Tennessee and Vanderbilt entered Friday’s series opener inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium knowing that some significant postseason posturing could be at stake.
Junior pitcher Liam Doyle and senior center fielder Hunter Ensley were ready to deliver for the Volunteers.
Doyle racked up 12 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings while Ensley collected two hits, a crucial slide at the plate and an acrobatic catch at the wall as No. 12 Tennessee topped No. 10 Vanderbilt 3-2 before a crowd of 5,923. The triumph was the 11th for the Vols in their past 13 meetings with their in-state Southeastern Conference rivals.
“They’ve been a historic program in college baseball and a program you watch growing up as a fan,” Doyle said afterward in a news conference, “but it also felt like another SEC Friday night. Whoever you play is going to be a dogfight, and I’m glad we came out on top tonight.
“I am also glad to beat these guys for the orange.”