Live Updates, Score, Game Notes: No. 1 Tennessee vs. Xavier
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– The No. 1 Tennessee BaseVols are set to take on Xavier for their midweek matchup on Tuesday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols are coming off their program record eighth series sweep this past weekend when the brooms came out against Florida in Gainesville. Tennessee also became the first team to sweep Florida in their home stadium since 2006, and it is the first time the Vols completed the sweep of their SEC East rival on the road since 2001.
Tennessee continues to ride high as SEC play goes on, as their Sunday victory against Florida pushed the Vols to a 17-1 record in conference play, which is the best start to SEC play in league history. The Vols also made SEC history following their sweep of Mizzou when they started conference play 12-0, something no other SEC team has done.
The Big Orange's sweep of Florida included scores of 8-2, 3-0 and 6-4 (11 inn.). The Vols Saturday win came without their starting Saturday pitcher Chase Dollander as the Georgia Southern transfer continues to heal his swollen and sore elbow after taking a line drive off his throwing elbow against Alabama two Saturdays ago. Preseason All-American Blade Tidwell started in his place, pitching 4.2 shutout innings before senior relief pitcher Camden Sewell took the mound to deal 4.1 scoreless innings to secure the shutout.
On Sunday, Tennessee had their back against the wall in the top of the ninth inning but were able to force extra innings off a two-run single from Christian Moore to tie the game at 4-4. The Vols were able to ultimately win the game 6-4 in 11 innings off the bat of Moore again, as the freshman drilled a go-ahead two-run home run to take the lead in the top of the eleventh.
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello's reaction to the Vols' series sweeping victory on Sunday is in the video above, courtesy UT Athletics Communications
Moore's performance led to the Brooklyn, New York, native earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors, becoming the fourth Vol this season to earn the honor.
Xavier enters Tuesday coming off a series win over Georgetown on the road. Tennessee is not the first SEC rodeo the Musketeers have had this season, as Xavier got swept by Alabama in their season-opening series and defeated South Carolina 15-7 on a March 8 midweek game.
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Below is Tennessee's starting lineup against Xavier.
Pitching matchup: Vols LHP Zander Sechrist (3-0, 1.78 ERA) vs. Musketeers RHP Connor Bailey (0-0, 2.84 ERA)
Lineup notes:
-Sechrist starts on the mound for the eighth time this season and for the second consecutive midweek game, not Blade Tidwell. With Dollander potentially unavailable for the Vols again this weekend in Auburn, Tidwell would likely get the starting nod on Saturday.
-No big changes with this midweek lineup. Main starters are starting other than Jared Dickey and Evan Russell. Dickey was clearly bothered by his foot in Tennessee's Saturday game running to first base and has not seen the field since. The situation is worth monitoring considering Dickey missed time with a foot injury earlier in the season. As for Russell, he sits out for the midweek game per the usual.
-Moore starts at DH following an award-winning week.
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The section below will be continuously updated with updates and the score of Tennessee's midweek game against Xavier.
LIVE UPDATE THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Jerry Huntzinger flies out to CF.
-Jack Housinger lines out to CF.
-Luke Franzoni lines out to deep LF. Franzoni, the Musketeer to watch tonight, hit a missile to the warning track that was caught by Seth Stephenson. Regardless, a really nice and quick 1-2-3 inning to kick things off for Sechrist and the Vols.
B1
-Seth Stephenson is walked.
-Stephenson steals second, advances to third on error throw by Xavier's catcher Jerry Huntzinger.
-Jorel Ortega lines out to first base.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging.
-Drew Gilbert hits an RBI single to shallow left field to score Stephenson.
-Drew Gilbert is caught stealing at second to end the inning.
Score: Vols 1, Musketeers 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Tyler Demartino flies out to RF.
-Andrew Walker strikes out swinging.
-Garrett Schultz is walked. Seventh batter Sechrist has walked this season.
-Lane Flamm strikes out looking. Bad call on the final strike as the pitch was outside the zone. But Sechrist and the Vols will take it.
B2
-Trey Lipscomb pops up to 1B.
-Luc Lipcius is walked.
-Lipcius advances to second on a wild pitch that nearly hit Christian Moore in the face.
-Christian Moore grounds out to pitcher to 1B. Lipcius advances to third.
-Cortland Lawson homers to the left field porches for a two-run shot. Vols lead 3-0.
-Charlie Taylor is walked.
-Seth Stephenson strikes out looking to end the inning.
Score: Vols 3, Musketeers 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jared Cushing pops up.
-Ethan Hodge strikes out swinging.
-Jerry Huntzinger grounds out to SS to end the inning.
B3
**Xander Rohjan to pitch for Connor Bailey**
-Jorel Ortega flies out to LF.
