Live Updates, Score, Game Notes: No. 1 Tennessee vs. 2-Seed Georgia Tech NCAA Regional Final
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– The top-ranked Tennessee Baseball Volunteers are set to face off against 2-seed Georgia Tech for the NCAA Knoxville Regional Tournament final at 7:06 p.m. ET in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. ESPNU has the stream.
Sunday night's game will serve as the third game played for the Volunteers this weekend and the fourth for the Yellow Jackets. Tennessee has defeated Alabama State (10-0) and Campbell (12-7) so far this weekend whereas Georgia Tech lost their first game to Campbell (15-8) before winning back-to-back games against Alabama State (13-4) and Campbell (16-5) to reach this point.
If Tennessee beats Georgia Tech, the Regional Tournament is over and the Vols advance to the Super Regionals. If the Yellow Jackets win, the two teams will play again on Monday for the final game of the Regional. Win or go home.
Campbell gave the Vols a good run for their money on Saturday. Chase Dollander uncharacteristically struggled, and Tennessee's offense couldn't hit Campbell starter Cade Kuehler for three innings. But the Vols' offense found a way, and Kirby Connell was brilliant in relief. For more on how Tennessee survived the Campbell Camels' bite and ultimately downed the Camels 12-7 to break a program record on Saturday night, click here.
While Georgia Tech is coming off a dominant win over the Fighting Camels, the Yellow Jackets pitching depth entering Sunday evening is weak. On the flip side, Connell's great outing on Saturday saved a lot of Big Orange arms, leaving Ben Joyce, Will Mabrey, Camden Sewell, Redmond Walsh and others with plenty of innings in the tank for the remainder of the tournament.
Tony Vitello, Drew Gilbert and Kirby Connell's post-game press conference following the Vols' win over Campbell on Saturday is at the top of the article.
The pitching matchup for Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech is below.
Vols Fr. RHP Drew Beam (8-1, 2.60 ERA, 14 GS, 60 K/17 BB, 22 R, 21 ER, 47 H, .184 opp. avg., 72.2 IP)
vs.
GA Tech So. RHP Zach Maxwell (5-0, 5.96 ERA, 5 GS, 73 K/36 BB, 30 R, 30 ER, 39 H, .232 opp. avg., 45.1 IP)
Notes:
-Although Beam has not been his sharpest as of late, he is not as good as Camden Sewell out of the pen. So if you are going to choose one to start, Beam is the right option. Still have both throw this weekend. Expect to see multiple innings from Sewell out of the pen.
Below is Tennessee's starting lineup against the Yellow Jackets.
Lineup notes:
-Russell back in the starting lineup for the first time this tournament as he has worked his way back from a personal health issue.
-Once Russell takes the field, he will have officially broken the all-time UT record of games played with 230.
-Otherwise, a very normal lineup. Burke at DH, Luc in the two-hole and Ortega in the six-hole, per the usual against a righty.
Below is Georgia Tech's starting lineup against the Volunteers.
2B Chandler Simpson
C Kevin Parada
1B Andrew Jenkins
LF Tres Gonzalez
DH Tim Borden II
RF Stephen Reid
3B Drew Compton
CF Colin Hall
SS Jadyn Jackson
Notes:
-Kevin Parada is a big-time MLB prospect and has hit 26 home runs this year.
The Vols WILL be the AWAY team on Sunday evening against Georgia Tech, as the Vols have been the away team less this weekend than Georgia Tech has.
Below is the Vols' uniform choice.
The section below will be continuously updated with LIVE updates and the score of Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech.
LIVE UPDATE THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Seth Stephenson singles through the right side on a 1-1 count.
-Luc Lipcius works a walk on a 3-0 count. Stephenson to second.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging.
-Drew Gilbert grounds into a double play. Missed opportunity for Tennessee to strike early.
B1
-Chandler Simpson works a leadoff walk.
-Kevin Parada flies out to RF.
-Andrew Jenkins grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.
Score: Vols 0, Yellow Jackets 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Trey Lipscomb singles through the left side.
-Jorel Ortega strikes out swinging.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Trey Lipscomb steals second.
-Evan Russell grounds out to 2B.
B2
-Tres Gonzalez II flies out to LF. Amazing speed and nab by Stephenson to track down the ball and get the out.
-Tim Borden II grounds out to SS. Play under review. Call upheld.
-Stephen Reid lines out to SS.
Score: Vols 0, Yellow Jackets 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Cortland Lawson singles to CF.
-Seth Stephenson reaches on a fielder's choice to SS. Lawson out at second.
-Stephenson steals second. Play under review. Call upheld.
-Luc Lipcius strikes out swinging.
-Jordan Beck strikes out swinging.
B3
-Drew Compton grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Colin Hall is walked.
-Jadyn Jackson doubles to right center.
