Another tough test. They smoked Purdue over the weekend three times including a 20-2 laugher. First pitch is at 3 pm

They have a much better product than they have had the last few years down in Knoxville. However, this is a game the guys need to find a way to win. We need to get some momentum going into Raleigh.

Looks like it will be free online at http://www.utsports.com/allaccess/?media=436350 if anyone is interested.

Sophomore Blake Burkett making his first career start for the Apps will face Sophomore Andy Cox (2-2, 5.29 ERA in 2013) for the Vols.

3 up 3 down for App top 1

AppHoops wrote:3 up 3 down for App top 1

And a leadoff homerun for Tennessee... not a good start

Tennessee responds with leadoff homer......1-0. That escalated quickly.

App keeping it close. Down 5-3 top of 9

We've missed on some opportunities, but we're hanging tough. This team has a lot of potential once all the young guys get some experience.

Kept the bat on the shoulder as we watch strike 3 go right down the plate, with runner on 2ed. Lost 5-3

3rd wrote:Kept the bat on the shoulder as we watch strike 3 go right down the plate, with runner on 2ed. Lost 5-3

i hope it's not a sign of things to come. there were a lot of looking K's last year, some at crucial times

I hit against UT's closer in high school and my high school team was 2-1 against him.

Tennessee has good talent but it is not great. This is a game we will look back on as one we should have and needed to win. Tennessee is picked to finish 10th in the SEC and has not made the SEC Tourney in 5 years.

Three things to take away from today:

1. Burkett looked pretty solid on the mound and pounded the zone for the most part, which was a vast improvement from over the weekend.

2. We are too aggressive early in the count and once we get down in the count we just sit there and watch strike 3 after strike 3 go by. That is something we have got to vastly improve upon.

3. We have got to improve upon situational hitting. In the 5th inning we had nobody out and runners on 1st and 2nd with a 3-0 count and the lead-off hitter could not advance the runner to third. Next batter flies one to the warning track, which would have been a run in the 5th if not multiple runs.