Tennessee baseball turned to freshman Cam Appenzeller in a high-leverage, late-inning position with a one-run lead in the eighth inning.
The true freshman delivered, earning a two-inning save in the Vols’ 5-3 win over Arizona State in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series.
Tennessee (7-3) found success with a five-hit, four-run second inning — but then the well went dry after that. Between the third and eighth innings, the Vols managed four hits and no runs, until insurance was needed in the ninth. Blaine Brown mashed a stand-up, lead-off double and eventually crossed the plate to push Tennessee’s lead to two in the ninth.
Landon Mack provided another quality start in his first Power Four test. The Rutgers transfer lasted five innings (93 pitches), allowing seven hits, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out a season-low five batters, but stranded seven Sun Devils (8-3) on the bags.
Second-inning surge
Tennessee has struggled at the plate in the early innings this season. The Vols failed to plate multiple runs in an inning in the first third over the weekend against Kent State.
That changed with a four-run outburst in the second inning against Arizona State. The Vols brought the entire lineup card to the plate in the frame and concluded with four runs on five hits.
Reese Chapman started the rally with a lead-off single. Tyler Myatt immediately followed with a first-pitch double, putting two in scoring position without an out. Chris Newstrom struck first blood with a two-RBI double to left-center to give Tennessee an early advantage.
A sacrifice bunt and a play at the plate put two outs on the board before the lineup flipped to Jay Abernathy, who drew a walk to load the bases. Henry Ford and Blaine Brown responded with back-to-back RBI singles to double the lead.
Just as Chapman started the rally, he also ended it. After batting around, Chapman stepped back in and flew out to strand the bases loaded.
Mack attacked
The sophomore right-hander struggled in the fourth inning, as Arizona State used the opportunity to chip away at the deficit.
Mack allowed five total baserunners, giving up a pair of free 90s — coming on back-to-back pitches. The Sun Devils used the frame to score two runs, though Mack came through to limit the damage.
Arizona State’s Dominic Longo and Dean Toigo played the first run for the listed home team, tagging two consecutive doubles with one out. Austen Roellig followed with an RBI single in the next at-bat, as Toigo did just enough to avoid the tag on a play at the plate.
That’s when Mack’s command went wonky. Brody Briggs drew a full-count walk before Landon Hairston took a ball off his foot on the first delivery. It loaded the bases with two outs for Arizona State, but Mack induced a groundout from PJ Moutzouridis to get out of the jam.
Mack bounced back with a clean fifth inning, sitting the lineup down in order with two groundouts and a flyout. That ended his afternoon, and Brady Frederick took over to begin the sixth.
Appenzeller turns away Devils
The true freshman, prized lefty, did not pitch against Kent State, but head coach Josh Elander ensured he’d get his shot in Arlington.
That came in a late-inning leverage spot for the lanky Appenzeller. And he pitched his way out of trouble. The freshman allowed a hit and a walk across two innings, striking out three of the eight batters he faced.
Arizona State drew a walk and pushed an infield single through Tennessee’s defensive shift with one out in a one-run game. Appenzeller proceeded to dial up a strikeout and flyout to end the eighth inning. He stranded both runners — one in scoring position — to maintain the Vols’ lead.
He trotted back to the mound in the ninth and sat down the side in order, recording a strikeout, groundout and a flyout
Tennessee baseball wraps up the Amegy Bank College Series with Virginia Tech at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
