Game Notes, Live Updates, Score: No. 19 Tennessee vs. Georgia Southern Game One
The Tennessee BaseVols officially begin their 2022 season against Georgia Southern on Friday, February 18 at 4:00 p.m. ET for game one of the opening weekend series in Knoxville.
There are six major preseason polls: D1Baseball.com, Perfect Game, USA Today coaches' poll, National College Baseball Writers' Association, Collegiate Baseball Magazine, and Baseball America.
Below are the Vols' preseason ranking in every poll.
D1Baseball: No. 19
Perfect Game: No. 21
USA Today Coaches: No. 16
NCBWA: No. 16
CBM: No. 34
Baseball America: No. 17
The official Top-25 D1Baseball.com rankings will be the reference for each team's ranking this season.
Preseason News:
Above is head coach Tony Vitello's most recent preseason press conference. CF Drew Gilbert and LHP Redmond Walsh also met with the media this past week. Their entire press conferences are below, respectively.
Returning starters for the Vols are Luc Lipcius, Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck and Evan Russell, although Russell will primarily serve as a catcher this season for Tennessee.
Beck and Gilbert figure to stay in the outfield this season, and Luc Lipcius will resume his role as the team's starting first baseman.
Gilbert, the team's source of energy and passion, came up huge for the Vols on multiple occasions last season, including a walk-off grand slam against Wright State in the NCAA Regional Tournament in Lindsey-Nelson Stadium.
As for Beck, head coach Tony Vitello had high praise for the returning junior in the preseason.
"Jordan came back from Christmas break swinging the bat the best I've ever seen him in January practice. The key for him is to not experiment and think to much, to realize that it's going well for him and do it day in and day out like a big leaguer would do, which he will be one day. That I am confident in."
The Vols' pitching rotation sustained its fair share of injuries, as sophomore Blade Tidwell and redshirt junior Seth Halvorsen will be sidelined indefinitely, with more optimism surrounding Tidwell's availability for conference play. Tidwell is currently dealing with shoulder stiffness and soreness.
Against Georgia Southern, Tony Vitello has not determined who will start on the mound on Saturday and Sunday, but freshman Chase Burns is set to start on opening day against the Eagles.
Below is the entire list of the Vols' starters on opening day against Georgia Southern.
LIVE UPDATES & ANALYSIS
First pitch for Tennessee vs. Georgia Southern is at 4:00 p.m. ET in Lindsey-Nelson Stadium. SECN+ has the broadcast. This section will be continuously updated as the game progresses.
Knoxville Ice Bears head coach Jeff Carr throws the first pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
1st Inning:
T1
-Jesse Sherill approaches the dish first for the Eagles. It's a ground out after two strikes.
-Parker Biederer and Christian Avant fly out.
B1
-Vols' lead off man DH Seth Stephenson gets to first, but upon review is declared OUT.
-LF Logan Chambers grounds out.
-Jordan Beck ground ball. Call under review at first. Beck called OUT upon review.
Back-to-back 1-2-3 halves of the first innings. Second inning underway.
2nd Inning:
T2
-Chase Burns earns his first strikeout as a Vol, striking out Jason Swan.
-Ground out for Will Patota.
-Ground out for Noah Ledford.
B2
-Drew Gilbert hits a line drive, finds Jason Swan's glove. OUT.
-Trey Lipscomb gets on first. The Vols first hit of the game.
-Luc Lipcius strikes out looking.
-Evan Russell strikes out swinging.
3rd Inning:
T3
-SS Austin Thompson strikes out. The second K for Chase Burns.
-Catcher JP Tighe flies out; what an incredible effort from Drew Gilbert to track the ball and get the out.
-Chase Burns earns his third strikeout, this time Blake Evans falls victim.
Third straight perfect inning for Chase Burns.
B3
-Jorel Ortega gets Tennessee's second hit of the game; let's see if there's a better follow up this time around. Cortland Lawson to the plate next.
-Cortland Lawson hits a grounder to second. Ortega is out at second and Lawson can't get there in time to first to prevent the play. Two outs.
-Seth Stephenson grounds out at first.