-Chandler Simpson strikes out swinging.
-Kevin Parada reaches on a throwing error by Lawson, advances to second. Jackson and Hall score on the error unearned. Tech strikes first.
-Andrew Jenkins strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 0, Yellow Jackets 2
4th Inning:
T4
-Drew Gilbert flies out deep to right-field at the warning track.
-Trey Lipscomb strikes out swinging.
-Jorel Ortega singles to LF
-Ortega advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
B4
-Tres Gonzalez grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Tim Borden II singles to LF.
-Stephen Reid homers over left center for a two-run shot.
-Drew Compton is walked.
-Colin Hall is walked.
**Jr. LHP Will Mabrey (2-0, 2.21 ERA) on to pitch for Drew Beam**
-Jadyn Jackson strikes out swinging.
-Chandler Simpson grounds out to 2B.
Score: Vols 0, Yellow Jackets 4
5th Inning:
T5
-Evan Russell is walked.
-Cortland Lawson is walked.
-Luc Lipcius reaches on an error by GT's 1b. Lawson advances to third and Russell scores on the error.
-Jordan Beck RBI groundout. Lawson scores. Lipcius advances to second.
-Drew Gilbert grounds out to end the inning.
B5
-Kevin Parada strikes out swinging.
-Andrew Jenkins singles to LF.
-Tres Gonzalez singles to CF, drops it in the perfect spot. Jenkins advances to second.
-Tim Borden II strikes out looking.
-Stephen Reid singles to SS. Jenkins out at home SS to 2B to C.
Score: Vols 2, Yellow Jackets 4
6th Inning:
T6
-Trey Lipscomb strikes out swinging.
-Jorel Ortega singles through the left side.
-Blake Burke strikes out swinging.
-Jorel Ortega steals second.
-Evan Russell is walked.
-Cortland Lawson is walked.
-Seth Stephenson strikes out looking to strand the bases loaded. Third strike call was high but called a strike by the ump. Tony Vitello isn't happy.
B6
-Drew Compton strikes out swinging.
-Colin Hall grounds out to 1b unassisted.
-Jadyn Jackson strikes out swinging.
Score: Vols 2, Yellow Jackets 4
7th Inning:
T7
**So. RHP Dawson Brown (3-1, 7.85 ERA) on to pitch for GT**
-Luc Lipcius doubles down the left-field line.
-Jordan Beck singles to SS,
-Drew Gilbert grounds out 1b to p. Runners move to second and third. Play under review at first. Call upheld.
-Trey Lipscomb RBI single to RF. Lipcius scores. Beck advances to third.
-Jorel Ortega grounds into a double play.
B7
-Chandler Simpson reaches on a throwing error by SS.
-Kevin Parada singles through the left side. Simpson advances to second.
-Andrew Jenkins grounds out to p. Baserunners advance to second and third.
-Tres Gonzalez flies out to LF. Baserunners stay put.
-Tim Borden II flies out to CF.
Score: Vols 3, Yellow Jackets 4
8th Inning:
T8
-Blake Burke is walked.
**Christian Scott pinch-running at first base**
-Evan Russell grounds into a double play.
-Cortland Lawson flies out to CF.
B8
-Stephen Reid singles to left center.
**Sr. LHP Redmond Walsh (3-1, 2.23 ERA) now on to pitch for the Vols**
-Drew Compton grounds out to 2B. Ortega nearly tagged Reid on his way to second.
-Colin Hall grounds out to 2B.
-Jadyn Jackson grounds out.
Score: Vols 3, Yellow Jackets 4
9th Inning:
T9
**Jared Dickey pinch-hitting for Seth Stephenson**
-Dickey single. Booker pinch running.
-Lipcius single. Booker safe at second after further review.
-Jordan Beck RBI double to CF wall. Booker scores. Lipcius to third.
-Gilbert intentionally walked. Bases loaded.
-Trey Lipscomb is HBP. Lipcius comes home, Vols take the lead.
-Jorel Ortega reaches on a fielder's choice. Beck out at home.
-Christian Moore 2-RBI single through the left side.
-Evan Russell RBI single to LF. Moore and Russell advance to third and second on a throwing error.
**Fr. RHP Logan McGuire on to pitch for Georgia Tech**
-Cortland Lawson sac flies out to LF. Moore scores.
-Kyle Booker strikes out swinging.
B9
-Chandler Simpson is walked.
-Kevin Parada singles through the left side.
-Jenkins strikes out swinging.
-Tres Gonzalez singles to SS.
-Tim Borden II hits a two-RBI single to CF. Tying run at the plate.
-Reid strikes out swinging.
-Compton walked. Bases loaded with two outs.
-Colin Hill strikes out looking.
Score: Vols 9, Yellow Jackets 6
FINAL: Tennessee 9, Georgia Tech 6