Live Blog: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 15 Tennessee, Game 1

Q: 9th Inning

T9: Brodie Johnston made things interesting. After striking out in his first three at-bats, he blasts a hanging breaking ball over the left center field wall cutting the deficit to one run. After a pitching change, Braden Holcomb strikes out (14th strikeout of the game for Vanderbilt) and Colin Barczi flies out to center field, sealing the Commodores' loss. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 2

Q: 8th Inning

B8: Vanderbilt's defense does its job, getting a three up, three down inning. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 1 T8: Vanderbilt won't have to face Liam Doyle anymore, but only has six outs to work with. Tanner Franklin enters the game for Tennessee. Jonathan Vastine gets a leadoff double, and advances to third on a sacrifice fly and scores on Rustan Rigdon's infield single. It's the best inning of the game for Vanderbilt and they'll need to even better next inning if they want a win. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 1

Q: 7th Inning

B7: JD Thompson's day is over and Alex Kranzler comes in from the bullpen and throws just 11 pitches, giving up two hits and a run before being relieved himself. The Commodores get a third double play of the game to end the inning. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 0 T7: A blister (or some other ailment) on Liam Doyle's throwing hand after getting his 12th strikeout of the game and hitting a batter, gets the Volunteers' bullpen into action. Doyle remains in the game and is saved from giving up a two-run home run by Hunter Ensley making a leaping catch off the wall. Braden Holcomb makes a base running error by not stepping on second base running back to first base on the long fly ball. The Commodores can't afford to lose opportunities like this. Tennessee 2, Vanderbilt 0

Q: 6th Inning

B6: Tennessee gets a leadoff double off the centerfield wall and Dalton Bargo with a single and Ensley nearly gets thrown out at home, but just barely avoids the tag to score the second run of the game. Vanderbilt clears the bases with a double play and a strikeout to get out of an inning that could've been a lot worse. Tennessee 2, Vanderbilt 0 T6: Nothing happening for the Commodores at the plate and Doyle isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He's thrown 90 pitches and the most he's thrown in a game this season was 111. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

Q: 5th Inning

B5: A very efficient, fast inning from JD Thompson, who threw just nine pitches and got three groundouts to end the inning. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0 T5: That was the first inning Liam Doyle didn't record a strikeout and actually two hard hit fly balls into the outfield. If the Commodores can hold on until Doyle leaves the game, this could get very interesting. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

Q: 4th Inning

B4: RJ Austin drops what would've been a great, highlight reel catch that gives Tennessee a one-out double. JD Thompson struck out the next batter and gave up another walk before ending the inning with his fifth strikeout of the game. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0 T4: Liam Doyle up to 10 strikeouts now, but Riley Nelson did get the second hit for Vanderbilt. Hard to imagine the Commodores will do much at the plate as long as Doyle is in the game. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

Q: 3rd Inning

B3: Good inning for Thompson and the Vanderbilt defense. Only base runner was a one-out walk and was included in the inning-ending double play two pitches later. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0 T3: Jayden Davis gets the first of the game for Vanderbilt, but Liam Doyle continues to dominate on the mound. He has seven strikeouts through three innings (and has thrown 50 pitches). Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

Q: 2nd Inning

B2: Uh oh. Volunteers have four hits and all four hits were hard hit balls, which is a troubling sign for Vanderbilt's JD Thompson. Reese Chapman drove in one run with no outs and the first pitch after a mound visit went into the dirt. Thompson then proceeds to strikeout two batters to end the inning with just the one run allowed. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0 T2: Well, Liam Doyle is showing why he leads the nation in strikeouts. He's faced six batters and struck out four of them (119 on the season now). This has the feeling of a pitcher's duel, but will the Commodores show up at the plate before its too late? Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0

Q: 1st Inning

B1: Big defensive play by Braden Holcomb in left field. With two outs, Tennessee's Hunter Ensley got a hit to left field, but was thrown out trying to reach second base on a perfect throw by Holcomb. Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0 T1: Vanderbilt doesn't get on base to start the game, but forces Liam Doyle to throw 20 pitches. The first two batters, Rustan Rigdon and RJ Austin struck out but had forced a full count before exiting. Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0

Follow along here for live updates, reaction and analysis of Friday afternoon's series opening game between the Commodores and Volunteers.