Still scoreless.
4th Inning:
T4
-Jesse Sherrill gets to first off a bunt. Burns' perfect run ends, and the Eagles have their first hit.
-Parker Biederer and Christian Avant fly out. Jason Swan up to bat for the Eagles w/ two outs.
-Three straight swings. Three straight misses for Swan.
Vols are up. Logan Chambers to bat.
B4
-Logan Chambers is walked. 4-1 count.
-Jordan Beck flies out.
**Chambers steals second off of a wild pitch.
-Drew Gilbert grounds out to 2B, but Chambers makes it to third. Trey Lipscomb up next; he's 1-1 on the day.
NO LONGER scoreless in Knoxville. Trey Lipscomb sends one over the left field wall, and Chambers scores to make it a two-run homer. 2-0 Vols lead.
Lipcius up to the plate. 2 outs.
-Lipcius gets on base, but Evan Russell flies out to end the inning.
2-0 Vols lead.
---
5th Inning:
T5
-Will Patota is walked. Second Eagle on base today.
-Noah Ledford popped up on a 2-1 count. OUT.
-Austin Thompson hits one to left field past Lawson for a single. Eagle on first and second.
-JP Tighe strikes out, and Blake Evans lines out.
Vols keep the Eagles scoreless after Georgia Southern has their best frame yet.
B5
-Jorel Ortega singles to third. Tennessee's fifth hit of the game.
-Cortland Lawson lines out to third.
SECOND HOME-RUN FOR TENNESSEE
Seth Stephenson sends it just over the left wall for another Vol two-run homer. It's a 4-0 UT lead.
-Logan Chambers grounds out. Jordan Beck flies out.
Lead-of man Seth Stephenson gives the Vols an even more comfortable lead. T6 awaits
4-0 Vols lead.
6th Inning:
T6
**Camden Sewell relieves Chase Burns.
-Three up, three down in Sewell's first frame.
B6
-Drew Gilbert, Trey Lipscomb, Luc Lipcius up next.
-Gilbert lines out.
-Trey Lipscomb gets on first. The senior is an impressive three-for-three today at the plate.
-Lipcius walked. Man on first and second for the Vols.
-Evan Russell flies out. Two outs for Tennessee.
Make it THREE Tennessee homers today with the latest THREE-RUN BOMB from Jorel Ortega. It's a commanding 7-0 Vols lead.
-Cortland Lawson up next. He's hit by a pitch and goes to first.
-Seth Stephenson flies out. Top of the 7th awaits.
7-0 Vols lead.
7th Inning:
T7
Camden Sewell's second inning.
-ANOTHER three up, three down.
All Tennessee heading into seventh inning stretch.
B7
Christian Scott delivers a FOURTH TENNESSEE HOMER on a pinch hit for Logan Chambers. Vols lead 8-0.
-Jordan Beck strikes out.
-Drew Gilbert flies out.
-Trey Lipscomb grounds out.
Vols lead 8-0.
8th Inning:
*Kirby Connell takes over on the mound for Camden Sewell.
T8
-Connell makes it three up, three down
B8
-Luc Lipcius strikes out swinging
-Evan Russell walked
-Jorel Ortega walked. Runners on first and second for the Vols. Ethan Payne to pinch run at second base for Russell.
-Cortland Lawson full count; he's walked. Bases loaded.
**Blake Burke to pinch hit for Seth Stephenson.
-Burke strikes out swinging. Bases are still loaded and Christian Scott takes the plate.
-Scott is walked. Ethan Payne coms home, and the Vols lead 9-0.
-Jordan Beck grounds out to end the inning.
Vols lead 9-0
9th Inning:
T9
*Charlie Taylor comes in for Ethan Payne behind the plate to catch.
-Jesse Sherrill flies out, an impressive nab from Christian Scott in left field.
-Biederer grounds out at first. Excellent throw from Lipcius off of his back-foot to get it to Connell at the bag.
-Avant flies out to center. Drew Gilbert makes the diving catch to end it.
FINAL: VOLS 9, EAGLES 0
Photo Credit: Tennessee Athletics
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