COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 5 Tennessee used a five-run sixth inning to break open a close game and cruised to an 11-4 victory to secure a series win at Missouri on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field.
Junior right hander Camden Sewell picked up his second win of the season after a dominant relief outing. The Cleveland, Tennessee, native allowed just two hits and struck out four in two scoreless innings after starter Will Heflin was bounced from the game after just three innings of work.
Kirby Connell followed Sewell with three shutout innings of his own, allowing just two hits. Elijah Pleasants finished the day with a scoreless ninth inning as the UT bullpen combined to pitch six shutout frames to end the game.
The Big Orange jumped all over Tigers’ starter Konnor Ash in the first inning, scoring four runs on five hits to race out to an early lead. After back-to-back singles by Spence and Ferguson to start the game, Gilbert drove in the game’s first run with a double to right field. Lipcius plated two more runs with a single and Pete Derkay capped the scoring in the inning with another two-out RBI single to make it 4-0.
Ash finished with nine strikeouts on the day but was stuck with the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks in five innings of work.
Mizzou cut UT’s lead in half with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first. Torin Montgomery drove in both runs with a double down the third-base line to make it a 4-2 game. The Tigers plated two more runs in the third on a Tre Morris double to tie the game at four.
Tennessee started the fifth inning with three straight hits from Jake Rucker, Gilbert and Evan Russell. Russell’s double brought in a pair of runs to put the Vols back in front, 6-4.
The Vols pulled away with a big five-run sixth inning. Gilbert continued his big day with a bases-clearing double to make it 9-4 before Lipcius belted an opposite-field, two-run shot for his ninth homer of the year to extend the lead to 11-4.
Tennessee will go for the series sweep tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
NOTABLE
SETTING THE TABLE: Liam Spence and Max Ferguson continued to be ultra-productive at the top of Tennessee’s lineup. The duo combined for five hits and four runs scored on Saturday afternoon after accounting for four hits, two runs and four RBI in Friday’s victory.
GILBERT GETTING IT DONE: Sophomore outfielder Drew Gilbert had another productive day at the dish with three hits, three runs scored and four RBI. Two of Gilbert’s three hits were doubles, giving him a new career high. The Minnesota native had a pair of hits in Friday’s series opener, as well, giving him five base knocks for the series heading into tomorrow’s finale.
LIPCIUS LONG BALLS: Veteran first baseman Luc Lipcius continued his hot hitting with two hits and four RBI. The Virginia native hit his ninth home run of the season in the sixth inning and has now homered in five of his last six SEC games. The Vols have hit at least one home run in their last 10 conference games.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 15th-ranked Tennessee softball team fell, 7-4, to No. 16 Missouri Saturday afternoon at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
In a reverse of Friday’s game, it was Missouri (36-14, 14-9 SEC) who jumped out to an early three-run lead as it scored one run in the first and two in the second. The Tigers’ Brooke Wilmes hit a leadoff home run to center to open the scoring and give Mizzou the early lead in the first.
In the second, Missouri used a leadoff single and a walk to put runners on for Emma Raabe who singled to right to score Imani Myint for the Tigers second run of the day. In the next at-bat, Hannah McGivern scored on a sacrifice fly from Kendyll Bailey.
After a quiet third and fourth innings, Missouri scored four times in the fifth on three hits and an error. With one away and two runners on, Hatti Moore hit a three-run home run to center to give Missouri a 6-0 lead.
Later in the inning, Kim Wert hit a solo home run to left center to score Mizzou’s seventh run of the game.
Tennessee (39-11, 12-10 SEC) fought back in the bottom half of the fifth as Kiki Milloy crushed a two-run blast over the wall in center to cut into the Missouri lead.
With two away and runners on first and second, the Lady Vols made a late push as they scored a pair of runs in the seventh. Amanda Ayala picked up her third hit of the day as she roped an RBI single to right, scoring Kaitlin Parsons.
