Quick Takes: Tennessee loses series at LSU, falling 12-2

Tennessee fell behind early and couldn’t make any noise as the Vols fell in game three at LSU 12-2 in what was a long day for the Vols. Here’s four takes on the loss.

Not the start anyone hoped for — Tennessee had AJ Russell on a pitch count so he wasn’t going to deep into the game, but the hope was certainly for him to get the third inning before he hit his pitch count. But a triple, followed by a double ended Russell’s day. Russell went 1.2 innings giving up 3 hits, and 2 earned runs in 37 pitches. 

Tennessee’s bullpen gave up more damage as Michael Sharman gave up a two run home run and only faced two batters without recording an out. Tegan Kuhns gave up 3 runs in 1.1 inning. The Vols found themselves in a hole they could not overcome. 

Bullpen struggles — Aside from Dylan Loy, Tennessee’s bullpen had a rough weekend. Tennessee gave away game one thanks to errors and the inability of Nate Snead to overcome them in the night with a 3-0 lead. Sunday’s bullpen game was not good. 

The Vols got great outings from Marcus Phillips and Liam Doyle in games one and two, but the bullpen struggles are certainly concerning as the baseball calendar turns to May.

Tennessee couldn’t get to LSU’s bullpen — What both teams had on the bump on Sunday was a question which is why both teams listed their starters at TBD. Tennessee knew Russell wasn’t going to go deep into the game and then it was a matter of what they got in long relief which wasn’t much. 

LSU went with Casan Evans and he delivered. Evans threw strikes. He only gave up two extra base hits and no walks. Throw in LSU’s offense and they could ride Evans which they did. Evans went six inning giving up 2 runs and scattering 6 hits throwing 85 pitches.

Tennessee has to figure out their arms — Tennessee is a good baseball team. They are not some great disappointment and they aren’t suddenly in some kind of real trouble. Bats can come and go what Tennessee has to get is more guys whose arms they can trust. 

Nate Snead isn’t going to have happen to him what happened on Friday night and against he didn’t get the help he needed to end the game. You make a couple of routine plays and Tennessee takes 2 of 3 in Baton Rouge and people aren’t worried. 

So Snead is not of a concern. Does he make it harder on himself than he should sometimes? Yes, but he’s your closer. 

The question is where are you on Sunday in the starting rotation. Is A.J. Russell going to be able to build up to longer stints? Is he going to find his stuff the way everyone had hoped and anticipated by the time May got here? And then were are you after that? Who can start on Sunday? Who can give you more innings? One of the beautiful things about last year is you had more options especially after Zander Sechrist came on and you started letting him go longer in outings. Is there a guy like that on the staff for the next two months of the season? If there is, the time to find them is now. The Vols are close to getting RHP Brayden Krenzel (illness) back for next week. He’s missed the past two weeks and is a guy who can eat innings.Tennessee simply can’t afford to have Doyle or Phillips to have bad outings. They have to go deep in the game for this team right now it feels like.