Updates, Score, Game Notes: No. 1 Tennessee vs. Mississippi State Game Two
STARKVILLE– Top-ranked Tennessee is set to face off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville for game two of the final series of the regular season. First pitch is at 7 ET in Dudy Noble Field. SECN+ has the stream
The Vols defeated State handedly in the series opener, and that's putting it nicely. Tennessee pummeled the Bulldogs 27-2 powered by a program-record tying seven home runs, two coming from first baseman Luc Lipcius and two from second baseman Jorel Ortega. And if the bats weren't enough, starting pitcher Chase Dollander was excellent in six innings of work, allowing zero hits and only one walk with six strikeouts on 67 pitches.
The Vols' 27-2 win was the largest margin of victory in an SEC baseball game ever, and 27 runs is the most in a conference game in the Tony Vitello era.
Mississippi State's 25-run loss is the biggest loss for the Bulldogs in program history.
A full recap of Tennessee's game one win can be found here.
Moving on to game two, the Vols aren't switching up anything with their starting lineup.
Lipcius and Burke remain in their respective spots in the lineup, and each left the yard on Thursday. Burke became the eighth Tennessee BaseVol to record double digit bombs on the season. Lipcius moved to second-best on the Vols with 16 home runs. Jordan Beck and Jorel Ortega are tied at third with 14 while Trey Lipscomb is first with 20.
Pitching matchup for game two:
Vols Fr. RHP Chase Burns (7-1, 2.34 ERA) vs. MS State Jr. RHP Preston Johnson (3-3, 5.55 ERA)
After taking a week off from starting in the weekend rotation, Burns returns as a weekend starter, but this time in a game two role. This will be the Burns start not in a series opener.
The Vols will be wearing the black alternate uniforms on Friday night for the third time this year.
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The section below will be continuously updated with updates and the score of game two in Starkville.
UPDATE THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Seth Stephenson strikes out swinging.
-Luc Lipcius singles through the left side.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging on a 0-2 count.
-Drew Gilbert doubles down the left field line. Lipcius advances to third.
-Trey Lipscomb grounds out to 3B.
B1
-Yeager flies out.
-Hancock lines out.
-Tanner pops up to SS.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Jorel Ortega lines out SS.
-Blake Burke out 1b to p.
-Evan Russell strikes out swinging.
B2
-Hunter Hines homers to center field.
-Brad Cumbest strikes out swinging.
-Kellum Clark grounds out to 2B.
-James strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Cortland Lawson strikes out swinging.
-Seth Stephenson flies out to right center.
-Luc Lipcius is walked on a full count.
-Jordan Beck flies out to right center.
B3
-Brayland Skinner singles to right field.
-Skinner is picked off.
-Forsythe strikes out swinging.
-Yeager strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Drew Gilbert strikes out swinging.
-Lipscomb grounds out to SS.
-Jorel Ortega strikes out swinging,
B4
-Hancock singles down the 1B line.
-Tanner strikes out swinging.
-Hines singles to right field, Hancock advances to second.
-Cumbest grounds into a double play as Hines is out at second.
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Blake Burke grounds out to SS.
-Evan Russell delivers a one-out double to left center. Russell continues a highly efficient weekend. He was 4-5.
-Cortland Lawson grounds out to 2B. Russell advances to third.
-Seth Stephenson RBI singles to center. Russell scores the Vols first run.
-Luc Lipcius strikes out swinging.
B5
-Clark grounds out to 1B.
-James strikes out looking.
-Skinner singles up the middle.
-Skinner steals second.
-Skinner steals third.
-Forsythe flies out to 2B. Great play from Jorel Ortega.
Score: Vols 1, Bulldogs 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Jordan Beck grounds out to SS. Play was under review but call is held up.
-Drew Gilbert lines out to CF.
-Trey Lipscomb strikes out swinging on a full count.
B6
-Yeager grounds out to 3B.
-Hancock flies out to left center.
-Tanner grounds out to 3B.
Score: Vols 1, Bulldogs 1
7th Inning:
T7
-Jorel Ortega strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Evan Russell grounds out to SS.
B7
Burns still on the mound.
-Hines doubles down the RF line on the first pitch of his AB.
-Cumbest singles through the left side. Hines goes to third.
-Cumbest steals second.
-Kellum Clark hits a 2 RBI double to right center and the Bulldogs have a 3-1 lead.
**Blade Tidwell (1-1, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Chase Burns**
-James strikes out swinging.
-Skinner strikes out swinging.
-Forsythe strikes out looking. Impressive stuff from Blade to strike out the side after taking over the mound.
Score: Vols 1, Bulldogs 3
8th Inning:
T8
-Cortland Lawson flies out to LF. Right at the warning track.
-Seth Stephenson flies out to CF.
-Luc Lipcius cracks a two-out double to right center.
-Jordan Beck singles on the first pitch of his at-bat to score Lipcius from second.
-Drew Gilbert homers to left field for a two-run shot.
**KC Hunt to pitch for Johnson**
-Trey Lipscomb grounds out to SS.
B8
-Yeager pops up to 1B.
-Hancock pops up to 2B.
-Tanner grounds out to 2B.
Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 3
9th Inning:
T9
-Jorel Ortega strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke works a walk on a 3-0 count.
**Christian Scott pinch running for Blake Burke**
-Evan Russell singles through the right side. Scott advances to second.
-Cortland Lawson strikes out swinging.
-Seth Stephenson lines out to 3B.
B9
-Hines strikes out swinging. Two more outs.
-Cumbest pops up to 2B.
-Clark strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 3
FINAL: Tennessee 4, Mississippi State 3
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