STARKVILLE — The top-ranked Tennessee Baseball Volunteers (48-7, 24-5 SEC) take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field Saturday in the final game of the series and regular season. The first pitch between UT and MSU will take place at 2:00 p.m. CT / 3:00 p.m. ET in Starkville. SECN+ has the stream.
Tennessee won the series on Friday with a narrow 4-3 win, aided by a two-heat, three-heat rally including a two-heat homer from Drew Gilbert at the top of eighth and a great bullpen outing from Blade Tidwell .
Freshman Chase Burns was also a solid starter Friday night, dishing out six strikeouts and allowing just three runs on a total of 80 pitches in six innings of work.
The game two update feed can be found hereand a synopsis of the series opener – in which Tennessee destroyed the Bulldogs – can be found here.
Tony Vitello’s recent post-game press conference is above, courtesy of UT Athletics Baseball Communications.
Tennessee’s starting lineup for the series finale is below.
Installation notes:
-Burke is starting at DH for the fourth straight season, making this series the first time the freshman has started every game in an SEC series.
– For the first time in all three games in a series, no line-up changes at all.
Pitching-Matchup:
Volumes Fr. RHP Drew beam (8-1, 2.54 ERA) vs miss. St. Sun. RHP Cade Smith (4-3, 3.66 ERA)
The Vols will wear orange tops and white shorts for the final game of the regular season. Tennessee is looking to sweep the Bulldogs with a win today. A Tennessee Series sweep would mark the ninth sweep this season for the Vols.
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The following section will be continuously updated with updates and the scoring between the Vols and the reigning College World Series champions in game three of the series in Starkville.
update thread
1. Inning:
T1
– Seth Stephenson flies to CF.
-Luc Lipcius lands on 2B.
-Jordan Beck hits hard.
B1
-RJ Yeager Homer to left midfield on a 2-1 count.
-Hancock is in full swing.
-Tanner goes to 3B.
-Hines ends up in doubles at SS, Hancock in second place.
Partition: Vols 0, Bulldogs 1
2. Inning:
T2
-Drew Gilbert reaches the catcher’s interference.
– Trey Lipscomb Homer left to center for a two-run shot.
-Jorel Ortega takes a full count walk with no outs.
– Blake Burke reaches a left fielder field error as Brad Cumbest collides with the short stop. It looks like Cumbest injured his mouth in the collision, slowly got up and finished the game. Ortega moves up to second place.
**Pico Kohn on court for an injured Cade Smith**
– Evan Russell flies to CF.
– Cortland Lawson leaves.
-Seth Stephenson slumps after CF. Ortega scored and Burke moves up to third place.
-Cortland Lawson steals second.
-Luc Lipcius is finally running in the bat after a marathon.
-Jordan Beck plays to CF.
B2
-Davis flies to LF.
-Kellum Clark plays in the middle.
– Clark steals the second.
-James RBI singles center right. Clark scores to cut the lead.
-James steals the second one.
-James is caught stealing by Evan Russell as he slides the bag over.
-Skinner lands on SS.
Partition: Vols 3, Bulldogs 2
3. Inning:
T3
-Drew Gilbert singles in the middle.
– Trey Lipscomb flies to CF.
-Jorel Ortega Homer left to center for a double bomb that hits Gilbert. Vols lead 5-2
– Blake Burke flies to RF.
-Evan Russell lands on 3B.
B3
** Ben Joyce as pitcher for Drew Beam **
-Forsythe lands on 3B.
-Yeager flies to RF.
– Hancock HBP. That will leave a mark as Joyce fired a drawn fastball straight into Hancock’s thigh.
-Tanner hits with a flourish.
Score: Volumes 5, Bulldogs 2
4. Inning:
T4
-Cortland Lawson lines up at right center.
– Seth Stephenson leaves.
-Luc Lipcius plays down the left field line. Stephenson moves up to third place.
– Lipcius moves up to third and Stephenson hits a throwing error from State’s first baseman.
-Jordan Beck leaves.
-Drew Gilbert jumps to 2B.
** Jackson Fristoe (3-4, 7.68 ERA) to pitch Kohn **
– Trey Lipscomb leaves. bases loaded.
-Jorel Ortega goes in search.
B4
-Hines lands on SS.
-Jess Davis is leaving.
-Kellum Clark singles through the right side. Davis moves up to third place. Close call on the day.
-James HBP to load the bases.
** Kirby Connell performs for Ben Joyce **
– Skinner grabs a field player’s choice. Davis at home. Bases loaded with two outs.
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** Leggett pinches for Forsythe **
– Leggett achieves fielder pick, James is second.
Score: Volumes 6, Bulldogs 2
5. Inning:
T5
** From Leggett to SS **
-Blake Burke punches hard.
-Evan Russell Homer left to center.
-Cortland Lawson jumps to 1B.
– Seth Stephenson flies to CF.
**Evan Russell’s homer gives him 38 for his career, matching Todd Helton’s program record**
B5
-Yeager grounds on 3B.
-Hancock joins right center.
-Tanner lands on 3B.
Score: Volumes 7, Bulldogs 2
6. Inning:
T6
-Luc Lipcius singles to left field.
-Jordan Beck doubles the LF line. Lipcius moves up to third place.
-Drew Gilbert hits a two-run double on the RF line.
-Trey Lipscomb lands on SS. Gilbert moves up to third place.
-Jorel Ortega contacts an RBI groundout to score Gilbert.
-Christian Moore, pinch hitting for Blake Burke, hits with a bang.
B6
– Hines flies to the right center.
-Davis hits swinging.
-Clark lands on 2B.
Score: Volumes 10, Bulldogs 2
7. Inning:
T7
-Evan Russell jumps to 3B.
– Cortland Lawson hits hard.
**Kyle Booker pinched for Seth Stephenson**
-Booker hits hard.
B7
** Camden Sewell on court for Connell **
** Book to LF for Stephenson **
-James singles in the middle.
-Skinner singles through the right side. James for second place.
-Leggett RBI singles to left field to score James.
-Yeager singles to center to load the bases.
** Will pitch Mabrey for Camden Sewell **
-Yeager resorts to a field error by Lipcius. Skinner scores, bases still loaded.
-Tanner hits with a flourish.
-Hines ends up in a 4-6-3 doubles game.
Score: Volumes 10, Bulldogs 4
8. Inning:
T8
** Tullar beats Fristoe **
-Luc Lipcius founds at full count in p.
-Jordan Beck goes to RF.
-Drew Gilbert singles center right. Could have been a double, but Gilbert falls first in the rounding. It will keep him there.
** Talley to pitch for Tullar **
– Trey Lipscomb reaches a field error by State left fielder. Gilbert out on the throw home.
B8
-Davis sings down LF line, out on second LF to 2B.
-Kellum Clark Homer left to center.
-James hits swinging.
-Skinner flies over the LF line to LF.
Score: Volumes 10, Bulldogs 5
9. Inning:
T9
** KC Hunt Proposes Talley **
-Jorel Ortega from 1B to p.
** Christian Scott pinches for Christian Moore **
-Christian Scott hits hard.
– Evan Russell sets off on 2B.
B9
** Redmond Walsh performs for Will Mabrey **
-Leggett lands on 2B.
-Yeager lines to LF.
-Hancock from 1b to p.
Score: Volumes 10, Bulldogs 5
FINALE: Tennessee 10, Mississippi State 5
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