Ashley Morgan then doubled down the left field line to drive home Milloy for UT’s fourth run of the game and to create the game’s final margin at, 7-4.
Callie Turner started for the Orange & White Saturday, tossing three innings and allowing three runs on three hits. Turner suffered the loss and is now 10-3 on the year. UT also used Samantha Bender and Bailey McCachren out of the bullpen.
Bender threw 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. McCachren tossed just 0.2 innings, giving up one run.
For Missouri, Laurin Krings got the start and pitched 6.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out three. Emma Nichols threw in relief for 0.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits.
Krings picked up the win and improved to 9-3 this season.
UP NEXT
Tennessee and Missouri will face off Sunday in a rubber match, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on SEC Network+.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – A no-doubt Max Ferguson two-run homer in the eighth inning lifted No. 5 Tennessee to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory in Friday night’s series opener at Taylor Stadium.
The Vols trailed for nearly the entire game before Ferguson’s blast. The junior second baseman finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Chad Dallas provided UT with another quality start and earned the win to improve to 8-1 on the year. The junior right hander allowed four runs on six hits but struck out eight and allowed just one walk on the night.
Sean Hunley retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game and earn his fifth save of the year.
The Vols had a couple early chances to get on the board with runners in scoring position in the first and second innings but were unable to capitalize, leaving the door open for the Tigers to open the scoring on a solo homer by Andrew Keefer in the bottom of the second.
A two-out single by Brandt Belk scored two more runs for Missouri in the third, giving the Tigers a 3-0 advantage after three innings.
Tennessee answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to cut its deficit to one. Jordan Beck singled to score Russell to get UT on the board and Liam Spence drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to make it a 3-2 game.
Ferguson tied the game at three with a two-out double in the top of the sixth, but Mizzou quickly regained the lead with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.
After leaving a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh, it was Ferguson who came up big again for the Big Orange in the eighth, hitting a monster two-run blast to right field to give UT a 5-4 lead. With Ferguson’s bomb, the Vols have now hit at least one home run in each of their last nine SEC games.
Jacob Kush was the losing pitcher for Missouri, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of relief. Tigers’ pitchers walked 10 batters and hit two others in the game.
The Vols will look to take the series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on the SEC Network.
NOTABLE
FERGIE FOR THE WIN: Junior second baseman Max Ferguson had a huge night for the Vols with three hits and three RBI, including a mammoth two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give Tennessee its first lead of the night. The blast was Ferguson’s sixth home run of the year.
FREE BASES? WE’LL TAKE EM’: The Vols were able to take advantage of 12 free bases issued by the Tigers on Friday night. UT batters walked 10 times while MU pitchers also hit two batters.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee ace Ashley Rogers one-hit 16th-ranked Missouri Friday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium as the No. 15 Lady Vol softball team took the game one victory, 4-0.
Tennessee (39-10, 12-9 SEC) received a lights-out performance from Rogers in the circle as she gave up just one hit on the night, struck out five and walked one. The Athens, Tennessee, native tossed her 20th complete game of the season in the win.
Rogers also earned her seventh shutout on the year as she improved to 23-7 in 2021.
The Tigers (35-14, 13-9 SEC) entered the weekend ranked first in the SEC in batting average and on-base percentage, while sitting second in runs per game and third in home runs. After a single in the first, no Missouri batter reached base again until Casidy Chaumont walked in the seventh.
Missouri’s lone hit came in its second at-bat of the game as Jenna Laird hit a blooper down the left field line. From then on it was all Rogers as she shutdown arguably the SEC’s best offensive team, retiring 20 batters in a row.
UT jumped on the board early Friday night as it pushed across a run on two hits in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Kiki Milloy singled to left and promptly stole second to put the pressure on Mizzou. After a ground out advanced Milloy to third, Ashley Morgan pulled a single through the right side of the infield to score Milloy and give the Lady Vols the early lead.
