In a strong start to their weekend series, the No. 2/4 Tennessee Volunteers rolled to an 8-2 win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, thanks to standout efforts from pitcher Liam Doyle and catcher Cannon Peebles.
Liam Doyle Shines on the Mound
Though Kentucky’s Devin Burkes hit a two-run homer in the first inning, junior left-hander Liam Doyle quickly regained control. He delivered seven dominant innings, giving up just one hit after the first and tallying nine strikeouts. With the win, Doyle improved to 7-1 on the season and became the first pitcher in the country to notch 100 strikeouts this year.
Cannon Peebles Powers the Offense
Junior catcher Cannon Peebles delivered a monster game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and a career-best four RBIs. He showcased his switch-hitting abilities by homering from both sides of the plate—a three-run blast in the sixth inning and a solo shot in the eighth.
Teamwide Contributions
Tennessee’s offense also got a lift from Dean Curley, who had two hits, including a homer, and scored twice. Dalton Bargo and Reese Chapman added RBI hits, while reliever Tanner Franklin pitched the final two innings without allowing a run and struck out two batters to seal the win.
What’s Next
Now 33-5 overall and 12-4 in SEC play, the Volunteers will look to take the series in Game 2 on Saturday at 6 p.m. against Kentucky (20-15, 6-10 SEC).
Be the first to comment