Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Quick Takes: A gut-wrenching Tennessee loss to LSU in Baton Rouge

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•04/26/25•

Brent_Hubbs

Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello. Credit: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello. Credit: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY

Tennessee appeared to be on their way to their 5th straight Friday night SEC win, but the Vols gave LSU extra outs and Tigers took advantage in a brutal 6-3 loss for Tony Vitello’s club. Here are four quick takes.

An unthinkable collapse — Leading 3-0, the Vols needed three outs. But Tennessee’s defense failed reliever Nate Snead as Dean Curley had two errors wrapped around a strike out. Then Snead couldn’t get out of trouble. A walk loaded the bases. A single plated two runs to make it 3-2. Snead got a pop out to shallow left for out two. But ahead in the count 1-2, Snead gave up a single to Derek Curiel that tied the game, then the Tigers on a three run no doubt bomb to center by Jared Jones and a walk off 6-3 win for the Tigers. 

Tennessee gave the Tigers extra outs and LSU made them pay by stealing the win rallying from 3-0 in the bottom of the 9th. 

Liam Doyle’s gem wasted — Tennessee’s Friday night starter has been really good all season. He’s been great in his last four outings. After a three plus hour weather delay, Doyle went 6.2 innings giving up one hit, while striking out 6 and walking three. Doyle took a no-hitter into the sixth.

In Doyle’s last four starts, Doyle has worked 28 innings giving up just 4 runs and only 8 hits. He’s been brilliant on Friday night for the Vols.

More missed opportunities — It was a great pitchers dual as Doyle threw a gem and LSU starter Kade Anderson went 7.1 innings with 11 k’s, 3 walks and one run surrendered across 6 hits. 

Tennessee had a chance in the second inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but couldn’t come up with a key hit. In the 6th, Tennessee plated their first run with no outs, but couldn’t do any more damage as Hunter Ensley struck out and Dalton Bargo grounded into a double play to stop any possible bleeding for the Tigers. Tennessee stranded two runners in the 7th, 8th and 9th. For the night Tennessee left 10 runners on base and 5 in scoring position.

What’s Tennessee’s response — It’s been a long time since had a 9th inning collapse like what we saw in the wee hours of Saturday morning. Tennessee lost a Sunday game in Baton Rouge early in Vitello’s tenure. Tennessee thanks to two errors on that Sunday afternoon gave up 6 runs in the 9th to lose 9-7. The point is that it hasn’t happened often. Over the last few years it’s been Tennessee with the walk off wins. 

So the question is how does this team respond Saturday night in game two of this series. The Vols have lost three straight Saturday SEC games being outscored 21-9. And reliever Nate Snead’s availability the rest of the weekend is a question after throwing 47 pitches in the 8th and 9th inning Friday night. 

You may also like