Liam Doyle readies for ‘Day Two’ challenge in Fayetteville

Tennessee coach Tony Vitello was pretty blunt last Sunday following a series-loss to Vanderbilt. Of the many things that need to be better for his program on the current slide, one of the most – if not the most important – is the improvements needed in the second game of the weekend.  

“So, we’re all friends here. Saturday needs to be better. Day two needs to be better,” the skipper told the media. “I don’t give a shit who’s pitching or who’s playing.”

Saturdays have been an issue of the Big Orange of late as Tennessee has dropped four of its last six Game 2s of the respective series. The Vols have obviously lost five of the past six weekends, including four-straight. Friday’s have been pretty good for the most part and it’s not hard to see why.

“Liam Doyle comes out, and the guy’s a freaking warrior. And our guys take on that personality,” Vitello continued. “Unfortunately, it’s the SEC, so the other team usually has a warrior like (Vanderbilt pitcher) JD Thompson or a guy that’s going be in the big leagues.”

Doyle has been about as elite as they come this season. He’s also been dealing with a blister that has popped up in recent weeks towards the end of his outings. That, combined with a strenuous workload the past few weeks, promoted Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson to make a changeup this weekend.

The soon-to-be MLB first rounder stayed on his normal routine of five days rest and will start Friday’s Game 2 against the Hogs. Sure, it is not Saturday but it’s the Saturday game of this week. And with a win already in the books for the Vols this weekend – their first at Baum-Walker Stadium since 2015 – the second game of this series has a different feel knowing the southpaw is up next.   

“So, it’s usually kind of a back and forth. But then the next day isn’t what it needs to be. And I could give you a few conspiracy theories. I think you guys brought that up. I was on the scoreboard, but I don’t really know,” Vitello joked with the media regarding a scoreboard in-game video at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. “I just know what I’m watching, and that can affect and carry and put a little more pressure into day three. So, ideally, you want to be the same type of team every day, but each day’s got a new personality.”    

Marcus Phillips did his job in the opener. He tossed 4.1 innings of three-run ball, leaving the ballgame with the lead in hand. A three-spot in the fourth allowed the Vols to take control of the ballgame but it was Cannon Peebles’ two-run home run in the ninth inning that allowed Tennessee fans to breathe a sigh of relief in the eventual 10-7 victory.

Tennessee has a chance to do something it hasn’t done in a month by this time tomorrow. That’s to win a weekend series. It would come following the second game of the weekend, too, which hasn’t been the norm of late as the Vols have played in seven rubber matches this year alone.

“It’s Senior Night for them. Will be high emotion, something we’ve experienced, not just at our park but on the road as well,” Vitello said following Thursday’s win. “If we do have success on Friday or game one, we have had some success. You are going to get the other team’s best punch. So, I think the biggest thing is to have a sense of calm. You want some energy over here, but a sense of calm and composure over here and make sure we’re just playing the game.”

A series-win this weekend would be instrumental for the Vols in terms of an NCAA Regional hosting look. Tennessee fell off the host line this past week in the updated Field of 64 projections by D1 Baseball. A series-win in Fayetteville this weekend very well could put them back on the host line heading to Hoover.

With so much on the line, feels good to have Doyle on the mound for a chance to take the series against the No. 8 Razorbacks. If that comes to fruition, it would be the first series-win at Arkansas for the Tennessee baseball program since 2001.