'Voltellos Sweep LSU:


Tennessee picked up its first SEC sweep of the season this weekend over LSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.


The Volunteers needed a late-inning rally on Saturday but never trailed in either the Friday or Sunday games.


Tennessee improved to 10-5 in SEC play and 30-6 overall.


The defending national champs fell to just 3-12 in SEC play and 23-15 overall.


Friday night

Billy Amick wasted no time in his return to the lineup. The Vols’ 3rd baseman hit a 2-run home run to left field on the first pitch he saw to give Tennessee an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning.


LSU had runners on the corners with two outs for Tommy White in the top of the 3rd when the Vols turned to AJ Causey, who was replaced by Chris Stamos in the Friday night starting role. White singled on a grounder up the middle to put LSU on the board but the Tigers would leave the bases loaded after Causey struck out Mac Bingham.

Tennessee added a run in the 3rd inning on a bases loaded walk to Dylan Dreiling but a double play that saw Blake Burke thrown out at the plate kept the score at 3-1.


The Vols added three runs in the 5th inning, including a Dreiling solo home run to take a 6-1 lead.


The Tigers scored two runs in the 9th inning and brought the tying run to the plate but lefty Kirby Connell closed it out for the 6-3 win.


In relief, Causey threw 4.2 scoreless innings and struck out seven to earn the win.


Saturday

The Tigers got on the board in the top of the 2nd when a throwing error on a bunt to 3rd base scored one.


Later in the inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, Beam got back-to-back strikeouts, then a ground out to strand both runners, a theme LSU would repeat throughout the day. The Tigers would leave eight runners on base in the game and were just 1-of-10 at the plate with runners in scoring position.


LSU saved their ace for game two and Luke Holman took a no-hitter into the 6th inning.


Blake Burke’s infield single with one out in the 6th broke up the no-no and extended Burke’s NCAA-best hitting streak to 25 games.


Billy Amick then doubled down the left field line to put Vols on 2nd and 3rd with one out.


After a strikeout, the Tigers turned to lefty Griffin Herring, who gave up a 2-run single to Dylan Dreiling that put Tennessee on top 2-1.


Amick’s solo home run off the scoreboard in right field made it 3-1.


Nate Snead threw two shutout innings to close the game out. His 8th inning was extremely impressive, getting a 1st-pitch pop out and then back-to-back 3-pitch strikeouts.


Beam scattered eight hits over 6.2 innings but only allowed one unearned run. He struck out five and walked three but the punch outs came in critical ABs.


For the second game in a row, LSU brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th but once again didn’t produce as Tommy White popped out to give the Vols the series win.


Sunday

Tennessee broke out the brooms in their Sunday cream jerseys.


A Cal Stark 1-out single in the bottom of the 3rd was the Vols’ first hit of the game. After advancing to 2nd on a Christian Moore groundout, Blake Burke hit a 2-out, 2-run oppo home run into the left field porches to put Tennessee up 2-0.


It was Burke’s 12th home run of the season, 42nd for his career and extended his hitting streak to 26 games.


A 2-out single in top of the 4ht inning cut the Vols lead to 2-1.


LSU’s Hayden Travinski sent a 2-out, 2-strike pitch into the left field porches in the top of the 6th to tie the game at 2-2. In a game that saw an expanded strike zone for much of it, Tennessee’s dugout felt starter Zander Sechrist got squeezed during the game-tying AB.


But the Vols quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the inning.


Christian Moore led off with a solo HR into the LF porches to put the Vols back on top 3-2.


Then with two outs in the bottom of the 7th, C Mo added three much-needed insurance runs with a 3-run bomb to left field to make it a 6-2 game.


The home run was the 2nd baseman’s 2nd long ball of the game and a team-leading 15th for the season.


It also tied him with Burke for the most career home runs in program history with 42.


A Tommy White 2-run bomb over the porches cut the Vols’s lead to 6-4 in the top of the 8th but Stark got both of those runs back with a 2-out, 2-run bloop wind-aided double to shallow left center field to make it 8-4.


Aaron Combs got the final six outs to earn the save.


LSU entered the series finale hitting a league worst .198 vs left-handed pitches in SEC play.


Sechrist solid once again, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings while striking out five and walking one.


Big Orange Notes:

— Billy Amick had missed eight games before game one of the series. His first-pitch home run on Friday night was just the start of a nice weekend at the plate. Amick hit .400 (4-of-10) with two home runs and a double.


— Blake Burke’s 26-game hitting streak is tied for the 2nd longest in program history. Condredge Holloway had a 27-game hitting streak in 1975.


