FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tennessee baseball’s season lies in the hands of Arkansas at Baum-Walker Stadium.
A 4-3 defeat in game one has the Vols now fighting for their season in a win-or-go-home situation. The Razorbacks sit one win away from advancing to the College World Series, while Tennessee needs to rally for a pair of wins to continue defending its national title.
Two hits were part of the Vols’ demise in the first game. Tennessee (46-18) was subject to a perfect game bid through four innings until an error and a Dean Curley home run put the Vols ahead in the fifth inning. Ryder Helfrick ensured that it would only last the half inning, blasting a two-run shot of his own in the home half of the frame for Arkansas (47-13). An Andrew Fischer bomb in the ninth gave Tennessee its second hit, but nothing else came from it.
Now the Vols return Cannon Peebles and add Liam Doyle to the mound.
Follow along for live updates from The Daily Beacon.
Live updates and box
Arkansas — 0 0 2 5 0 0 3 0 1 – 11 10 0
Tennessee — 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 x – 2 7 0
Top 1st
– Davalan is spiked in the arm, and takes his base. Vitello comes out from the dugout to challenge the call. The call is upheld after review.
– W. Aloy pops out in foul territory
– Maxwell flies out to the warning track in left
– Helfrick goes down swinging
Bottom 1st
– Kilen flies out to left field after an eight-pitch battle
– Fischer draws a four-pitch walk
– Ensley flies out to center
– Bargo pops out to the infield after breaking his bat
Top 2nd
– K. Aloy flies out to shallow right
– Kozeal drops a single in right and the first hit of the game is recorded
Kozeal steals second after a wild pitch in an 0-2 count
– Iredale swings through a full-count pitch
– Robinett strikes out swinging
Bottom 2nd
– Curley grounds out
– Chapman flies out to left
– Clark grounds out
Top 3rd
– Thomas draws a walk
SCORE: Charles Davalan smokes a two-run shot to right field after an infield visit with Doyle.
– W. Aloy singles to left
– Maxwell strikes out swinging
– Helfrick strikes out swinging
– K. Aloy lines out to center field
Bottom 3rd
– Cannon Peebles sends a single up the middle. Tennessee has a hit today.
– Marin singles through the left side of the infield
– Kilen singles to left and the bases are loaded with no outs
SCORE: Peebles comes home as Andrew Fischer grounds into a double play.
– Ensley flies out to center
Top 4th
– Kozeal singles to right
– Iredale flies out to right
– Robinett singles to right
– Thomas strikes out swinging
– Davalan is intentionally walked after a wild pitch. The bases are loaded and Liam Doyle’s day is done.
Brayden Krenzel takes over.
SCORE: Krenzel spikes the dirt and Kozeal scores
– Krenzel hits W. Aloy
AJ Russell takes over to relieve Krenzel
SCORE: Logan Maxwell smokes a grand slam to left, pushing the Hogs’ lead to six.
– Helfrick pops out
Bottom 4th
– Bargo walks
– Curley flies out
– Chapman walks
– Clark strikes out swinging
– Peebles grounds into a fielder’s choice
Top 5th
– K. Aloy flies out
– Kozeal walks
– Iredale strikes out
– Iredale is called for batter’s interference and the inning ends
Bottom 5th
– Marin strikes out looking
– Kilen strikes out swinging
– Fischer lines out to the first baseman
Top 6th
– Robinett strikes out swinging
– Thomas grounds out
– Davalan draws a walk
– W. Aloy flies out to right
Bottom 6th
– Ensley plops down a single on the right-field line
– Bargo flies out to the wall in center
– Curley pops out to the shallow outfield
– Chapman strikes out on a check swing
Top 7th
Nate Snead takes over to begin the inning
– Maxwell doubles to right
– Helfrick grounds outs
SCORE: K. Aloy singles up the middle to score Maxwell
– Kozeal walks
– Iredale walks
Brandon Arvidson gets the call out of the bullpen.
SCORE: Arvidson uses five pitches to walk in a run
SCORE: Arvidson walks home another run
Dylan Loy enters to pitch.
– Loy induces a double-play grounder to end the frame, finally.
Bottom 7th
– Clark strikes out swinging
– Peebles grounds out
– Marin grounds out
Top 8th
– W. Aloy grounds out
– Maxwell singles
– Helfrick pops out
– K. Aloy grounds out
Bottom 8th
– Kilen walks
– Fischer singles to right
– Ensley lines out to short
– Bargo strikes out swinging
SCORE: Dean Curley pushes an RBI single to right
– Chapman strikes out looking
Top 9th
– Kozeal lines out
SCORE: Iredale smokes a solo shot
– Thomas flies out to right
Bottom 9th
– Blake Grimmer strikes out looking
– Chris Newstrom doubles to left center and the Vols have their first hit for extra bases today.
– Colby Backus strikes out swinging
SCORE: Jay Abernathy hits his first career homer off the scoreboard in right
FINAL:
Lineups
Tennessee
1. Gavin Kilen (SS)
2. Andrew Fischer (1B)
3. Hunter Ensley (CF)
4. Dalton Bargo (RF)
5. Dean Curley (2B)
6. Reese Chapman (RF)
7. Levi Clark (DH)
8. Cannon Peebles (C)
9. Manny Marin (3B)
SP: LHP Liam Doyle (10-3, 2.84 ERA)
Arkansas
1. Charles Davalan (LF)
2. Wehiwa Aloy (SS)
3. Logan Maxwell (RF)
4. Ryder Helfrick (C)
5. Kuhio Aloy (DH)
6. Cam Kozeal (2B)
7. Brent Iredale (3B)
8. Reese Robinett (1B)
9. Justin Thomas Jr. (CF)
SP: RHP Gage Wood (3-1, 5.33 ERA)
How to watch Tennessee baseball
The Vols and Razorbacks receive treatment on ESPN for at least games one and two of the series. Tom Hart, Kyle Peterson and Chris Burke will handle the call.
Game two is set for Sunday, also taking place on ESPN for a 3:06 p.m. ET first pitch.
If a game three is necessary, a first pitch and television designation are still to be announced for Monday.