SCORE: Tennessee 0, Bellarmine 0 | T2

*SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED*

Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (30-6, 10-5 SEC) is set to battle the Bellarmine Knights (6-29, 5-10 ASUN) Tuesday evening in Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a midweek contest.

First pitch is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +. Reminder that the online broadcasts can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch. You can also watch or listen to the game using the links.

Tennessee is looking to extend its six-game winning streak after sweeping the LSU Tigers last weekend in Knoxville. The sweep marked Tennessee’s first in SEC play and propelled them to 10 conference wins and second in the SEC East. The Vols’ pitching staff had their best weekend collectively so far in league play as AJ Causey, Drew Beam, Nate Snead, Zander Sechrist, Chris Stamos, Kirby Connell and Aaron Combs all shined.

After most of their SEC wins had been in high-scoring affairs or run-rule victories, Tennessee found a way to win close, low-scoring games on Friday and Saturday before turning it up a notch on Sunday with an 8-4 win.

Read about Tennessee’s sweep over LSU here. For everything head coach Tony Vitello said after the sweep, click here.

In addition to Tennessee’s sweep over LSU, the Vols have earned series wins over Auburn on the road and No. 24 Georgia and Ole Miss in Knoxville. Tennessee also owns a sweep over Illinois, midweek win over Kansas State, and wins over Baylor and Texas Tech in Arlington during opening weekend.

Tennessee opened SEC play in Tuscaloosa against Alabama, who are the only team to beat the Vols in a series this season, winning games two and three.

As for Bellarmine, the Knights have struggled significantly this season and are currently on a six-game losing streak. From February 17 to March 26, Bellarmine lost 23 games in a row.

Tennessee has hosted Bellarmine three times in the past two seasons, winning all three contests by a combined score of 39-9. The Vols dominated the Knights, 19-1, in the most recent meeting on April 25, 2023, in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tonight’s contest will primarily serve as a tune-up for the Vols before they hit the road to battle No. 3 Kentucky in a three-game series in Lexington. On paper, Kentucky will is the best opponent remaining on Tennessee’s regular-season schedule.

Injury Note

-AJ Russell remains out as he deals with forearm soreness. Russell will likely be out for a while, but he didn’t suffer a very serious injury.

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including where Tennessee stands in the most recent rankings after its sweep over LSU, click here.

More From RTI: Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Where Vols Stand At The Halfway Point In SEC Play

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

Starting Lineups

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

C Cannon Peebles (S)

1B Blake Burke (L)

3B Billy Amick (R)

RF Kavares Tears (L)

LF Dylan Dreiling (L)

SS Dean Curley (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

DH Dalton Bargo (L)

2B Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Peebles gets the midweek start behind the plate over Taylor or Stark. Peebles is now clearly behind Stark in the pecking order at the position.
• Peebles leading off as the coaching staff is likely trying anything to get him going.
• Ariel Antigua starting at shortstop. Christian Moore rest day.
• Bargo gets the DH nod.
• Chapman gets an outfield start and Tears moves to center.
• NO Hunter Ensley tonight.

BELLARMINE STARTING NINE: 

CF Will Aubel (R)

1B Casey Sorg (R)

3B Reed Blaszczyk (R)

SS Luke Scales (R)

DH Jacob Rowold (L)

RF Jake Argarwal (R)

2B Webster Walls (L)

LF Joey Milto (R)

C Charlie Rife (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols RS-So. RHP Marcus Phillips (0-0, 1.35 ERA, 8 app., 0 starts, 1 SV, 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 8 K, .208 opp. batting avg., 1.65 WHIP)

vs.

Knights Gr-Sr. RHP Nolan Pender (1-4, 9.43 ERA, 16 app., 3 starts, 1 SV, 21.0 IP, 30 H, 28 R, 22 ER, 19 BB, 28 K, .326 opp. batting avg., 2.33 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Phillips receives his first start as a Vol. He has been mediocre in his appearances so far this season, but there’s no denying his power and size on the mound. Certainly a high upside. His season-long in IP is 2.0.
• Pender is among the top pitchers on Bellarmine’s roster in innings pitched. He’s obviously struggled with his command, but he is one of the Knights’ more trusted arms.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Midweek pinstripes

Bellarmine: Black tops, grey bottoms

*NOTE* There is NO RUN-RULE today.

1st Inning: 

T1

-Will Aubel grounds out to SS.

-Corey Sorg grounds out to 2B.

-Reed Blaszczyk flies out to RF. Flat-out incredible diving catch by Reese Chapman in right field.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to SS.

-Blake Burke singles up the middle.

• Burke’s hit streak is now at 27 games. That ties Condredge Holloway’s program record of longest hit streak (27 games).

-Billy Amick is walked. Burke advances to second.

-Kavares Tears strikes out swinging.

-Dylan Dreiling flies out to the warning track in RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Knights 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

B2

Score: Vols 0, Knights 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

B3

Score: Vols , Knights

4th Inning: 

T4

B4

Score: Vols , Knights

5th Inning: 

T5

B5

Score: Vols , Knights

6th Inning: 

T6

B6

Score: Vols , Knights

7th Inning: 

T7

B7

Score: Vols , Knights

8th Inning: 

T8

B8

Score: Vols , Knights

9th Inning: 

T9

B9

FINAL: Tennessee Vols __, Bellarmine Knights __