Tennessee baseball fell to ETSU on Tuesday evening, 7-6.
The No. 1 Vols (20-1, 3-0 SEC) lost in extra innings, as the in-state opponents were familiar with the other side of the fences. ETSU (16-4) put together an impressive game to down the defending national champions.
Tennessee baseball loses first game of season: How it happened
Right-hander Austin Breedlove got the start for Tennessee, his first of the season despite his seven prior appearances. The Bucs elected to throw lefty Derek McCarley to start the night.
ETSU proved why it was a threat, making great contact early in the game. After two outs, the Bucs managed the first hit of the night, lacing a single into center field. A fielding error brought him to third base with two outs. Breedlove allowed another single, this time into left field as the runner raced home to give the Bucs the early lead.
Tennessee quickly responded, driving in two runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs, the Vols had two batters by way of a walk, loading the bases. Reese Chapman followed up his two-home run weekend with a blast to the right side which brought in two runners. Cannon Peebles hit a ball into short center field to end the inning, but the Vols still had the lead.
Tennessee opened the inning with a pitching change. Breedlove took a seat, and left-handed Brayden Sharp took over on the mound. He logged two quick outs and was down to his final pitch of the inning when ETSU gave the Vols a taste of the season they’ve been having. ETSU went yard, launching a solo shot to right field. Sharp took down the next batter to end the inning tied 2-2.
The Vols ended the second inning scoreless. A strikeout, lineout and flyout didn’t help as the Vols went down in 10 pitches.
Tennessee elected to put right-hander Thomas Crabtree on the rubber to start the third frame. His outing lasted only 15 pitches, allowing a walk and a two-run home run. After a comebacker at Crabtree, the Vols nearly turned a double play. With the runner out at second, the ball took a bounce before reaching first baseman Andrew Fischer as the runner reached base. Crabtree allowed a home run on the next pitch, with the ball barely staying fair down the left-field line. He was quickly relieved by right-hander Austin Hunley. A lineout ended the Bucs’ chances at the plate in the third, but the damage had already been done.
Tennessee made great contact in response, but it wasn’t enough. Two deep shots to right field by Fischer and Levi Clark fell just short as the Bucs retained the lead. Through three innings, the Vols trailed 4-2.
Hunley trotted back out to start the fourth frame, but he didn’t last long. After a walk and hit-by-pitch, Tennessee made another call to the bullpen. Andrew Behnke took over pitching duties in a jam, two on with no outs. A sacrifice fly to left field gave the Bucs runners on the corners with one out. Something finally went right for the Vols the next at-bat, as a grounder turned into a double-play to end the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Peebles drove a ball to the left-field fence for a double. Tennessee left him stranded as Dalton Bargo popped out and Ariel Antigua struck out to end the fourth frame.
Tennessee was faced with another jam in the top of the fifth. Two runners made it on base after a bunt and a walk with one out. Both runners stole after a flyout, giving ETSU two runners in scoring position. The Vols secured the third out on a groundout to hold the Bucs scoreless.
After three scoreless innings, Tennessee finally got back on the board. With one out, Gavin Kilen went yard in center field. The solo shot cut into ETSU’s lead, reducing the deficit to one run. Fischer reached base after being hit, but a strikeout ended the fifth frame.
Bryson Thacker was on the mound to start the sixth inning, making his collegiate debut. He struck out his first two batters and walked the next. He managed 16 pitches before being replaced by Brayden Krenzel. Krenzel forced a groundout for the third out, keeping the score 4-3 in favor of the Bucs.
The sixth inning was quick for Tennessee. A popout, groundout, and strikeout ended the frame before the Vols could reach base, keeping the deficit at one run.
The Bucs managed to get runners on the corners in the top of the seventh frame. Two well-hit balls to the left side forced long throws for the Vols, neither of which made it in time. With one out and runners at first and third, Tennessee turned a double-play to hold ETSU scoreless for the fourth straight inning.
Jay Abernathy made an appearance in the bottom of the seventh frame. He pinch-hit for Antigua, working into a full count where he walked. Kilen also walked to give the Vols two on with one out. Ensley drove Abernathy home from second, hitting a double into left field. Clark also walked, loading the bases for the Vols with two outs. Chapman looked to drive a run in, but a dribbler to first base ended the inning with only one run. However, Tennessee tied the game for the first time since the second inning, sitting at 4 each.
Krenzel took care of business on the defensive side, quickly striking out two of ETSU’s three batters.
The Vols broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth. After a confusing series where Abernathy and Manny Marin were safe, Dean Curley walked to load the bases. Ensley stepped up to the plate, hitting a double into left field to take the lead. Fischer flew out to center field, but the Vols led 6-4 heading into the final frame.
Right-hander Ryan Combs was set to finish the game for Tennessee. Although he struck out the first batter, the next did not go so well. With one on, he allowed a home run off the scoreboard, ETSU’s third of the night. With the game tied, he was quickly pulled in favor of right-handed Tanner Franklin. Franklin took down his first batter and secured the final out by catching a foul ball.
Clark started the bottom of the ninth with a lucky break. Facing a 0-2 count, he hit the ball right side. A throwing error helped him as he sprinted to first with no outs for the Vols. The next two batters were retired, bringing Marin to the plate with two outs. He walked, giving the Vols two on and Abernathy up to bat. He almost walked it off, but a terrific sliding grab by ETSU’s right fielder sent the game to extra innings.
Franklin logged two quick strikeouts, but disaster quickly struck. The Bucs hit a no-doubter home run into the left field porches to take the lead in the top of the tenth frame. Another one almost cleared right field, but Chapman made the grab just a few feet short of the fence.
Tennessee nearly managed the comeback. Curley and Kilen flew out to the center, but the rally wasn’t over. Ensley and Fischer reached base, and Chris Newstrom was up to bat. He struck out, ending the game and Tennessee’s undefeated season.