Tennessee tacked on two more runs in the second thanks to a two-run blast from Ivy Davis that hit off the scoreboard in left center.
In the fifth, UT capitalized on a Missouri error to add an insurance run.
Milloy leadoff the inning with a single and advanced to second on an Amanda Ayala hit to short. The first baseman dropped the catch, allowing Ayala to reach safely on the error. After a sacrifice bunt by Morgan put runners in scoring position, Chelsea Seggern drove home Milloy from third on a ground out to second base.
The run gave Tennessee its final margin of victory at, 4-0.
Jordan Weber took the ball for Missouri to start the game and tossed three innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Megan Schumacher come on in relief, throwing the final three innings for the Tigers, surrendering one run on two hits.
Weber suffered the loss and drops to 9-5 on the year.
UP NEXT
Tennessee and Missouri are back at it Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET. Saturday is also senior day for the Lady Vols, with the senior day celebrations taking place following the conclusion of game two.
Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall have released an album like no other – The Marfa Tapes.
Recorded in a very raw and intimate way in Marfa, Texas, the 3 singer-songwriters looked to bring music to listeners in a unique way.
The most important ingredient in the process of making this album, was the place it was record, according to Miranda, “Marfa is such a magical place. It just – the songs are in the air out there in the desert. And I can’t really explain it but we try to do our best to bring people to Marfa through this music, and it’s one of those places where you just go to disappear and you know writing with two people that you can really be your total self with you know it’s – it feels good that we all get to go out there and just celebrate each other and celebrate creating music.”
Miranda adds, “The way we approached putting out The Marfa Tapes was truly just putting out work tapes. I mean we were going to just put them out as work tapes on our phones but we didn’t feel that the quality was good enough on some of them because the West Texas wind blowin’. But we took two microphones out there and just kinda documented how the songs would go down. We did one take and you know some of them were around the fire. Some of them were in the cabin. Some of them were recorded on a ridge watching the sunset but it definitely was just meant to be very raw and real and in the moment.”
The Marfa Tapes is also a culmination of Miranda’s musical relationship with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall, “I grew up watching Jack play the Honkey Tonks in Texas and following him around since I was 15 and I’ve known John for 20 years…so just have a long history of friendship and they are two of my favorite artists and writers, and so we sort of started this little trio of songwriting together and have been doing it for six years.”
While they have worked together before, this was a first for Miranda to record with both guys in this way, which meant a lot to her, “When you get to work with your heroes, it’s a cool full circle moment. You know, Jack and John both being somebody that – 2 people that I really look up to as musicians and songwriters. You don’t just show up and give your weakest lines. You know I definitely bring my A-game when I’m out there writing with those boys because they’re absolutely amazing at what they do and even though, we all have such different styles, somehow when we write these songs together our voices just become this little trio of different styles coming together but it somehow works.”
Fans will get an even better look into the project tomorrow evening (Saturday, May 8th – 7 ET/ 6 CT), when The Marfa Tapes film debuts on Miranda’s Facebook page for 24 hours.
Check out a preview here…
One of the tracks on The Marfa Tapes is Miranda’s “Tin Man” — originally written for her The Weight Of These Wings album, by Miranda, Jack and Jon, the version that now appears on this new project gives the song even more depth in the rawness of this recording…check out the music video here…
Headline Photo Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville
Additional Photos Credit: Spencer Peeples & Sony Music Nashville
The making of an album is the first step for Kenny Chesney to get his music out.
The second step is to take it directly to the fans at his concerts, “There’s something that happens when we bring the new songs out on the road. To me, that’s when an album is really finished. Once you play the songs, and get the chance to come together in the name of music.”
So, when he released Here And Now a year ago, he got the first step in, but not the second – due to COVID and quarantine.
Having that time off the road had an affect on Kenny, “It’s funny what you learn when you’re forced to stop, I have always loved songs and songwriters, being in the studio with the most creative people. But over the last year, as much as I’ve loved making music – I always have, I’ve realized how much I truly live and breathe songs.”
