Entering the last month of the regular season, the Volunteers lost a home series to Kentucky.
The Temptations went 0-4 on a bright Easter Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The previous Friday—as recounted by News Sentinel writer Mike Wilson—switch-hitting catcher Cannon Peebles had changed his walk-up song to “My Girl” and hit two homers, one from each side of the plate, in an 8-2 UT win over Kentucky.
“It is a song that kind of keeps me loose,” Peebles told Wilson. “Going up to the plate smiling, having fun. I think it fits my vibe. If you know me, it fits my vibe.” Lefty Liam Doyle, the NCAA’s leader in strikeouts with 104, got that win.
But Peebles’ “I got sunshine . . .” Motown mojo wore off in a 4-1 loss on Saturday, despite five good innings from Marcus Phillips, and an 8-2 loss on Sunday, with Tegan Kuhns yielding after 1 2/3 innings to lefty Brandon Arvidson for two, Nate Sneed for 3 1/3 innings, and one inning each from Tanner Franklin and Dylan Loy, from Jefferson City and Pigeon Forge, respectively.
Coach Tony Vitello pointed out that these setbacks came against two of the better starting pitchers in the league. He also noted that this is the time of year when sometimes “our guys have success and then think it’s going to be handed to them.” There were several errors, along with a misplay between second baseman Dean Curley and shortstop Airel Antigua on the front end of a double play. “A laundry list that would fall under the category of team,” said Vitello. “Remember what happened against David Lipscomb a year ago.” Of course, the team got back on track and won the national title.
“The doctor can prescribe you what to do to rehab something, but then you have to do it,” said Vitello. “It is up to us to point out some things that need to improve. At this point in the season, a lot of what is going to go on with Florida State’s program, ours, Kentucky’s, Oregon’s, whoever—it is going to be the decisions the kids make.”
The Vols were ranked No. 2 in the country going into the weekend but slipped to No. 5 after the two losses. Texas, Clemson, North Carolina, and LSU occupied the top spots. After a game against Lipscomb on Tuesday, April 22, the Vols travel to Baton Rouge for a three-game showdown.
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