A ball loaded with possibility was launched to right field.
With two runners on, it could have changed the game and given Tennessee a lead. With the advantage, the Vols could have swung a series — and with that in hand, they might have generated some momentum for the season as well.
But the blast off the bat of Andrew Toles found the only resistance in Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Sunday afternoon, running into a strong wind blowing its direction and knocking it down just before clearing the wall. Instead of a lead, the Vols were out of chances in the sixth inning and on the way to a 5-3 loss to Georgia in a game they dearly needed in the chase for a postseason berth.
“I thought it had a chance,” UT coach Todd Raleigh said. “I didn’t think it was definitely out, but when it left his bat I thought it was going to leave. In that fraction of time, you remember all the wind and that stuff, you think maybe not. At least I thought it was going to go over his head because they were playing him pretty shallow. . . . That’s the way it goes.
“We needed it. We were at home, and this is a typical weekend in the SEC. We could’ve swept, could’ve been swept. We easily could have won all three but we didn’t, and we’ve got to keep that momentum going.”
The Vols (22-17, 5-13 SEC) had numerous chances this series to get back on the right course for a trip to the SEC tournament, but like the sixth-inning shot from Toles, they repeatedly came up short.
UT out-hit Georgia (21-20, 11-7 SEC), played better defense and gave itself extra opportunities thanks to a solid effort from the bullpen. But the Vols didn’t get bunts down, line drives found gloves, too many runners were stranded — and, perhaps most damaging, a potential homer was hauled in by Bulldogs right fielder Peter Verdin with his back against the wall.
“I thought it was gone — no doubt,” Toles said. “I guess this park is just not good for lefties, the wind is always blowing in. I was pretty disappointed.
“I mean, we’re all a little disappointed. We’ve just got to get the bunts down and get the job done when the opportunity presents itself. We’re definitely going to stay positive.”
That mindset might have been easier to keep had Toles or anybody else been able to cash in a few opportunities and take a series at home from the Bulldogs, which would have been the second win in as many tries and given UT a boost heading into next week’s showdown with No. 3 Vanderbilt.
Toles drove in two runs earlier in the game to help the Vols climb out of three-run hole after the first inning, and third baseman Matt Duffy tied the score in the third with a double that scored Khayyan Norfork and seemed to energize the UT bench.
But the Vols never could push anybody else across the plate, no matter how hard they hit the ball at times.
“Throughout the game, you’re not really looking at the wind,” Duffy said. “You’re just kind of focused on the game, so when he connected, it was flush and it looked really good. I thought it was gone.
“You know, the wind just kind of got ahold of it a little bit and I think (Verdin’s) back was up against the wall when he caught it. Toles put a great swing on the ball, he couldn’t have hit it any better.”
The wind slowed the ball down just enough to keep it in the park anyway — and effectively brought UT’s momentum to a stop along with it.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 26
OrangePride writes:
This is just another in a very long series of, "almost, but not quite" games and series. But in games like this, as the article points out, it is the little things that mount up to kill you. Failing to move runners with bunts. Line drive outs. Inability to score runners from scoring position. With Vandy coming up, we are looking very much like a last or next to last place team again. Sad. I was really hoping and expecting better.
PelicanVOL writes:
DUH - Fire Hamilton and Raleigh Immediately!!!
Love CTR's explanation ....THE WIND!!!
FearlessFreep writes:
Excuses, excuses.
5-13 speaks for itself. Raleigh needs to be shown the door now.
ctownvol writes:
I blame Fulmer.
SummittsCourt writes:
Another bad loss, another bad excuse.
Time to make a change.
RoadTrip writes:
5-13. No SEC tourney. No CWS. No evidence of improvement. Four seasons in a row. CTR should negotiate a good exit package and have the class to resign without being asked for the betterment of the program.
Atuss writes:
The sun was in my eyes, my dog ate my homework,come on. This team just does not have any studs. They have a bunch of decent to average SEC players and pitchers but no big time talent to carry the team. This team will be fortunate to win 10 SEC games.
BodeaneVol writes:
On the positive side, the Gators took all 3 from Bammer this weekend.
silvertr6 writes:
Tennessee baseball sucks, along with Raleigh and Hamilton!
RockyMountainVol writes:
"We easily could have won all three but we didn’t, and we’ve got to keep that momentum going.”
WHAT???? You lose two out of three, and you say "We've got to keep that momentum going"????
There IS no momentum, moron... except of the negative kind. You want to keep moving backwards, UT? Keep TR on as coach. The man reeks of stupidity.
Now give us a lecture on wind currents, Skippy the Futurecoach.
madmax22 writes:
UT is 2-10 vs SEC East, with top ranked Vandy due up next. What's the bet we finish 2-13 in the east? The only series we may win is against a bad bammar team that has now lost 8 of last 9 games and seems to be more inept at scoring than us.
arkyvol writes:
vols come up short.
no biggie.
after four years of ctr, we're used to it.
kantanuuv writes:
The 14 Vole fans in attendance left in disgust, shouting, "Wait 'til we play them Gym Dogs!"
punkin writes:
And only had one arrest too.
