FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Everything that is written about Saturday’s loss for Tennessee baseball has been washed down the drain.
As the No. 3 Vols suffered defeat to Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium in the opening game of the super regionals, it became another game to flush. Between two hits on offense with a plethora of balls put in play, and a fair pitching performance, Tennessee just could not get the job done.
Still, there’s at least one more game guaranteed at the park. And it’s a game to be played with its ace on the mound.
“We got a long bus ride back to Rogers,” head coach Tony Vitello said. “So might as well use that to decompress a little bit, and also maybe not read as much stuff that you all write, with all due respect, and just kind of reflect on the day. What can they do better?”
The first order of business is recognizing who will be playing in Sunday’s game. Tennessee will have its top battery in action as Golden Spikes Award finalist Liam Doyle takes the mound with the season on the line. It also returns switch-hitting catcher Cannon Peebles behind the plate, who missed game one from suspension.
Peebles’ return is a reason to believe Tennessee can bounce back. Doyle’s abilities are a reason to bring confidence.
“Doyle’s Doyle,” Dean Curley said. “Everyone has trust in him.”
Hindering thoughts arise when the calendar dates back a couple of weeks. The last time Tennessee’s flamethrowing lefty took the mound in Fayetteville, it did not go all so well. It instead went down as one of the worst outings of the season for the SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Doyle was pulled in the fifth inning after the Hogs ran wild on him. He allowed 11 sits and eight runs across 104 pitches before the leash was pulled. He was still able to give 10 strikeouts.
“They were aggressive, for sure,” Vitello said. “And from the beginning, I think he just never really kind of had his rhythm. I looked at it. I don’t have a magic answer for you.”
It comes with recognition from the opposing side as well. Zach Root showed in game one that the results from mid-May were not indicative of capabilities in postseason June. Doyle has the opportunity to further that point.
“He’ll do anything he can to help his team win,” Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn said. “Pitched two different times, started and then came in relief on Monday. He’s going to compete hard, we just got to do a good job. When we get a chance to hit one, we got to square it up, and he’s hard to square up. So I told our guys to get some rest because we’ll get their best shot tomorrow.”
Behind the dish, Tennessee adds back Peebles — who has been Doyle’s battery mate all season. While far from perfect, his clutch bat down the stretch has been crucial to success. Peebles adds a stronger dynamic at managing runners aboard defensively, and has fared well in situations offensively to score runs.
It brings familiarity back for the Vols. It’s also a bat that provided four hits — at least one in each game — and three RBIs across the three-game set a month ago.
“He’s a switch-hitter, but it is a deal where he adds some balance to the lineup when he’s hitting left-handed,” Vitello said. “He’s also really played well for us.”
There’s a reason it is a best-of-three series in the postseason. Baseball is not meant to be decided in a singular game.
As the Tennessee returns to the park with its backs against the wall, there are still 27 more outs to be played.
“Anything can happen,” Vitello said. “It’s certainly chaotic this time of year.”