Tennessee’s fast start to the weekend didn’t help the Diamond Vols against Alabama.
After dominating Friday’s opener 11-3 in Tuscaloosa, the Volunteers dropped its next two games to the Crimson Tide and lost their first SEC baseball series of the season. Sunday’s defeat was especially frustrating as Alabama came from behind twice, just barely holding off a late Tennessee rally, taking the rubber game 7-6.
Here are four takeaways from the weekend series in Tuscaloosa:
Missed opportunities:
Over the three-game series, Tennessee left 26 men on base – including leaving the bases loaded to end Sunday’s contest.
Gimme gimme Moore… and Dreiling:
Outfielder Christian Moore and second baseman Dylan Dreiling provided much of the offense this weekend. Moore batted .400 for the series, with six hits – including a double and a home run. Dreiling had a team-leading seven RBIs – three of which came from a bases clearing double on Sunday.
Strong starting pitching:
A.J Causey pitched 6.2 innings Friday night with eight strikeouts giving up two runs. Despite taking the loss on Saturday, Drew Beam pitched a complete game, walking only two batters and recording six strikeouts.
Bama broke the streaks:
Saturday’s loss ended Tennessee’s 17-game win streak. No long ball on Sunday ended the Vols streak of hitting a home run in every game this season – the only SEC team to do so. Kavares Tears’ 18-game hitting streak also came to an end Sunday as he failed to record a hit.
One streak still alive is Tennessee’s undefeated record at home. This is good news for the Vols as they return to Knoxville for a long, eight-game homestand. Next up is Tuesday’s matchup against the 9-11 Xavier Musketeers.
