The Vols take the first game of the series.
Tennessee’s first game against Florida was postponed due to weather on Thursday night, setting up a double-header on Friday. No. 3 Tennessee was looking to bounce-back from a midweek hiccup against Lipscomb, and they found just that on Friday afternoon.
Dean Curley kicked off the scoring in Gainesville this afternoon, knocking home Dylan Dreiling with a single through the right side of the infield. Tennessee kept the pressure on with a steal of home. It was Hunter Ensley coming home on a double steal attempt that worked to perfection.
CALL STANDS!
The ole’ delayed double steal.
https://t.co/eJLZZ24M9g (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatUF pic.twitter.com/ztMVfooaVS
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 3, 2024
Tennessee starter Chris Stamos ran into trouble in the bottom of the second. Florida’s Brody Donay hit a two-run shot over the right field fence to tie things up at two each.
Three singles in the second inning for Tennessee — that trend continued in the third. Back to back singles had the Volunteers threatening, and Billy Amick delivered with a double down the line. Christian Moore would score, but Blake Burke was thrown out at the plate after running through a stop sign.
Dreiling knocked in Amick on the next at bat to give Tennessee a 4-2 lead.
Stamos exited the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, and AJ Causey danced out of trouble with runners on second and third to keep the Vols’ lead. Causey would go on to strike out the side in the bottom of the fifth.
Causey breezed through the sixth and seventh without any issue.
Carrying a 4-2 lead into the top of the eighth, Tennessee put two men in scoring position with one out. Cannon Peebles was intentionally walked, bringing Reese Chapman to the plate. Chapman hit a sacrifice fly to dead center, giving Tennessee a 5-2 lead.
The Vols added more insurance in the top of the ninth as Dylan Dreiling drove in another one. Tennessee carried a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth, and AJ Causey was set to finish this one off.
Causey’s ninth inning didn’t go as planned, and Kirby Connell was called in to finish this one off. With two men on, Connell got a fly out and a double play to finish this one off.
Tennessee and Florida will play game two of the series 45 minutes after the conclusion of this one. SEC Network+ will have the call.