Georgia kept getting two-out hits early, but it was a two-out hit in the top of the ninth that put Tennessee away for good Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Bulldogs scored three runs off five two-out hits in the first two innings, and Kyle Farmer's two out, three-run home run in the top of the ninth put the game away as Georgia won 8-6.
"Both of those times we had two outs and nobody on," Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh said. "Not just two-out hits, but nothing going. We just weren't able to put them away."
Tennessee starter Rob Catapano (2-4) left after three innings, giving up five earned runs on six hits to take the loss.
"Rob got bad counts and made some bad pitches," Raleigh said, "and they hit them."
Redshirt freshman Jon Reed worked long relief for Tennessee (22-16, 5-12 SEC), giving up just a hit and a walk over 4 2<0x2044>3 innings.
"I just really tried to throw strikes," Reed said. "I was able to get my curveball working really good and then my fastball kind of came along and I was able to spot that up."
Raleigh pulled Reed after 69 pitches, with the Vols trailing 5-3 with two outs in the ninth. Dalton Saberhagen gave up a walk and a single before being replaced by Zack Godley, who gave up Farmer's three-run home run to make it 8-3.
"That's the best he's ever pitched, by far," Raleigh said of Reed. "He went more than I thought he would, anyway.
"He got two outs. We brought in (Saberhagen), he walked one, gave up an infield single and we made an 0-2 pitch and (Farmer) hit it out. It was great game until two outs in the ninth."
Andrew Toles and Zach Osborne, Tennessee's No. 1 and No. 2 hitters, had three of UT's eight hits, including a walk and a pair of runs scored in nine at-bats. The rest of the Vols' lineup was 5-for-27.
"(We) just try to get on base," Osborne said. "That's our job. Get on base and have them hit us in."
Starter Michael Palazzone (7-1) got the win for Georgia (20-20, 10-7), giving up six runs - four earned - over 8 2<0x2044>3 innings.
Tyler Horne and Ethan Bennett had ninth-inning singles before Davis Morgan's three-run home run cut the Georgia lead to 8-6. Osborne was called out on a head-first slide at first to end the game.
Wright's Services Set: Funeral services for former UT baseball coach Bill Wright will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley Street. Visitation will take place before the service from 5-7 p.m.
Wright, who headed the baseball program for 19 years from 1963-81, died Thursday morning.
Grant Ramey is a freelance contributor.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 21
Atuss writes:
Absolutely no reason for Raleigh to pull Reed with two outs in the ninth and no runners on. He was not laboring, he was in total command. Just because there were two lefties coming up, who are not power guys, he makes a change? Okay, if the first lefty gets a hit maybe get him out and let your lefty reliever face the next lefty hitter. But my God, Reed had been getting the lefties out the previous 3 innings.
Most fans at the game today understand that Raleigh is out. Definitely the most unenthusiastic crowd I have seen at a SEC baseball game this side of UK. With good reason, Raleigh is making UT baseball look more like UK baseball every day. Worse yet, he is making UT baseball into Vandy baseball pre- Coach Corbin. This program is like a corpse. Go hire Pat Murphy or Scott Stricklin and things will change. UT can catch GA in the pecking order of the East. USC, UF and Vandy are in great shape with their coaching situations but 4th in the East usually gets you in a regional.
PeterBiggs writes:
I was there. Raleigh is an idiot, two games in a row pulling pitchers at wrong time. He lucked out last night, but not today. I sure hope Hammy unloads him
flatrock writes:
Burn the black uniforms...Absolutely the ugliest
friggin' threads in all of sports.
easttnvol21 writes:
Another brilliant coaching move---let's go out and take the kid out two outs into the ninth inning. Really??? The game is going along---pretty much in hand and suddenly, coach "you know what I mean" decides the outcome is going to hinge on another strategic decision----with two outs in the ninth. Was the kid struggling? No. Look tired? No. Appear to losing it? No! Nutjob.
Atuss writes:
First thing I heard yesterday as I walk into the park was two UT stadium ushers telling each other they should be telling fans "welcome to the farewell tour".
UTfan363 writes:
You all are 100% right about Raleigh being a complete moron regarding the pitching changes this weekend.
Friday was one of the worst I have ever seen. How in the world do you pull your best pitcher with a 2-2 count and the crowd getting behind him to bring in a freshman in a pressure situation. Gruver should have chucked the ball into the stands instead of handing it over to Raleigh. They got lucky to win in extras and won inspite of their coach.
Then, Saturday, as you all stated, Reed is cruising and had only thrown 69 pitches and you pull him for another freshman who promptly craps his pants, then another pitching change and a 3 run bomb.
Truly unbelievable how bad his coaching is. After this display I can't wait to see what he pulls today. He should be fired after today regardless of the outcome.
I bet Coach Perno and the rest of the SEC coaches just laugh at Raleigh and his coaching wisdom.
He thinks he is Tony LaRussa changing pitchers to the better match up. That phooey works in the MLB but is completely overrated in college. MLB managers can bring in seasoned veterans to handle matchups and college coaches have to bring in 18-21 year olds who have little experience being brought in for 1 or 2 hitters.
olevole writes:
No way is Raleigh going to be fired by Hamilton. He gave his Clemson buddy a 5-year contract and he has already fired one coach this year.
