In a weekend series originally slated to start at 6 p.m. local time Friday, several schedule changes and delays resulted in the Auburn Tigers taking a road series from the Tennessee Volunteers in convincing fashion.
The Tigers kept composure through an unconventional set of circumstances in Knoxville, Tennessee, handing Tennessee its fourth straight series defeat.
Game 1 was originally moved to a 5:30 p.m. start time, before shifting to an 8 p.m. schedule. But the storms across the Southeast, particularly in Knoxville, proved to be too much for Friday night baseball.
Vols’ pitcher Liam Doyle somehow threw 23 pitches to Auburn hitters in a downpour. As lightning started to strike in the area, so did the Tigers’ Ike Irish. After issuing a walk to Cade Belyeu, Doyle gave up a home run to Irish. The left-hander launched an opposite field shot to the left field wall at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The rain was so heavy that some question if the ball even left the park – or hit the top of the wall and back into the field of play. The frame was never completed, as play was stopped at 8:13 p.m. The game resumed at 11:35 a.m. Saturday.
How it finished
Auburn’s pitching, lead by Game 1 starter Samuel Dutton, stifled the Tennessee lineup en route to a 6-1 victory early on Saturday. Dutton worked 6 2/3 innings, recording eight strikeouts to zero walks. The right-hander was in and around the zone during his effective outing, which set the tone for the Auburn pitching staff.
Dutton made 57 appearances for LSU prior to his transfer to The Plains. The move has proved to be a difference-maker, as Dutton ranks third in the SEC in K/BB rate (6.23). Dutton never recorded more than 38 2/3 innings or 29 strikeouts in any of his three seasons in Baton Rouge. He now has 81 strikeouts across 68 1/3 innings this season.
More wind and rain rushed in on Saturday after Tennessee’s Dalton Bargo tied the game at 4-4 with an opposite field solo home run in the ninth inning of Game 2. The game was then delayed after one pitch in the 10th inning. After approximately 30 minutes, Game 2 was scheduled to resume at 1 p.m. Sunday, with Game 3 to follow 45 minutes after completion.
It was a back-and-forth affair during the second game, as teams notched scores every other inning starting with the opening frame. Tennessee never held a lead until Sunday during the 11th inning. Vols’ freshman Chris Newstrom drove in Andrew Fischer after pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman. Newstrom stepped to the plate against Griffin Graves batting .500 with runners in scoring position through 44 ABs. Newstrom sent a 1-1 pitch up the middle to score Fischer as Tennessee walked off Auburn and evened the series a day after the contest began.
The Vols then dropped the final game of the weekend, and ultimately the series, after scoring just one run on four hits in the final game of the series.
Auburn Notes
Irish collected four hits, five RBIs and four stolen bases during the series. Irish flashed his athleticism and arm in right field over the weekend. He’s a top player on the board for this year’s MLB draft as a catcher and outfielder. Irish will be one of the first catchers drafted, likely in the first round come July.
Auburn’s Carson Myers was stellar for the Tigers out of the pen in Game 2. The lefty tossed 54 pitches across 3 1/3 innings, landing 39 for strikes. Myers gave up seven hits but was efficient with runners on base. He only allowed one run, while striking out six Vols batters and issuing no free passes.
Myers came in relief of starter Cam Tilly. It was Tilly’s second start this season, as he has been primarily a bullpen piece for the Tigers. Tilly is known for generating high spin rates with his curveball and slider, while also offering a tumbling splitter. That mix was on display against Tennessee, but the Vols lineup were patient enough not to chase and forcing Tilly to throw strikes.
Tilly tossed 61 pitches through 2 2/3 innings, only recording 33 strikes. He issued four walks and struck out two batters. It’s a fun arm from the right side, and some organization will be happy to add his feel for spin in this summer’s MLB draft.
Tennessee Notes
After giving up two runs on three hits in the first inning of Game 2, Marcus Phillips settled in and worked efficiently through 4 2/3 innings. Phillips didn’t posses the power that he displayed last weekend versus LSU, but the right-hander kept the Auburn lineup off balance.
Phillips didn’t allow another earned run and surrendered just two hits following the opening frame. The junior showed an improved feel for his pitch mix, as he generated whiffs with the fastball and breaking pitches.
Tennessee’s senior center fielder, Hunter Ensley, collected two RBIs on four hits in Game 2. Ensley finished the series going six for his last eight at the plate.
One positive note for the Vols in Game 3 was the development of AJ Russell. The Tennessee right-hander continues to stretch out and get closer to typical starting status. He opened Game 3 by generating whiffs on the fastball and landing off-speed pitches for strikes.
Russell seemed to be in complete command until he began the third inning by giving up three singles. His day was done after failing to record an out in his third frame. His effectiveness early in the game was an encouraging sign, however. Russell displayed his best feel for the pitch mix to date in 2025.
Multiple Volunteer ejections were enforced on Sunday. Doyle was the first to get tossed after recording the last out of the top of the 11th. Doyle caught Auburn’s Bristol Carter in a pickle with the runner on third base. The play ended with Doyle tagging Carter in the chest a few feet in front of home plate. Words were exchanged by the two players, as dugouts cleared. Doyle left with an ejection, resulting in a two-game suspension as a reliever per a University of Tennessee spokesperson.
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello was also tossed on Sunday. His ejection stems from the fifth inning of Game 3.
Quotes from the Auburn series
Vitello on Russell’s outing:
“It was better. And then, you know, obviously, (Cam Fralick) did an incredible job with two strikes, and then the next guy gets a flare … but he was really good, especially in the first inning, you could tell there was an attitude difference, and certainly the stuff spoke to that as well.”
Vitello on the ejection against Auburn:
“The fifth? Probably the comparison of the check swings of Levi versus (Auburn’s), and Levi won’t like hearing it, but I think he went. I think both guys went. But I think that was a spillover, too. I mean, from the first game, which I pat myself on the back, and everybody else for keeping composure, because our best player got thrown out of the game in an elimination situation, for exchanging words with with a guy. Two adults competing in a league which, for the record, everybody gets to chime in in this league more than anybody on Twitter and from the stands and everything else. So if anything, these guys that are actually out there in between the lines should probably get to say some things to each other, and probably should be granted that right.”
