Tennessee baseball: Three takeaways from Vols series win vs. Alabama

Tennessee right-handed pitcher Chase Burns (23) pitches during a game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, April 15, 2022.Kns Vols Baseball Alabama
Tennessee right-handed pitcher Chase Burns (23) pitches during a game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, April 15, 2022.Kns Vols Baseball Alabama /
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In a wild weekend, Tennessee baseball was able to come away with another series win, this time at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Vols suffered their first SEC loss of the season at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Friday, falling to 6-3. That followed their 3-2 loss to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles earlier in the week.

On Saturday, with no score in the first inning, Tony Vitello and assistant Frank Anderson were tossed after arguing with the third base umpire. Vitello then made contact with the ump and was subsequently suspended four games. UT won that one 9-2 and then took Sunday’s game 15-4 with Josh Elander as acting head coach.

The Vols, who were ranked No. 1 across the board in the series, are now 33-3 and 14-1 in the SEC with the Bellarmine nights up next in a Tuesday matchup. They will then visit the Florida Gators for a three-game series this weekend, which starts on Friday.

Alabama, a borderline top 25 team across the board, falls to 23-14 and 8-7 in the SEC with a Tuesday visit from the UAB Blazers up next. They will then host the Georgia Bulldogs for a three-game series this weekend. Here are three things we learned from Tennessee baseball’s series win beyond Vitello’s ejection.

1. The long ball still works against control pitchers.

Tuesday’s loss to Tennessee Tech and Friday’s loss gave off the vibe that the Vols struggled against off-speed pitchers, even with a home run from Jorel Ortega, a double from Luc Lipcius and a triple from Drew Gilbert Friday. That as put to rest Saturday, though. UT hit seven homers over the next two days.

Jordan Beck was the star Saturday with two, and he hit a third in the series Sunday. Trey Lipscomb hit two himself Sunday. Lipcius hit one Saturday, and Ortega hit his second of the series Sunday. He also had a triple Friday. They scored 13 of their 27 runs this weekend off long balls.

2. Bullpen was great but offset a big concern with starters.

Chase Burns allowed four earned runs in three innings Friday. Drew Beam got the win but allowed three runs in six innings Sunday. Although he was perfect in his one inning Saturday, Chase Dollander then got injured, so that’s a concern on its own. Then Camden Sewell allowed two earned runs in four innings.

Simply put, Tennessee baseball’s starting pitching struggled. Relievers were their saving grace. In 12 innings pitched over the weekend, that unit allowed one earned run. Ironically, the one run was allowed by Blade Tidwell, who is pitching from the pen right now but will start when fully healthy.

3. Baserunning could still improve.

Yes, Gilbert and Lipscomb were able to score thanks to advancing on wild pitches by Alabama Saturday, when they had three errors. However, they were 50 percent on stolen base attempts over the weekend, which is not good.

Next. Ranking Vols five CWS teams all-time. dark

Evan Russell, Seth Stephenson and Christian Scott all had a steal Saturday. However, Lipscomb and Russell were each caught stealing once and Cortland Lawson was caught stealing Sunday. This follows a poor baserunning show by Tennessee baseball against the Missouri Tigers, so it could be a concern if not fixed.