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Looks exchanged in the on-deck circle changed the game for Tennessee in regional final

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•06/02/25•

_Cainer

Manny Marin. Credit: Tennessee Athletics
Manny Marin. Credit: Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee trailed Wake Forst 2-1 entering the fourth inning. The Vols had just squandered a golden opportunity in the inning prior, plating just one run after loading the bases with no outs. Vitello’s club didn’t let it happen again.

Instead, Tennessee hammered seven runs on the scoreboard off four hits – two of which that left the ballpark – just one inning later. The Vols took a commanding lead in the ballgame from there and brought the crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium to their feet. Many never sat back down.

Ironically, it was free-passes, wild pitches and one single that ended up tying the ballgame at two runs apiece for the Vols to begin the inning. All this before the big blows from Manny Marin and Andrew Fischer.

Hunter Ensley walked and scored on a check-swing, infield single from Reese Chapman. Dean Curely walked with one out and scored on a wild pitch. Tied 2-2, Levi Clark made his way down to first after being plunked for the second-straight at-bat. He and Chapman wouldn’t have to run hard after that as they both came around to score on the three-run home run from Manny Marin two batters later.

“It feels good. It’s where I wanted to be, the moment. That’s why you come here to Tennessee,” Marin said after the game. “I looked at on deck. I looked in the corner of my eye and [Andrew] Fischer was there just like this [bumps chest]. I knew after his energy was given that it was going to be good.”

The blast was just the third of the season for the No. 9 hitter, true freshman for the Vols – and the first since March 8 against St. Bonaventure in nonconference play. It handed Tennessee a 6-2 lead.

Not to be out-done, Fischer followed two batters later with a long ball of his own. It was his 24th of the season as the ball just got out in right field. Fischer, who challenged the fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium the night before, absolutely delivered and the stadium erupted.

“I looked at Manny and sometimes you never really know what’s going through his head because he doesn’t really say much, but he just kind of had a little bit of a different presence about him in the on deck circle,” Fischer explained. “When he looked at me, he just kind of nodded and I was like, ‘let’s go’, ‘let’s do this’. He just got it done and I lost my mind.

“I think from that moment when he hit the ball to, I think D-Loy’s [Dylan Loy] first out recorded, I just blacked out. Don’t remember any of it. So, yeah, just super, super happy.”

In the blink of an eye, the Vols held an 8-2 lead entering the fifth inning. Thanks to the offensive outburst, Tennessee is still alive and playing baseball. The season continues following the 11-6 win over Wake Forrest that clinched the Knoxville Regional.

The Vols now have a rematch in Fayetteville against Arkansas in super regional play. Ironically, the Arkansas series to end the regular season – though a series loss – was what turned the offense around as the better at-bats returned up and down the lineup.

Now, Tennessee is swinging the bat as well as anyone still playing. It’s a dangerous team and it’s still alive. Throw the poor record against the Razorbacks out the window. Tennessee is coming back to town.  

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