Taylor Hodges | May 9, 2025

Vanderbilt center fielder RJ Austin (42) celebrates his two RBI double against Xavier during the fourth inning at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 7, 2025. Vanderbilt won 15-3 in seven innings. / Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

No. 11 Vanderbilt heads into enemy territory this weekend for its rivalry series against No. 15 Tennessee. Follow along here for live updates, reaction and analysis of Friday afternoon's series opening game between the Commodores and Volunteers.

FINAL: No. 15 Tennessee 3, No. 11 Vanderbilt 2

(Most recent updates at the top.)

9th Inning

T9: Brodie Johnston made things interesting. After striking out in his first three at-bats, he blasts a hanging breaking ball over the left center field wall cutting the deficit to one run.

After a pitching change, Braden Holcomb strikes out (14th strikeout of the game for Vanderbilt) and Colin Barczi flies out to center field, sealing the Commodores' loss. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 2

8th Inning

B8: Vanderbilt's defense does its job, getting a three up, three down inning. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 1

T8: Vanderbilt won't have to face Liam Doyle anymore, but only has six outs to work with. Tanner Franklin enters the game for Tennessee.

Jonathan Vastine gets a leadoff double, and advances to third on a sacrifice fly and scores on Rustan Rigdon's infield single. It's the best inning of the game for Vanderbilt and they'll need to even better next inning if they want a win. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 1

7th Inning

B7: JD Thompson's day is over and Alex Kranzler comes in from the bullpen and throws just 11 pitches, giving up two hits and a run before being relieved himself.

The Commodores get a third double play of the game to end the inning. Tennessee 3, Vanderbilt 0

T7: A blister (or some other ailment) on Liam Doyle's throwing hand after getting his 12th strikeout of the game and hitting a batter, gets the Volunteers' bullpen into action. Doyle remains in the game and is saved from giving up a two-run home run by Hunter Ensley making a leaping catch off the wall. Braden Holcomb makes a base running error by not stepping on second base running back to first base on the long fly ball. The Commodores can't afford to lose opportunities like this. Tennessee 2, Vanderbilt 0

Fitting for sure! https://t.co/ORPOA3XHba
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 9, 2025

6th Inning

B6: Tennessee gets a leadoff double off the centerfield wall and Dalton Bargo with a single and Ensley nearly gets thrown out at home, but just barely avoids the tag to score the second run of the game. Vanderbilt clears the bases with a double play and a strikeout to get out of an inning that could've been a lot worse. Tennessee 2, Vanderbilt 0

T6: Nothing happening for the Commodores at the plate and Doyle isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He's thrown 90 pitches and the most he's thrown in a game this season was 111. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

5th Inning

B5: A very efficient, fast inning from JD Thompson, who threw just nine pitches and got three groundouts to end the inning. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

T5: That was the first inning Liam Doyle didn't record a strikeout and actually two hard hit fly balls into the outfield. If the Commodores can hold on until Doyle leaves the game, this could get very interesting. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

JD picks up his fifth punchout to end the fourth.

