Say this for Tennessee’s baseball team: It’s closing the gap on Georgia.
Friday night the Vols spotted Georgia an 11-0 lead and battled back to lose 12-6.
Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, UT spotted the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs an 11-3 cushion before kicking into rally mode only to fall short 11-9.
“We do a great job of battling and at least giving ourselves an opportunity,’’ said UT first baseman Cody Hawn.
“We just can’t get over that hump right now.’’
Today is the Vols’ last chance, at least against Georgia (21-3, 6-2 SEC).
Tennessee (11-14, 1-7) will throw junior Aaron Tullo in a 1 p.m. start (Radio: WNML-FM 99.1 and 99.3) and try to keep the hard-hitting Bulldogs in check early.
Easier said than done, that.
For the second consecutive day the Bulldogs tagged UT for four home runs. For the second consecutive day, Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress hit two of them.
Saturday, he hit a three-run homer in the third inning off starter and loser Stephen McCray (3-2) to erase a 2-0 Tennessee lead. In the sixth, he hit a two-run shot off Ty’Relle Harris to make it 9-3.
Poythress also walked twice before he finally popped out in the eighth against UT reliever Will Locante.
“I’m glad he’s finally human,’’ said Hawn. “I was beginning to wonder there for a minute.’’
In 10 plate appearances against the Vols, Poythress is 6-of-7 with four homers, two doubles, nine RBI and three walks.
“That’s a representation of how many people are getting on base in front of me,’’ the preseason All-American said.
“The guys around me are doing such a good job, that takes the pressure off big-time.’’
UT coach Todd Raleigh said Poythress has been feasting on mistakes by Tennessee pitchers:
“One of the home runs was supposed to be an away fastball, unhittable. We threw it right down the middle. Another was supposed to be a slider and the kid threw a fastball.
“People probably say, ‘I can’t believe they’re pitching to him!’ Well, we’re really not. We’re not doing what we’re supposed to do.’’
The Vol bats finally did what they were supposed to do in the bottom of the eighth. UT strung together six hits and a walk to chase winning pitcher Michael Palazzone (3-0).
When Hawn’s sharp single scored two runs to make it 11-9, there was still only one out. Will Harvil. Georgia’s third pitcher of the inning, struck out Blake Forsythe and retired Kentrail Davis to end the threat.
The Vols kept coming in the ninth. After Mike Hornsby flied out to the warning track in center, Charley Thurber drew a walk and took second on Zach Osborne’s single.
The tying run was on base with one out.
Dean Weaver got Jeff Lockwood on a fly ball, then Cody Grisham’s line drive was chased down by center-fielder Matt Cerione to end the game.
“We’ve just got to figure out how to piece it together a little earlier or something,’’ said Hawn. “We just need that one hit to fall in for us.’’
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 14
FLAVOLS writes:
Damn good last 2 innings! Now if we can just do that the other 7.
easttnvol21 writes:
Please don't let him do another post game interview! Good Lord!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Season's over.
texasvol73 writes:
YEAH! We only got beat by 6 runs then 2 runs! Yippee... we should be proud!.... Give me a break! So glad we fired Delmonico...
UT_Thread_Head writes:
**NO COMMENT**
huntined#565710 writes:
Pitching is BAD!! Giving up way too many runs..
cptcrash64 writes:
Last season the Vols started out pretty competitive before fading badly in the latter half of the schedule. At least this season they're not wasting any time in getting to the crash and burn stage.
littleorange writes:
Was Hamilton at the game????
utvolz#637682 writes:
Hey Coach Raleigh,
In case you didn't get the memo, we're about WINNING on The Hill. I suggest you get busy getting your team in compliance. Heck, even your boss told us UT fans to "expect to win!"
You're program is way behing the power curve....
UT_Thread_Head writes:
yeah, i've hear that phil has a little majic wand that he can tap super stud kd and others on the head with and he/they will magically start hotting the ball again *sarcasm intended*..again i say we're not playing high school or pee wee ball, all of these players know what they have to do to win and how to do it..it's time to put up!!..the time of coddling egos and holding players hands is over..this is SEC ball!! it's time these players step up..they're making themselves and the coaches look bad..still not saying Raleigh is the man, just pointing out the fact that there is enough blame to go around..more than enough!
Futurecoach16 writes:
He did make the decision. He called for a fastball to be outside the zone, where it can't be hit. Yet, the pitcher threw it right down the middle. Raleigh made the call, but the pitcher didn't make the correct pitch. That's not Raleigh's fault. Same with the slider.
livinloudin writes:
Nope not Raleighs Fault...Is any of this his Fault...Not according to him.
He is and will always be the first to throw his players under the bus. He has No Responsibility according to his press conferences. Yep I bet the players want to play with him..NOT I bet his players want to win for him..NOT I bet his players respect him..NOT
Again I ask what is up with Raleigh not pitching Morgado?? I guess he is on the list this year of players that Raleigh has targeted to run off. As we have seen he is good at that..he ran off to name a few Aaron Everett, Yan Gomes, Lance McClain, Andy Siminic.
And what happened to Lockwood under Delmonico he was a stand out player...hitter...pitcher?? What happened to him bet I know.....RALEIGH
gmoneyvol writes:
Awful. This team is getting worse.
UT_Thread_Head writes:
a couple of those guys that you mentioned didn't feel it necessary to go to their classes all of the time and so their demise was of their own making..no, i don't think raleigh has the respect of his players..i hear he talks to them like dogs and not many of them like playing for him but as long as he is there what can they do, quit? ..and players get beat out by better players all of the time..if we get swept by both AL and MS State, i say he's gone this season.
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