In a series that included 29 runs scored by both teams going into Sunday’s game, who could have predicted that the final score of the rubber match between the Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 10 Oregon State Beavers would end in a 1-0 score? The Vols played in their first road series this weekend and came in with a perfect 3-0 record.
However the Oregon State team proved to be a true test for the boys from Knoxville, taking two of three games from the Vols.
In the first game, the Vols sent junior pitcher Bryan Morgado to the mound to face the Beavers’ junior pitcher Tyler Waldron. Morgado lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up eight earned runs in the Vols’ 17-1 loss, their first of the season.
“It was just one of those nights,” UT head coach Todd Raleigh said. “It just got away from us. We were hitting the ball hard, just right at people. We got two quick outs in both of their big innings and just couldn’t find a way to get the third one.”
In the second game, the outcome was much more favorable for the Vols as UT won 9-2. Sophomore Steven Gruver got the start for UT and faced junior pitcher Tanner Robles. Gruver, who saw a majority of bullpen duty last season, got his first win of the season on Saturday after throwing seven scoreless innings, while only allowing three hits and striking out nine batters.
“My goal today was just to throw strikes and make them beat me rather than beat myself,” Gruver said. “I just tried to pound the zone and make them do something with it. Teams as good as Oregon State really punish you if you fall behind, so I just tried to get ahead as much as possible and make them hit my pitches.”
The Volunteer offense also played a major role in Saturday’s victory by scoring nine runs, including a seven-run eighth inning.
“I thought (Friday) was an aberration,” Raleigh said. “We’re a much better team than we showed yesterday (Friday), and I thought we turned around and played probably our most complete game of the year today. Obviously, (Steven) Gruver was unbelievable. To do what he did really set the tone, and we played outstanding defense and got some timely hits. We just battled. It was a lot closer than what the final score might indicate, but I was really pleased with how we played today.”
The rubber match of the three-game series would prove to be a true pitchers duel between the Vols’ senior Stephen McCray and the Beavers’ junior Greg Peavey. McCray pitched six scoreless innings before giving up one run in the seventh. He would end his day after the seventh, giving up three hits, one earned run and four strikeouts, while throwing 85 pitches.
“I felt like I could throw any pitch anywhere I wanted in any count,” McCray said. “I had good movement on all of my pitches. I was able to locate, keep the ball down and keep them off balance a little bit.”
Raleigh praised McCray’s effort after the game.
“He certainly pitched unbelievable,” Raleigh said. “He throws ground balls, and the defense is good enough to handle it for them, and it keeps them in the game. They like playing behind him.”
Peavey earned the complete-game shutout and the win over UT while only giving up three hits and striking out nine.
But Saturday’s win wasn’t the only positive outcome of the series against Oregon State. UT’s Cody Hawn played in his first game since injuring his shoulder during the team’s Opening Day win against Xavier. Hawn saw a total of 12 at-bats and went 4-of-9 with three walks and a double.