— Kirby Connell made his 105th career appearance in Friday night’s game, which set a new program record. The high-leverage lefty has become a multi-inning reliever this season for a Tennessee pitching staff that doesn’t have the depth it had in recent years.


— Aaron Combs earned his first save of the season on Sunday. It was his best outing of the year and a very encouraging sign going forward.


— Tennessee hosts Bellarmine tonight before a weekend trip up I75 to face Kentucky. The Wildcats are a very surprising 14-1 in SEC play to date.


@Mattdixon3'

'X' Orange & White Game Report ...

It certainly was a beautiful spring Saturday in Knoxville. What a setting to celebrate the completion of another spring of practice football for the Tennessee Volunteers. The Orange & White game, fully scripted so as not to divulge any state secrets to the 12 opponents on the 2024 schedule, was largely as anticipated ….. uneventful. The best news is there were no major injuries on Saturday. Most of the players who had been nursing an injury didn’t even dress for the game.


Tennessee showed just enough of Nico on Saturday to sustain fan excitement until the end of July. The head coach sure has more courage than I do. After Nico’s first pass play where the offensive line and DeSean Bishop decided not to block anyone, Nico would have spent the rest of the afternoon standing beside me if that was my dime and dance floor.

Takeaways from Saturday and Spring Practice Generally Nico still has plenty to improve upon. Sure, it’s a spring game I get it… Gaston Moore though looked more comfortable in getting the offense from one play to the next play compared to Nico. I expect him to be better at this in the fall.


The roster is better. The secondary is more athletic, the bodies are bigger and more athletic on both lines of scrimmage, and the wide receiver group, minus Squirrel White and Bru McCoy who both return for fall practice, looked bigger and more explosive.


A couple of non-descript things stood out to me in a spring game. Senior Omari Thomas, by all accounts Tennessee's best interior defensive lineman, chased down a running back 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.


Back up offensive lineman Ayden Bussell left the game with a shoulder injury. An injury in a spring game usually signals the end of the afternoon for most players. Bussell returned to action a few plays later. I bet you that caught the attention of both the offensive line coach and the head coach.


Tennessee offensive specialists handled the ball without turning it over. With all the changing personnel parts of a spring game and the quarterbacks didn’t botch a handoff or throw an interception. The running backs and wide receivers secured the ball. Game execution was spot on.


I do not know what to make of the back-up running back situation. Coaches have been singing the praises of both backups all spring. I saw nothing from either Saturday that made me comfortable. What I did see were missed blocking assignments, tentative running, and lack of explosive plays. One of the storylines for the next few weeks is whether Tennessee pursues a running back in the portal.

Josh Heupel is quietly telling his media that Seldon is out until early September. My advice is to add a month to what he is saying publicly and that is when you can reasonably expect Cam Seldon to be healthy enough to return. We know from watching Jabari Small suffer through a lingering shoulder issue that you have to be careful with that injury literally from series to series.


Tennessee has an abundance of riches on the defensive line. You just have the feeling Tennessee might try and redshirt a couple of those interior players when more playing time is available in 2025.


The secondary is an unknown. The “group” is more athletic, but will the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach allow the players to play through some inevitable mistakes or will they play it safe.


If Keenan Pili is healthy, the defense will be plenty good enough. When healthy he is one of Tennessee's best defenders and one of the best linebackers in the conference. He also brings a calming influence on the younger linebackers. Sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Telander is one of Tennessee’s most improved players this spring He took full advantage of being healthy and hitting it off with the new position coach. He made a strong case for starting beside Pili this fall.


Others Who Stood Out

Gaston Moore looks like a capable backup quarterback. I want Nico to make it through the season healthy. If he happened to miss a series or two, Gaston is capable of running the offense.


Mike Matthews doesn’t look like a freshman wide receiver. The long touchdown catch was nice, but I noticed his blocking on Saturday. He was a willing blocker and didn’t shy away from contact at all. The fact that he is a willing blocker and is explosive to boot almost guarantees him playing time next season.


Sham Umarov. Umarov looks like he is furthest along in terms of development of any of the other young offensive linemen. So much so that Umarov has jumped into the competition for the starting left guard position this fall.


Edwin Spillman and Boo Carter. Both true freshmen with a lot to learn. Both flashed here and there Saturday. Those plays should excite fans for their respective futures at Tennessee.


Portal Transfer Jakobe Thomas. His athleticism is something the secondary has been missing. He showed up a lot Saturday.


Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Nathan Robinson. He has put in work in the offseason program. He looks like a completely different player physically than a year ago. Coach Garner will find a way to get Robinson into the rotation this fall.


Lingering Injury Questions You don’t take a chance with any injured player being counted on in the fall. The following injuries though seem problematic.


Tight end Ethan Davis. Davis is as talented a tight end prospect that has played at Tennessee in recent time. He can’t stay healthy. He was held out of the spring game as a precaution. He was injured in the spring game last year and he missed his first season at Tennessee recovering from shoulder surgery. Davis has missed more time with injury than he has practicing. I really want to see him healthy because he can be a difference maker. The tight end position is so important a position to the offense that keeping Davis healthy is a huge concern.


Right tackle John Campbell. Campbell is a key member of the offensive line. Him being healthy and available is important to the offensive. He hasn’t been healthy frankly since mid-season last season. He missed time leading up to the spring game with injury and he reinjured himself in warmups Saturday and was held out as a precaution.


Cam Seldon. His injury is the worst news of the spring. He is such a key piece to the offense. Josh Heupel is telling his media confidantes that Seldon is out until early September. My advice. Add a month. Therefore, you can reasonably expect Cam Seldon to be healthy enough to return in late September or early October. After watching Jabari Small suffer through a lingering shoulder issue for 3 seasons you hold your breath every time the kid takes contact.


Wrapping Things Up ... It's Portal Time In Tennessee:

The transfer portal opens Monday and I’m holding my breath. I do expect Tennessee players to enter the portal. With the money flying around in the NIL market, Tennessee needs to continue to manage its current roster.

I’m watching the defensive line including the pass rushers. Likely the deepest and best in the SEC. You can’t discount other programs who have depth issues at those positions coming after one or more of the experienced linemen with offers that would be hard to turn down.


And how active will Tennessee be when the portal opens? A running back or depth at linebacker isn’t out of the question. And ... how do they feel about Ethan Davis’s recent spate of injuries? Can you find an experienced tight end who can pick up the pace of this offense in a few months?


Tennessee didn’t solve its left guard position this spring. Sham Umarov had a good enough spring to surpass a couple of guys in the competition who were limited because of injury. Also returning offensive linemen Jackson Lampley, Cooper Mays, Andrej Karic, Larry Johnson, Javontez Spraggins, Masai Reddick, and John Campbell all missed some or all of spring practice. The coaches don’t seem to be worried. I should note though at least half of that group have been nursing one injury or another since coming to campus.


'X'

'T Club Team:

Random musings as the Baseball Vols get an important sweep of the defending national champs and spring football ends on a high note:

THE FIGHTING VOLTELLOS ... Get an important sweep against a struggling LSU team to run their SEC record to 9-5, good enough for 4th place in the SEC but the schedule is getting ready to get more difficult as we are at the halfway point of the league sched. Tennessee's first five opponents went 23-50 in the first half but the next five foes have a 41-33 worksheet. The Vols go to Lexington next weekend to play the surprising league leading Kentucky Wildcats, sporting a 13-1 SEC record.


LINEUP WAS CLUTCH ... In three pretty tense and tight games against the Tigers. Billy Amick was back from his appendectomy and was 4-for-10 with two homers and a double. Christian Moore was huge yesterday with two homers and Dylan Dreiling was big again on Friday and Saturday.


FRANK ANDERSON'S PITCHING STAFF ... Came up big this weekend. Chris Stamos and A.J. Causey were strong on Friday. Drew Beam outdueled Luke Holman on Saturday and got a great save from Nate Snead. Yesterday, Zander Sechrist gave the Vols another quality Sunday start and Aaron Combs closed it out. This staff needs A.J. Russell down the road but this staff grew in this series.


HEUP'S FAST BREAK ATTACK ... Is back after a semi-hiatus in 2023. The most obvious reason is Nico with the joystick ... I mean football in his hands. He should be the best new starting QB in college football in the fall. The other reason is the wide receiver position, which is stacked and packed for the 2024 campaign. Dont'e Thornton has grown considerably with a year under his belt split out wide and new transfer Chris Brazzell is a good addition. Of course, Bru McCoy and Squirrel are known quantities and freshman Mike Matthews is the best high school recruit in the WR room since Heupel got the job.


NO NEW INCOMING YET ... On the UT basketball portal front. Darlinstone Dubar and Cade Tyson left town without shutting down their recruitment, although On3.com is projecting Dubar 100% to the Large Orange. Rick Barnes and staff are trying hard to retain Tobe Awaka though success seems far from certain at this point. Ohio State guard Roddy Gale (45th nationally) is visiting this week and Charlotte transfer big man Igor Milicic (#62) is interested in Tennessee.


