Pitcher Drew Beam started for Tennessee. He pitched 3.1 innings, recording six strikeouts. He faced 15 batters, totaling 71 pitches.
Chase Burns replaced Beam and pitched 4.2 innings. Burns recorded eight strikeouts and faced 19 batters, totaling 63 pitches. Wyatt Evans pitched one inning for Tennessee, striking out the three batters he faced.
Following the Vols’ win, head coach Tony Vitello discussed Tennessee’s pitching rotation for the game.
“I wrote on an index card, and it never works out this way, Beam four, Burns four, and then Todd Helton Jr. down there for one,” Vitello said. “Fortunately our guys, their guys battled incredibly, we could talk about that, but we kind of separated a little bit there, so we went to a different lefty. He threw about as good as anybody can throw.
“As far as going to Burns in that particular situation, you could argue who’s been the best guy all year long, but it’s
pointless because we’re in the here and now. As far as strikeout options, I mean, obviously Burns is a guy who you know is probably more off to strike somebody out, and someone else, and we had a runner at third base. All along, both those guys needed a throw while we’re here. They threw and I think at the same time, we didn’t gas anybody out for what we got going on next weekend.”
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