-Jordan Beck fouls out to RF.
-Drew Gilbert fouls out to LF after a marathon AB.
Score: Vols 3, Musketeers 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Jack Housinger fouls out to catcher.
-Luke Franzoni singles to SS as Lipcius cannot make a clean scoop.
-Tyler Demartino pops up to SS.
-Andrew Walker strikes out swinging.
B4
-Trey Lipscomb singles to SS.
-Luc Lipcius is walked.
-Christian Moore is HBP. Bases loaded.
-Cortland Lawson sac fouls out to RF. Lipscomb scores. A pair of baserunners ISP with one out. Charlie Taylor up to bat.
**Jr. RHP Bryce Barnett to pitch for Xander Rohjan**
-Charlie Taylor strikes out swinging.
-Seth Stephenson strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 4, Musketeers 0
5th Inning:
T5
Zander Sechrist staying on the mound.
-Garrett Schultz grounds out to 2B.
-Lane Flamm grounds out to Lipcius.
-Jared Cushing flies out to left field.
B5
-Jorel Ortega flies out to the warning track at left center.
**Ben Joyce warming up in the pen**
-Jordan Beck flies out to CF.
-Drew Gilbert grounds out to the SS. Nice play from Jack Housinger.
Score: Vols 4, Musketeers 0
6th Inning:
T6
**Jeff Holtz pinch hitting for Ethan Hodge**
-Holtz flies out to the warning track in deep CF.
**Career-high for Zander Sechrist with 5.1 IP**
-Jerry Huntzinger singles to left field, just going over Lawson's head. It's Xavier's second hit of the evening.
**Ben Joyce to pitch for Zander Sechrist**
-Jerry Huntzinger advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Jack Housinger strikes out swinging.
-Huntzinger advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Luke Franzoni strikes out swinging hard.
B6
-Trey Lipscomb grounds out to 3B.
**Sr. LHP Trevor Olson to pitch for Bryce Barnett**
-Luc Lipcius is walked.
-Christian Moore is walked.
-Cortland Lawson flies out to 2B.
-Charlie Taylor reaches on a fielding error by Xavier's right fielder. The error scores both Lipcius and Moore and advances Taylor to second.
-Seth Stephenson cracks an RBI single to left center to score Taylor. Stephenson advances to second on the throw home.
**Christian Scott pinch hitting for Jorel Ortega**
**Jonathan Kelly to pitch for Trevor Olson**
-Stephenson advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Scott is walked.
-Scott steals second.
-Jordan Beck knocks a 2 RBI double to the center field wall.
**Justin Loer to pitch for Jonathan Kelly**
**Logan Steenstra pinch hitting for Drew Gilbert**
-Steenstra hits an RBI single to right field as Beck scores from second. Steenstra advances to second on the throw home.
-Trey Lipscomb singles to left but Steenstra is out at home on the throw to end the inning.
Score: Vols 10, Musketeers 0
7th Inning:
T7
**Kirby Connell to pitch for Ben Joyce**
-Aedan Anderson flies out to left center.
-Andrew Walker strikes out looking.
-Alex Helmin grounds out to end the inning.
B7
**Fr. RHP George Eisenhardt to pitch for Justin Loer**
**Blake Burke pinch hitting for Luc Lipcius**
-Burke singles to center field.
**Hunter Ensley pinch hitting for Christian Moore**
-Ensley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play. Play is under review as to whether or not Burke is out at second.
-Call upheld. Looked like the second baseman's foot was not on the bag. I'm surprised the call is upheld.
**Logan Chambers pinch hitting for Cortland Lawson**
-Chambers strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 10, Musketeers 0
8th Inning:
T8
-Luke Flamm grounds out to 3B.
**Grant Cherry to pitch for Kirby Connell**
-Jared Cushing grounds out to Cherry.
-Jason Kaplowitz is walked.
-Matthew Deprey is walked.
**Wyatt Evans to pitch for Grant Cherry**
-Jack Housinger strikes out.
B8
-Charlie Taylor strikes out swinging.
**Kyle Booker pinch hitting for Seth Stephenson**
-Booker drills a single up the middle.
-Scott flies out to LF.
**Ethan Payne pinch hitting for Jordan Beck**
-Payne strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 10, Musketeers 0
9th Inning:
T9
**Drew Patterson to pitch for Wyatt Evans**
-Rivero strikes out swinging.
-Aedan Anderson strikes out.
-Andrew Walker triples to center field.
**Hollis Fanning to pitch for Drew Patterson**
-Alex Helmin RBI singles to left field and Walker scores.
-Flamm singles to right field, Helmin advances to second.
-Runners advance on a passed ball.
-Cushing strikes out swinging.
FINAL: Tennessee 10, Xavier 1
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