Firing UT's most successful coach ever for being "inconsistent" and keeping Raleigh just shows that the powers that be don't care about baseball at UT. Now we have a consistent coach. One who is consistently bad. It will be years before this once proud program will have a chance to dig itself out of this hole.
Atuss writes:
You are dead on about what works in the MLB does not necessarily apply to college. Most of the college coaching community was puzzled at Raleigh being hired in the first place. That is a fact.
RockyMountainVol writes:
You know, you deserve some slack, if you really are Bill Wright's son, for what you're going through right now. (Why you're posting rah-rah nonsense on a blog at this time is another issue.)
There are plenty of people who know baseball who realize that TR is a sick joke who needs to be fired, if the baseball program is to turn around in the next decade or so. No coach should be kept on for decades on the vain hope that he'll come around, sooner or later.
True fans aren't those who indiscriminately play cheerleader for anything in orange (or really ugly black pinstripes.)
SummittsCourt writes:
"IT'LL TURN AROUND" ? Talk about someone who's been in a coma. For the last 3-1/2 years Raleigh has made the baseball team a laughing stock to other SEC teams.
It'll turn around alright, if that gutless wonder AD of ours could ever grow a pair and fire him and replace him with a D-1 level coach, maybe it will turn around.
My guess is, either way Raleigh is out and hopefully so is hammy. Hopefully hammy is not combing the little leagues for the next coach.
GONAVY writes:
Raleigh has one more year on his contract. I agree Hamilton will not fire him in the same year as Pearl was fired; too much damage control to manage. No other SEC coach wants him fired either. They like realizing they have a mostly guaranteed "W" on the weekends they play UT. I still don't understand the dynamics behind the firing of DelMonico; I'm sure there were reasons?
SummittsCourt writes:
Reasons to fire Raleigh as soon as the season ends.
Overall record so far: 105-100, but more than likely will finish this season under .500. <<Not acceptable>>
SEC overall record so far: 40-67 and it will only get worse. <<Not acceptable>>
Bad losses:
2008: Morehead St., James Madison, Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech, E. Tennessee St. (twice), Middle Tennessee St., & Belmont
2009: Auston Peay, Coastal Carolina (Twice), USC Upstate, E. Tennessee St., Appalachian St.
2010: Eastern Kentucky, Binghampton, Kennesaw St., Western Kentucky, Western Carolina
2011: Milwaukee, Presbyterian, Appalachian St.
I didn't even include bad losses to Division 1 teams.
SEC Tourney Record: 0-0 - The Vols haven't made the tournament under his (lack of) leadership >>Not Acceptable>>
RockyMountainVol writes:
If Hamilton is too scared to fire TR, then both should be fired. Right now.
Good gosh almighty: one year's salary plus severance for a baseball coach is chicken feed for the UT athletic program. Keeping Bozo TR on is more embarrassment that sending him packing.
UTfan363 writes:
Not disagreeing with you but Coastal Carolina has been a top 25 program over the last 5 years or so, so those losses aren't bad, they were expected.
UTfan363 writes:
Raleigh's bad game management cost UT again today. In a tie ball game he brings in Peper who has a 25.31 ERA (that is a true stat and not an overexageration) instead of anyone else. Peper gives up 2 runs and then Raleigh brings in his best healthy reliever, Williams who goes on to pitch 3 innings of scoreless relief.
Raleigh is a terrible coach. He can't manage a game to save his life. If my job was on the line I wouldn't bring in a kid with an ERA over 25.00 to bail me out of a situation in a tie ball game.
It is almost unbelievable the decisions this guy makes.
kantanuuv writes:
Who will be first in line at the UT book store to buy the DVD on the stunning 2011 3-game win streak by the Vole baseball team?
Where legends live!
us43137415#376444 writes:
The way I have it calculated...
Either 5 or 6 more SEC losses, and the Vols are out..
Again.
Out of the SEC Tournament at Hoover.
Again..
For the 4th year in a row. At or near the bottom of the league standings.
If you're sick of this, bypass Hamilton and send letters to Cheek and the Athletic Board. They're the only ones who make decisions.
SummittsCourt writes:
SEC teams are not supposed to be losing to Coastal Carolina period!
volman2010 writes:
Todd biggest reason for losing is he can't see when things street bad.. He simple leaves to many off pitchers in the game way to long.. This will be hi indoing.. So coach when you do get fired look how many games u allowed the extra pitches and only changed after fallIng being... The last game of the season last year ad this game both could have been won but coach let's his players down by not making smart choices.. Oh he is able to coach and like the last coach will find another school or team to hire him.. After all coaches that UT hires learn what cost jobs and don't make the same mistake after leaving.. I support keeping him a fee years but man get the guy an assistant that tells him when he is screwing up please..
snowvol writes:
The program is a disaster... which is matched by the team's uniforms. Embarrassing. Uniforms won't make them better, but honestly, they look like a joke in these things. Has no one involved with UT Baseball noticed MLB, the minor leagues and the rest of college baseball? UT looks like a softball team from the '70's.
kantanuuv writes:
I am compelled to agree with your commentary on the uniforms. One advantage of being the home team is a choice of uniform. Adding large black areas on a hot day seems like an odd decision.
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