So, with spending time with his music, and not having the touring schedule, Kenny says, “With ‘Knowing You’ finding its way up the charts, and so much music on Here And Now for people to still explore, there was all this music we’ve made. I decided I didn’t want to wait for the next album. I wanted these four songs to be part of what Here And Now is – making Here And Now Deluxe maybe shows a little bit of a now we never saw coming.”
Along with the existing 12 tracks, including “Happy Does,” “Knowing You,” and the number-one hit “Here and Now,” Kenny has added 4 new songs, “Wind On,” “Fields of Glory,” “My Anthem,” and “Streets.”
When it comes to adding the songs and making a Deluxe album, Kenny says, “The rules have been rewritten and rewritten, How we make music, deliver music, consume music, and they’ll probably keep changing. There’s a freedom in that for guys like me, who love writing, hearing great songs, looking for more where there’s already so much. The idea of adding songs was unheard of a few years ago; now it’s ‘When do you want to release it?’
Kenny adds, “But for all that freedom, one thing doesn’t change: a great song is a great song, friends are something you can’t buy and we are all united when we sing along. So, in that spirit, I couldn’t wait to get these songs to No Shoes Nation. Finally. Here they are.”
From his Here And Now Deluxe album, listen to one of the new tracks — “Fields Of Glory.”
Kenny’s current single at country radio is “Knowing You” — watch the music video here…
Headline Photo Credit: Allister Ann
Additional Photo Courtesy of Warner Music Nashville
Did you know that Matt Stell‘s mom had to step in as the director of his video “That Ain’t Me No More”…
Check out the behind the scenes footage…
Of course they were just having a little fun there, but in all seriousness Matt is super proud of his mom.
He shares, “I look for any chance I can to bring up my mother…she is just…really the only way to say it is a bad ass.”
Matt adds about his mom that she’s, “A really…a high performer in everything she does. She got most of a doctorate finished as a single mom. She grinded and worked and did It all with a smile on her face. She’s a state finalist barrel racer as recently as this past year. She’s really special and really believed in me in a lot of the times when I didn’t really believe in myself and it has a lot to do with why I am sitting here today.”
Sounds like mom could’ve directed the video after all!
Matt has celebrated all his success with his mom over the past couple of years, but one moment in particular stands out in his mind, “One memory that sticks out to me with my mom…there’s many…but when ‘Prayed For You’ went number-one and we got to celebrate with a number-one party I got to publicly thank her and kind of share that moment with her because she…a lot of people…but she foremost believed in me and what I was doing even sometimes when I didn’t, and that was a really special moment to share with her. And yeah, I’ll always remember that.”
In the end Matt says, “I’m proud of my mom.”
Maybe not the mom directed version — but check out Matt Stell’s music video for “That Ain’t Me No More”
Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd are both songwriters who have been the creative force behind some major country music hits over the past several years.
So, it’s a bit ironic that their first true duet together – neither one had a hand in writing.
“Chasing After You,” written by Brinley Addington and Jerry Flowers, connected with the country music making married couple in a very real way…Maren says, “We really…I guess heard ourselves in the lyrics and it just still rang true today. I feel like whether you’ve been with someone for two seconds or twenty years, you’re always longing for them. I feel like touring and being away from each other gives an element of that, like you’re still chasing me down, I’m chasing you down. So this song will always kind of be fitting.”
Ryan followed with “I’ll still chase after you.”
Maren approved, “Good. Always.”
Ryan performed on the ACM Awards for the first time, last month, and he thought it was very fitting that Maren was there for it…and just recently they made their Late Night With Seth Meyers debut singing their duet “Chasing After You”…check out that appearance here…
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 17, 2020 – Offensive lineman Trey Smith #73 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
It was a quiet NFL Draft, once again, for the University of Tennessee football program.
