Tennessee Looking to ‘Punch’ Alabama Following Series Opening Loss | Rocky Top Insider

Alabama handed Tennessee its first loss in convention play this yr, defeating the Vols, 6-3, Friday night time at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The sequence opener was tighter than the rating indicated with a handful of performs on all sides swinging the distinction of the sport. Nonetheless, Alabama knocked Tennessee off kilter for the primary time all season, and the Vols would be the hunter in sport two tomorrow night time.

Whereas Tennessee gamers had been fast to level out that it’s baseball and losses are naturally going to occur, the loss seemingly lit a hearth below the top-ranked Vols.

“I’m not anxious about it in any respect,” Jared Dickey mentioned of his group’s response. “I do know our group goes to return again and bounce again. We now have a bunch of canines on this group and just a little fertilizer by no means harm anyone.”

“The group is mentally ready for tomorrow proper now. The group that’s mentally ready for tomorrow proper now’s going to win the sport. We’re doing it proper now and we’re going to return out and punch them within the throat.”

Rivalry between Tennessee and residential plate umpire Jeffrey Macias was constant all through the sport. Macias gave Tennessee outfielder Drew Gilbert a warning for arguing balls and strikes, and Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson shared phrases with Macias.

Macias was the house plate umpire in Tennessee’s Faculty World Collection loss to Texas through which tempers flared and then-Tennessee assistant coach Ross Kivett was ejected from the sport.

Following Gilbert’s come out to finish the sport, Alabama gamers shortly ran out of the away dugout celebrating loudly with nearer Dylan Ray earlier than shortly becoming a member of the postgame handshake line. 

The celebration settled down shortly however made an impression on Tennessee. 

“I believe simply be prepared earlier than they are going to be prepared,” Tennessee reliever Will Mabrey mentioned. “ I believe we’re already trying onto the subsequent sport. Like V(itello) was saying within the huddle, he is able to play a sport proper now. I believe we’re going to come again tomorrow sizzling. They don’t actually have an opportunity in my view. They had been additionally partying like they thought they gained the World Collection. We’ll allow them to know the way that tastes tomorrow.”

The Vols look to even the sequence up tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. SEC Community+ will stream the sport.