Atuss writes:
Mighty Presbyterian College has now lost 12 in a row since defeating the Vols. A couple of more 'trap' games upcoming this week.
vol4gzus writes:
mommy said get off that computer and get ure homework done right now!!!
good suggestion since all ewe had was mean spirited sarcasm......
TennVolAlum writes:
Raliegh's pitching changes are just ludicris. He has a pitcher who is rolling, then takes him out to sub in....and guess what?--two run dinger by georgia. How about bunting runners over into scoring position??--he gives the bunt sign on the first pitch, it goes foul, so he tells the runner to swing away. Pitcher already KNOWS he's bunting...think he's going to give him a pretty pitch to lay down, let alone get a good hack on??? Good lord....
Side note. Did anyone hear about the status of the young boy who took a line drive foul to the head? I know he dropped, but I believe I saw him walking off with the paramedics 15 min later on the 1st base side. The shreak from his grandmother was just horrifying. I sure hope he's alright.
DancingOutlaw writes:
"We needed it. We were at home, and this is a typical weekend in the SEC. We could’ve swept, could’ve been swept. We easily could have won all three but we didn’t, and we’ve got to keep that momentum going."
I honestly cannot understand this quote. In 6 SEC series we have won 1 of them against a very bad Alabama team, and been swept in 2 others. Which ones were we so close to sweeping? Which ones could it have gone either way? This guy makes so many excuses it's just unreal. I think some honesty would go a long way with unhappy fans. Just admit the team's no good and you're not doing your job. UGA had to hit into the same wind UT had, and somehow they were able to overcome it. Field conditions are endured by both teams. I have no idea what Hamilton will do here, I think another firing just proves his incompetence at hiring coaches and could seal his fate. But continued poor performance will get us to the same place, just a little further down the road.
Ichabod writes:
It is plainly evident where this program has been, where it is now, and where it is headed, which is basically nowhere. I think there is a very real possibility that Raleigh gets the boot, as he should (even HE cannot feel he is getting the job done). Shortly thereafter, Hamilton will resign with his nicely negotiated package, and UT heads to the NCAA Ifractions Committee and says "That's it guys, all offenders dismissed, no longer associated with our University - give us what you think we have coming to us". I don't think it is realistic to assume that Hamilton can present himself to the NCAA on behalf of Tennessee when he is as involved as he is, and hired those that broke the rules. I think this would forego the 'Institutional Control' penalty that may well await us if this man is allowed to continue representing the University. Think forward, folks..... When the story breaks that Hamilton is gone, will anyone be surprised ? Will anyone say it should not have happened ? I think we all know the answer to that. And, as with CTR, I don't even Hamilton himself, (an intelligent guy) could look to any of us and say, "Yeah, I've done a good job." Could ya, Mike ?
volunteeredboy writes:
the vols will beat vandy. Just wait and see and yes ppl we will make the CWS
olevole writes:
Toddyboy:
The reason that CTR is still employed at UT is that nobody really cares about a competitive baseball program there, and hasn't for the past 4 years. It's all about keeping Hamilton and his pals happy. And Raleigh is one of his pals from Clemson and he has another year on the sweet 5 year deal he was given.
So it will be a long time before UT baseball is respectable again. Get used to it.
Atuss writes:
Raleigh has never been at Clemson. He was hired due to his relationship with current Clemson coach Jack Leggett whom he played for at Western Carolina. Hamilton was at Clemson in the 80's before Leggett started there in '92. So, there is zero connection between Raleigh and Hamilton and Clemson other than the fact the Clemson coach was the most impressive reference on Raleigh's resume. Mike Hamilton is fully to blame for this as he hired a guy who was in over his head from the beginning.
RockyMountainVol writes:
Funny how quickly Skippy the Futurecoach got in his comments after that first win vs. Georgia, and how he's been AWOL ever since.
And volunteeredboy? Lay off the weed, son, it's obviously affecting your cognitive abilities if you think UT is beating Vandy and going to the CWS!
UTfan363 writes:
I noticed the same thing. I guess he is super busy with his masters and getting some as he likes to throw in your face RMV.
Kinda hypocritical on his part talking about how people only show up on here when UT loses and he only shows up when the accidentally win.
Just the facts I guess.
CCLC writes:
It was the wind?
us43137415#376444 writes:
CTR did lose one of his assistants to Clemson last year. A weasely, sneaky dude named LeCroy. He was from there anyway and when he saw a chance to desert a sinking ship, he scooted back home to Mommy and Daddy and people who apparently like him over there.
It was during CTR's rant-and-rave year last year, when 6 or 8 players all left at the same time because he was picking fights with them.
This apparently is his "cool-down" year, where he doesn't seem to do much yelling anymore.
Probably... the handwriting on the wall.
BTW.. I was wondering where Futurecoach 16 is myself. Dude.. what's your assessment of CTR Year 4?
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