Tennessee’s 18-0 win over Northern Kentucky on Tuesday was historic for the Vols.
It marked the first time in Tennessee baseball history that they had shut out four opponents in a row.
Head coach Tony Vitello knew that the Vols’ pitching would be improved in 2019. The unit returned all eight pitchers who started in 2018, including a freshman All-American in Sean Hunley.
“I think it will be; I think it needs to be and should be a strength,” Vitello said of the pitching prior to the season.
He wasn’t the only one who watched the Vols pitching and knew it would be a strength.
“At the beginning of the season, I was really bragging to everyone I talked to that our pitching staff was gonna be legit,” first baseman Luc Lipcius said. “I really wasn’t expecting it to be this legit, but it’s super fun just to say we’ve shut out four teams in a row.”
Vitello believes the greatest strength of the pitching staff is something that hasn’t been truly tested yet: its depth.
“I think this success is going to be difficult to duplicate,” Vitello said after Sunday’s win over Appalachian State. “You can’t just throw up zeros every time. I think the best part of the pitching staff is something we haven’t really seen this weekend and it’s the depth. I think there are some good arms out there that only got one inning or didn’t even get to pitch.”
The Vols were able to work more arms on Tuesday in Tennessee’s blowout win. Five Vols pitched who hadn’t previously seen action. That group included two freshman in Camden Sewell and Tanner Kohlhepp.
The group held Northern Kentucky to five hits while striking out 11 batters. That improved Tennessee’s season numbers to 43 strikeouts and just 14 hits, which is a staggering number for even just four games.
“We’re working quick, throwing all pitches for strikes, and just letting our defense work,” sophomore Sean Hunley said. “Our pitching staff is a lot better this year than it was last year and it’s showing.”
Among those with standout performances is veteran Garrett Stallings, who threw eight innings in the season opener, only allowing one hit while striking out eight batters.
Freshman Garrett Crochet threw four scoreless innings of relief on Saturday, striking out nine batters and allowing no hits in his college debut.
The level of competition rises to a new level this weekend as the Vols take on Indiana in a three-game series.
The Hoosiers are coming off of an NCAA Tournament appearance and went 2-1 at Memphis last weekend, scoring an average of five runs per game.
Tennessee will likely get scored on this weekend, and — while it doesn’t need to be perfect — this pitching staff will need to continue to be the strength of this team. If it can do so, Tennessee could see major improvements in year two under Vitello.
Jake Rucker, #7, during game against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 19, 2018 at Lindsey-Nelson Stadium.