Two Vols were drafted and one has been signed, at the moment, as an undrafted free agent.
WR Josh Palmer was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 3rd Round (#77 overall.) OL Trey Smith fell all the way to the 6th round when he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs (#226 overall.) DB Bryce Thompson signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
With the help of the Tennessee football VFL and elite broadcaster for CBS & NFL Network, Charles Davis, we’ve shared our opinions on the team and player fits for Palmer, Smith and Thompson here in my blog, “Vince’s View,” on 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Thanks to Charles, who shared his thoughts on the Tennessee Volunteers with me to pass along to the fans exclusively for my blog.
WR Josh Palmer – Los Angeles Chargers
Charles Davis on Josh Palmer
“Fits what the other WRs look like for the Chargers (Keenan Allen/Mike Williams)…strong, physical, and can play over the top. Chargers have long had “small forwards” as WR’s (Phillip Rivers loved those types), and Palmer looks the part. QB Justin Herbert has even more “catch radius” available to him now.”
Vince’s View on Josh Palmer
I love this fit for Palmer. Keenan Allen (100 catches in 2020) and Mike Williams (48 catches) are the top two guys. After that, there’s room to upgrade the wide receiver room, so the opportunity to rise quickly is there for Palmer. Jalen Guyton (28 catches) and Tyron Johnson (20 catches) provide the toughest competition for the 3rd and 4th WR spots. Joe Reed, KJ Hill, Jason Moore, John Hurst and Eli Stove (UDFA out of Auburn) are the rest of the Chargers receivers.
Palmer brings position versatility at WR. You can play him outside or in the slot where you can get him in some favorable matchups against either smaller or slower defenders. Most importantly, Palmer has a potential future superstar quarterback throwing him the football versus the massive struggles by a bunch of QBs at Tennessee.
Palmer joins former UT DC Derrick Ansley, now Chargers secondary coach in LA. Head coach Brandon Staley is a former Vols football GA under Derek Dooley in 2012. Knoxville native OL Nathan Gilliam (Farragut HS and Wake Forest) is also now his teammate.
Trey Smith – Kansas City Chiefs
Charles Davis on Trey Smith
“Kansas City does a nice job evaluating and coaching young talent. I believe they feel that they got a steal by getting a 2nd round talent in the 6th. The competition has ratcheted up in KC along the offensive line. Smith’s intelligence and toughness will put him right in the mix. Remember, Kansas City drafted, developed and started a future doctor (Laurent Duvernay-Tardif) at guard on their Super Bowl title team.”
Vince’s View on Trey Smith
With the slide to day three in the draft, Smith will surely play with an even bigger chip (or boulder) on his shoulder than normal. He’s also going to a quality, winning franchise with all kinds of talent. That doesn’t mean he can’t win a starting job.
Smith played guard the last two seasons with the Vols and is projected as a guard long-term in the NFL. However, Smith, if more medical testing checks out, will compete for the starting right tackle spot in the completely overhauled Chiefs offensive line. Surprised? Here’s why.
KC will have a completely new starting five o-line from the team that lost in the Super Bowl with all the injuries, departures and desperate need to upgrade. Enter Orlando Brown (from Baltimore) as the starting LT, Joe Thuney (from New England) as the starting LG, Austin Blythe (from LA Rams) as the starting C and Kyle Long (out of retirement) as the starting RG. There’s already quality depth at guard as well with Dr. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif back from his opt-out. You add Nick Allegretti (last year’s starter at LG in the Super Bowl) and Andrew Wylie (Super Bowl starter at RT) who moves back inside at guard. There’s some depth at guard. Right tackle is the most open position on that line. Mike Remmers (backup last season and Super Bowl starter at LT) and Lucas Niang (2020 3rd round pick) provide the competition for Trey Smith at that RT spot.
