AUBURN, Ala. — Three errors in the bottom of the seventh proved to be the difference in No. 21 Tennessee’s 2-0 loss to No. 15 Auburn in the SEC opener for both teams on Friday night at Plainsman Park.
The Tigers scored both of their runs in the seventh despite getting just one hit in the inning. Ryan Bliss and Kason Howell both scored unearned runs that were aided by three Tennessee errors.
Starting pitchers Garrett Stallings and Tanner Burns both turned in dominant performances on the mound, allowing zero earned runs and combining for 16 strikeouts on the night.
Burns tossed 6.2 shutout innings, allowed just four hits and had nine strikeouts for the Tigers, earning a no-decision. Stallings would not be outdone in his first Friday-night start in SEC play. The junior right hander was the tough-luck loser, scattering seven hits and striking out seven in 7.2 innings of work while giving up just two unearned runs.
The Vols had chances to score in the first, third and sixth innings, but left runners stranded in scoring position in each frame as Burns was able to work out of a couple of jams. The Tigers also squandered multiple chances to get on the board, leaving runners on base in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings before finally breaking through in the seventh.
Stallings was able to work out of some major trouble in the third after Auburn put runners on first and third with just one out. The junior right hander forced a pop up before striking out Rankin Woley to escape the jam. Auburn had the leadoff man reach base in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but Stallings was able to keep the Tigers off the board each time.
UT had a two-out rally going in the sixth after back-to-back singles by Andre Lipcius and Alerick Soularie, but had its momentum halted when Evan Russell struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch that looked to be well outside. A walk would have loaded the bases for the Vols.
After six and a half scoreless innings, the defensive miscues in the bottom of the seventh ended the shutout bid and, for all intents and purposes, the Vols chance for a victory. Bliss reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored on another error after a ball was misplayed is left field. Matt Scheffler drove in Howell with a ground out to put Auburn ahead 2-0. Both runs in the inning were unearned.
UT had a runner reach base in the eighth but went down in order to end the game in the ninth. The Big Orange struck out a season-high 13 times.
Elliott Anderson earned the win to improve to 3-0 on the year after throwing just a third of an inning. Hard-throwing right hander Cody Greenhill pitched the final two innings to record his third save of the season for the Tigers.
NOTABLE
PITCHER’S DUEL BETWEEN FRIDAY-NIGHT ACES: Friday night’s contest was a classic pitcher’s duel between two of the SEC’s best in UT’s Garrett Stallings and Auburn’s Tanner Burns. Stallings allowed just two unearned runs and struck out seven in 7.2 innings of work, tying his longest outing of the season. Burns, the SEC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, did not allow a run, walked one and struck out nine in 6.2 innings pitched.
CHARLESTON ADDS TO SEC STEALS LEAD: Jay Charleston extended his SEC lead for stolen bases with two more on Friday night. The Longwood, Fla., native stole second and third after reaching base on a walk in the top of the first. Charleston leads the conference and ranks in the top five nationally with 16 steals this season and has been caught just once. He also had one of the Vols’ four hits on the night with a single in the third.
ANDRE EXTENDS HIT STREAK: Andre Lipcius extended his hit streak to 13 games with a single through the left side of the infield in the top of the sixth. The junior third baseman finished the night 1-for-3.
UP NEXT: The Vols will look to even the series tomorrow night in Game Two of the weekend series. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET and the game will air live on the SEC Network. Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson call the action on the Vol Network radio broadcast (FM 99.1 / AM 990).
Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | VIDEO: Vitello Postgame
-UT Athletics