Barczi, Vastine and Davis due up in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/GrePUnvMpQ
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 9, 2025

4th Inning

B4: RJ Austin drops what would've been a great, highlight reel catch that gives Tennessee a one-out double. JD Thompson struck out the next batter and gave up another walk before ending the inning with his fifth strikeout of the game. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

T4: Liam Doyle up to 10 strikeouts now, but Riley Nelson did get the second hit for Vanderbilt. Hard to imagine the Commodores will do much at the plate as long as Doyle is in the game. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

5⃣-4⃣-3⃣ to end the bottom of the third. pic.twitter.com/dZmcxfhYhZ
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) May 9, 2025

3rd Inning

B3: Good inning for Thompson and the Vanderbilt defense. Only base runner was a one-out walk and was included in the inning-ending double play two pitches later. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

T3: Jayden Davis gets the first of the game for Vanderbilt, but Liam Doyle continues to dominate on the mound. He has seven strikeouts through three innings (and has thrown 50 pitches). Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

Three straight hits and we've got an early lead!

📺 https://t.co/n1C4EpLXu1 (SECN)

#GBO // #OTH // #BeatVandy pic.twitter.com/Fx8l3AF1xT
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 9, 2025

2nd Inning

B2: Uh oh. Volunteers have four hits and all four hits were hard hit balls, which is a troubling sign for Vanderbilt's JD Thompson. Reese Chapman drove in one run with no outs and the first pitch after a mound visit went into the dirt. Thompson then proceeds to strikeout two batters to end the inning with just the one run allowed. Tennessee 1, Vanderbilt 0

T2: Well, Liam Doyle is showing why he leads the nation in strikeouts. He's faced six batters and struck out four of them (119 on the season now). This has the feeling of a pitcher's duel, but will the Commodores show up at the plate before its too late? Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0

1st Inning

B1: Big defensive play by Braden Holcomb in left field. With two outs, Tennessee's Hunter Ensley got a hit to left field, but was thrown out trying to reach second base on a perfect throw by Holcomb. Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0

T1: Vanderbilt doesn't get on base to start the game, but forces Liam Doyle to throw 20 pitches. The first two batters, Rustan Rigdon and RJ Austin struck out but had forced a full count before exiting. Vanderbilt 0, Tennessee 0

Pregame

Taylor Hodges here for today's SEC rivalry game between Vanderbilt and Tennessee. First pitch is moments away.

Vanderbilt Commodores Starting Lineup

Rustan Rigdon, 2B
RJ Austin, CF
Riley Nelson, 1B
Brodie Johnston, 3B
Braden Holcomb, LF
Colin Barczi, C
Jonathan Vastine, SS
Jayden Davis, DH
Jacob Humphrey, DH

Tennessee Volunteers Starting Lineup

Gavin Kilen, SS
Andrew Fischer, 1B
Hunter Ensley, CF
Dalton Bargo, LF
Dean Curley, 2B
Reese Chapman, RF
Cannon Peebles, C
Jay Abernathy, DH
Manny Marin, 3B

Pitching Matchup

LHP JD Thompson (4-4, 3.95 ERA, 66 IP, 88 SO, 21 BB, 29 ER, .227 b/avg.) vs. LHP Liam Doyle (8-2, 2.39 ERA, 67.2 IP, 115 SO, 23 BB, 18 ER, .147 b/avg.)

How to Watch: No. 11 Vanderbilt at No. 15 Tennessee

Who: No. 11 Vanderbilt Commodores (34-15, 14-10 SEC) at No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (38-11, 14-10 SEC)

When: 4:30 p.m., Friday; 4:30 p.m., Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn.

TV: SEC Network (Game 1) and ESPN2 (Games 2 and 3)

Radio: Live Radio

Stats: Live Stats

Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:

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Published May 9, 2025|Modified May 9, 2025

TAYLOR HODGES

Taylor Hodges is a staff writer for Vanderbilt Commodores On SI covering all-things Vanderbilt. Taylor brings more than a decade’s worth of award-winning sports writing, photography and video experience covering every level of sports — from Little League baseball to professional sports and other sports like hunting and fishing. Taylor is fueled by his lifelong passion for sports that began the same day Kirk Gibson hit his legendary World Series walk-off home run, Arkansas beat Texas in Austin and No. 4 Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami in the Catholics vs. Convicts game.