The Chiefs know Smith can play tackle. They’ve evaluated him at that position plenty. They are comfortable with him playing there. He can begin at RT, at least short-term, to give them their best five linemen. I think he can do it, so watch for Smith to compete his butt off and have a great shot to start. Obviously, injuries to KC’s guards or health setbacks for Smith could alter those plans along the way.
Bryce Thompson – New Orleans Saints
Charles Davis on Bryce Thompson
“The Saints are looking for a starter opposite Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore. They drafted Paulson Adebo from Stanford in the 3rd and signed Malcolm Jenkins in free agency. The competition will be stiff, but he has a shot, especially if he can play in the slot.”
Vince’s View on Bryce Thompson
The Saints have a proven track record of production from undrafted free agents. That success includes players from the University of Tennessee, like DT Shy Tuttle (potential starter) and WR Marquez Callaway (now possibly 2nd team.) TE Ethan Wolf is also with the Saints as an UDFA. The common thread with what worked with those guys is opportunity with low numbers at a need position. Thompson walks into that in the secondary, specially at cornerback.
As Charles pointed out, there’s proven vets and a fairly high draft pick in that group, but the numbers at CB aren’t deep. The other corners, besides the ones Charles mentioned, that Thompson will compete with are: Patrick Robinson, Keith Washington Jr., Grant Haley and UDFA signee Lawrence Woods. That’s it. If the Saints play Jenkins at SS then that might free up that position a little more. Thompson’s position versatility to play outside corner, Star DB or safety adds to his value. It’s an excellent landing spot for Thompson.
It’s possible his draft stock may have improved a little by returning to UT this season. How would he produce in the new Banks defense that may struggle in year one? If he finally played a full season healthy will that show out in results and influence scouts? How much would the coaching of Willie Martinez help him? Would being another year removed from the legal issues make a difference with NFL teams, assuming he didn’t have any other issues? One scout told me he doesn’t think Thompson going back to school would have made much difference because he’s good in a fair amount of traits but not elite.
Thompson is now also teammates with arguably the most popular VFL in the NFL today, RB Alvin Kamara.
Overall
Trey Smith falling in the draft was due to the NFL not being able to get the medical info to their standards for how Smith’s blood clots will be handled moving forward, not just how he did it at UT. I was told he wasn’t on about half of the teams’ boards and was dropped some on the ones that kept him on their boards. The lack of regular practices slowed his development in the eyes of NFL scouts. He’s going to need to practice, especially before the season, to earn a spot and prove he’s past the medical. Smith was also said to be a better fit for power running gap scheme teams, which cuts down the remaining pool of teams even more.
I imagine the Chiefs and other teams considered Smith earlier in the draft, but may have had other players available to them that they didn’t think would be there when they came back around and took the chance that Smith would be. The draft board dictates slides sometimes and I think that added to his unfortunate situation. In the end though, the KC fit will be a blessing.
The Chiefs are excited about Trey Smith and aren’t afraid to express it. LT Orlando Brown was impressed by Smith at the Senior Bowl.
Chiefs not trying to contain their excitement for ending up w/Trey Smith @Vol_Football
Don't be surprised if he competes for starting spot at right tackle.
I know he's listed as a guard & will eventually be there but he can play tackle, Chiefs know it & that's most open spot. https://t.co/JYUIGHFwqt
UT has had 13 players selected in the last seven NFL Drafts. The Vols have only had 6 players drafted in the first three rounds of those 7 drafts. 6. Alabama had 6 players drafted in the 1st round alone just this year. Alabama has had 46 players taken in the first three rounds of those same last seven drafts. That’s a 40 player difference from Tennessee. Yes, no one matches-up to the bar that Alabama has set in sending players to the NFL through the draft, but that monumental gap is indicative of the struggles of the program since the late 2000s.
There’s going to need to be tremendous player development this season under Josh Heupel’s staff with the Vols. They need to enhance the stock in numerous players and create new draftable candidates than it looks like they have at the moment. If not, the disappointing draft stats will resurface again this time in 2022.
