Vols split doubleheader against Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WATE) — Tennessee will look to pick up its sixth straight SEC series win of the season in tomorrow’s rubber match after splitting Friday’s doubleheader against Florida.

Tennessee picked up a 6-2 win in game one, but fell 4-3 in a tough loss in game two.

First pitch for Saturday’s series finale is set for 6:30 p.m.

GAME ONE:

Although Tennessee’s weekend series in Gainesville got off to a tough start with game one being postponed due to weather , the Vols made up for it by starting off Saturday’s doubleheader with a 6-2 win over the Gators.

AJ Causey picked up the win and finished the day giving up just four hits, striking out seven and not allowing a run. Chris Stamos got the start and allowed three hits, two earned runs and had four strikeouts.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, the Vols got to work in the second. Dylan Dreiling started things off with a single, and Hunter Ensley followed up with another single to put two runners on with no outs. Both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Dean Curley worked a 3-2 count to bring home Dreiling on a single to right to give the Vols a 1-0 lead.

Tennessee made it 2-0 as the Vols got aggressive with a double steal, as Curley moved over to second and Ensley stole home. Florida challenged the call after Ensley was deemed safe by the umpire, but it ultimately stood as the Vols jumped out to a two-run advantage.

However, three straight outs put an end to the inning and left Ensley stranded at second.

Florida answered right back in the top of the third, as Brody Donay hit a two-run homer to tie the game at two.

The Vols quickly got on base to start the third as Christian Moore and Blake Burke hit back-to-back singles. Billy Amick then hit a double down the left field line as Moore ran home to give Tennessee back the lead. Burke also tried to score on the Amick hit, but he was called out at home plate.

Tennessee still added to its lead, however, as Dreiling picked up his second hit of the day to bring home Amick from second for the 4-2 advantage.

The Gators got two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but AJ Causey, who took over on the mound after Chris Stamos gave up a leadoff single, escaped the jam with a groundout and strikeout.

Causey carried that momentum into the fifth inning and struck out the side, including leadoff batter Jac Caglianone.

The Vols had a chance to extend their lead in the seventh with Cal Stark and Moore on first and second, but Burke lined into a double play to end the inning.

Tennessee was able to capitalize in the eighth with the bases loaded. After a Billy Amick double, Dylan Dreiling was walked. Hunter Ensley then moved them over with a groundout to short. Cannon Peebles was then intentionally walked, and Reese Chapman brought Amick home with a sac fly to make it a 5-2 Tennessee lead.

Dreiling provided an insurance run in the ninth with a single through the right side to score Burke from second base.

GAME TWO:

Blake Burke started things off strong for the Vols in the bottom of the first with a triple. However, back-to-back strikeouts of Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling ended the inning and kept Tennessee off the board.

After Tennessee took the first lead of the afternoon in game one, it was Florida who struck first in game two. Brody Donay hit a two-run homer in game one, and hit another one out of the park in game, a solo homer in the third inning to give Florida its first lead of the day.

The Gators extended their lead to 3-0 later in the inning thanks to a two-run home run from Colby Shelton.

The Vols loaded the bases and had the leading run at the plate in the fourth, but Reese Chapman struck out to leave the trio of Tennessee runners stranded.

Tennessee broke through in the fifth inning as a Blake Burke double brought home Christian Moore to cut the Gators’ lead to two runs.

Billy Amick lived up to his nickname “Billy Barrels” in the eighth as he smashed a solo homer over the left field wall. Amick’s 18th homer of the season pulled Tennessee within a run.

However, the Gators made it a two-run game again in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Cade Kurland.

Down to their final three outs, the Vols got to work. Dean Curley singled up the middle to open up the ninth. Kavares Tears, who has been battling a lower-body injury, came in to pinch hit for Chapman. Tears struck out but Cannon Peebles was walked to put two runners on with one out.

Christian Moore was up to bat next, and he grounded out to third to bring home Antigua, pinch running for Curley, from third to bring the Vols within one run again.

The drama continued as Blake Burke reached first on a walk, bringing up Amick with two on and two out. However, Amick couldn’t get the job done as the Vols fell 4-3.

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