CATS THROW A PEP RALLY ... In behalf of new basketball coach Mark Pope. Big Blue Nation packed Rupp arena yesterday afternoon to welcome the former Wildcat. The UK athletics department pulled out all of the stops by bringing back all of the program's former stars and Pope did not disappoint, giving a rousing speech. Now comes the hard part, building a roster that can win an NCAA tournament game for the first time in Pope's coaching career and then getting in the Final Four a year or two from now.


LADY VOL UPDATE... The 4th-ranked softballers took two out of three on the road at Mississippi State and still lead the SEC at 12-3.


Orange Throat'

TLD Logistics Tennessee Baseball Report: Tony Vitello Was Excellent On Wednesday's Tony Basilio Show:

Tony On The Dearth Of Bullpen Arms Abounding In SEC: 'We talked about it at Auburn. I mean they've got good arms ... it's just the kids aren't executing and we have guys that are capable and you know we've had some soreness and things like that. So I think guys either being injured you know kind of plays into it a little bit. It might even trickle down all the way to a variety of factors like kids these days all believe they're starters and they want to start and it's all about how hard can I throw on one day. Greg Olson who does broadcasting said it's frustrating that you don't see kids really throw back to back days anymore.'


On The Injuries With Pitchers Across The Sport: 'I think again when you try and look to one source for a cause you're probably chasing a ghost a little bit there. I think like anything there's a variety of factors that are playing into your theory on the bullpen situation and then for the injuries there's countless things that are playing into it. I mean these athletes are way more explosive than they used to be. Guys are measuring the analytics behind each piece. They throw and then are trying to improve them. And a lot of times, hey I'll just say it like it is, Blade Tidwell went and pitched with Team USA ... which is a really cool honor ... He made it because he's one of the best pitchers in the country. Tidwell went over there and pitched with a guy that had a crazy spin rate on his fastball. Again Tidwell was already great but he was looking to get better and tries to emulate what this kid's doing with his fastball and that's why he was sore at the start of that year for us.

'He ended up being a bullpen guy that eventually ended up starting for us. It was a variety of factors why he had soreness but there's no doubt in my mind but he changed the way he naturally threw the baseball to try and adhere to analytics. I think that's no doubt one of the factors for the injuries. I do think the pitch clock plays in as well.'


Update on AJ Russell: He's back throwing. He's in a throwing program. He'll be ready to roll when we see fit. Hard to say how long as we have a progression with those guys. We want them to play catch, long toss then bullpens then eventually they pitch to our hitters. I think a few weeks is reasonable to talk about. He was a real thin framed kid when he first got here. Now he's built himself up. He had soreness last year but I think that was due to him being thin and wiry. This year elevated stuff. Touching 97 or 98. That's stress and explosiveness that turned into soreness.


Update On Billy Amick: I think Billy will be available this weekend but it's going to depend on his ability to swing the bat. He's fine on defense as he's continued to work there. The offensive thing has become available. He'll be active this weekend and you'll see him on the eligible list just in case.


How Does Tennessee Baseball Keep Guys Around Where They Wait Their Turn? 'The fact that we've had guys like Jorel Ortega and Trey Lipscomb struggle to even make the travel roster but yet they go through that sequence and kind of a proper progression.. If you really look at it, it's nice to know you're kind of constantly building or working towards something instead of having the pressure of having to repeat fantastic performances for a long period of time..

'The other thing is I think they know they're being invested in as people and I think they like it. We've got to win games and stuff like that and our job really is to develop these guys and I think there's a set of people here with like our nutritionist, academic coordinator, strength coach and others behind the scenes that make our guys' lives better and they appreciate it. So I think that plays into it too.'

AJ Causey's Issues? 'I think he's been guilty of overthinking things a little bit. He's such a good kid when it comes to preparation. The guy is a dog in the weight room. But you get punched in the guts but something else happens and then you don't get a break. Now you've got three things that are soaking up your attention instead of getting the job done. I think that's kind of spiraled in him on a couple of different occasions. I think for right now with him there needs to be a little of a reset button. He needs to get back to simplicity.'

Could Causey Lose His Starting Spot Friday Vs LSU? 'Yes it's possible. I think you want stability but you want to go with things that work and not things that don't. We want to put ourselves in a position to have a good weekend but really at the end of the day we need to play our best ball on Friday.'

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