland Lawson flies out to CF.
-Seth Stephenson flies out to CF.
B3
-Jacob Plastiak strikes out swinging on a full count.
-Nolan McCarthy grounds out to 3B.
-Hunter Jump drops a two-out single in CF. First hit for the Cats.
-Daniel Harris IV is walked. Jump advances to second.
-Chase Estep strikes out swinging. Beam works out of the jam.
Score: Vols 1, Wildcats 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Luc Lipcius strikes out swinging.
-Jordan Beck is walked.
-Drew Gilbert singles to 1B. Beck advances to second. Hard hit bouncer that Plastiak couldn't quite corral to potentially make a double play.
**So. RHP Austin Strickland (2-3, 7.65 ERA) on to pitch for Cotto for Kentucky**
-Trey Lipscomb cracks an RBI single to left field to score Jordan Beck. Gilbert moves to second.
-Jorel Ortega lines out to CF. Gilbert advances to third.
-Evan Russell grounds out to SS.
B4
-Ryan Ritter hits a leadoff double to left center.
-Oraj Anu grounds out to 2B. Ritter moves to third.
**Fr. RHP Chase Burns (7-1, 2.53 ERA) now on to pitch for Beam**
-Adam Fogel strikes out swinging.
-Devin Burkes is walked. Runners on the corners with two outs.
-Jacob Plastiak strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Christian Moore strikes out swinging.
-Cortland Lawson grounds out to SS.
-Seth Stephenson strikes out swinging, out at c to 1b.
B5
-Nolan McCarthy fouls out to 3B on a bunt.
-Hunter Jump doubles to left field. Seth dove for the catch but couldn't make the play.
-Daniel Harris IV RBI doubles to right center to score Jump.
-Chase Estep fouls out to LF.
-Harris IV steals third.
-Harris IV scores on a wild pitch. Ritter strikes out on Burns' slider but advances to first as Burns' pitch got away from Russell.
-Ritter steals second.
-Oraj Anu strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 2
6th Inning:
T6
**Reuben Church to 3B for an injured Chase Estep**
-Luc Lipcius singles to 2B. His first hit of the game.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging.
-Lipcius steals second base. Second consecutive night Lipcius has had a base snatch.
-Drew Gilbert strikes out swinging.
-Trey Lipscomb is intentionally walked.
-Jorel Ortega lines out right to the left fielder.
B6
-Adam Fogel grounds out to SS.
-Devin Burkes strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Plastiak strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 2
7th Inning:
T7
-Evan Russell flies out to shallow CF to SS.
**Blake Burke pinch hitting for Christian Moore**
-Burke grounds out to 2B.
-Cortland Lawson works a two-out walk.
**Kyle Booker pinch hitting for Seth Stephenson**
-Booker strikes out looking.
B7
-Nolan McCarthy grounds out to 2B.
-Hunter Jump flies out to LF.
-Daniel Harris IV grounds out to SS.
Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 2
8th Inning:
T8
-Luc Lipcius delivers a single up the middle on the first pitch of his at-bat.
**So. RHP Wyatt Hudepohl (1-2, 6.99 ERA)
-Jordan Beck ropes a single to LF. Mound meeting now for the Cats.
**Jr. RHP Zack Lee (2-1, 5.77 ERA) on to pitch now for Kentucky**
-Drew Gilbert strikes out swinging.
-Trey Lipscomb singles to RF to load the bases with one out.
-Jorel Ortega is plunked to drive in a run.
-Evan Russell strikes out swinging.
-Jordan Beck scores on a wild pitch. Now runners on second and third with Burke up to bat.
-Blake Burke is intentionally walked.
-Cortland Lawson smokes a 2 RBI double to left center to score Lipscomb and Ortega. Burke is out at home after further review to end the top of the frame. But a big-time hit from Cortland Lawson, nonetheless.
B8
-Reuben Church fouls out to 1B.
-Ryan Ritter singles to 2B, advances on a throwing error by Ortega.
-Ritter steals third.
-Oraj Anu strikes out swinging.
-Adam Fogel strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 6, Wildcats 2
9th Inning:
T9
**Jared Dickey pinch hitting for Kyle Booker**
-Dickey leads off the ninth with a single to LF.
**Christian Scott pinch running for Jared Dickey**
-Luc Lipcius is HBP. Scott advances to second.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging.
-Baserunners advance on a balk.
-Drew Gilbert smacks a two-run double to left field as Scott and Lipcius score. Gilbert advances to third on a throwing error.
**Colby Freida to pitch for Lee**
-Trey Lipscomb sac flies out to left center as Gilbert comes across.
-Jorel Ortega is walked on a full count.
-Evan Russell is walked.
**So. RHP Seth Logue (1-4, 8.02 ERA) on to pitch for Freida**
-Blake Burke three-run homer over the right field wall.
-Cortland Lawson pops up to 2B.
B9
**Wyatt Evans on to pitch for Tennessee**
-Burkes strikes out looking.
-Jacob Plastiak strikes out.
-McCarthy strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 12, Wildcats 2
FINAL: Tennessee 12 , Kentucky 2
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Video at the top of the article courtesy UT Athletics Baseball Communications