The Tennessee Volunteers came into Friday night’s contest with in-state rival Vanderbilt searching for its first series win at home since a weekend versus Florida back in March. The Volunteers got the start they needed to help accomplish that feat thanks to junior Liam Doyle.
Game 1 of the weekend pitted two dynamic starters against one another. It was Tennessee’s Liam Doyle set to duel with Vandy starter JD Thompson. Doyle came in with an 8-2 record on the season, while also leading the nation in strikeouts. Thompson entered Lindsey Nelson Stadium on a heater, sporting his riding fastball and firm package of off-speed. Thompson dazzled in his last outing. It was a seven-inning, 11-strikeout performance against Alabama.
Same Doyle, similar outcome
The outcome of the Friday night battle resulted in a 3-2 Volunteers victory, led by Doyle’s most meaningful performance this season. The lefty worked seven innings of shutout baseball, puncuated by 12 strikeouts and zero walks. Doyle allowed just three hits. None were for extra bases.
For Doyle it was his the same approach he’s utilized during his time as a Vol that fueled him to Tennessee’s 15th SEC victory.
“I continue to go just through my week,” said Doyle. “Just consistency with the week. Always feel good and make sure I’m ready for Friday night. And then once (I’m) out there, just do what I’ve been practicing all week, all year – almost since the fall – just keep having the same routine. Just have a lot of confidence going”
The scene was set for the Vols’ most valuable component to keep the trend going while in the midst of a tight conference race as the regular season closes. Doyle has recorded a win in in three straight home series. Tennessee has gone on to lose them all, however. And the left-hander who carries the nation’s best K-rate (43.9%), continued to keep the Commodores spinning throughout the night.
On the other side, Thompson threw 102 pitches across six innings, while striking out six and walking two. Vanderbilt’s lefty starter allowed two runs, putting the pressure on Doyle and to give his offense a chance.
More on Doyle’s Consistent Approach:
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello echoed the same sentiment. Vitello praised Doyle’s consistency and demeanor as the pitcher dealt with an abnormal week.
“So tonight, to me, the big story – it’s not a guy that’s looking to make an excuse or look for a reason to not perform his best,” Vitello said. “Which, I’m not knocking it, because maybe I would have too. A lot of kids would use that as a cop out if ‘I didn’t get to go through all these routines,’ and kids are well coached now. Those routines help you, but at the end of the day, when the umpire or the play ball kid says, play ball, you hook it up. And I don’t know that we have a better example in our clubhouse, and the guy that will hook it up.”
The context that Vitello refered to in the post-game presser stems from the unusual series that took place last weekend. Copious amounts of rain poured into Knoxville, Tennessee, over the weekend and forced the series with Auburn to have multiple delays. Doyle ended up starting the interrupted Friday night game, while recording the loss. He threw 23 pitches at the top of Game 1, which resumed on Saturday. He then notched a victory after entering in the 10th inning of Game 2 on Sunday, in which he tossed 34 pitches.
Up next for Tennessee
The Vols will face the Commodores on Sunday for a chance to take their second SEC series at home this season. It could be Tennessee’s last weekend in Knoxville, as many teams in the conference are battling for RPI spots.
Eight teams entered the weekend carrying between 13-15 conference wins. Second-place Arkansas sits at 17 conference wins after dropping the first two games of its series against LSU this weekend. First-place Texas snapped a four-game conference losing streak on Saturday, defeating Florida to capture its 20th conference victory.
