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Quick Takes: Tennessee grinds out 7-5 midweek win over Northern Kentucky

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•04/29/25•

Brent_Hubbs

Ensley

After a disappointing trip to Baton Rouge, Tennessee got a grind-it-out 7-5 win over Northern Kentucky. The Vols overcame a struggling second inning on the mound to rally from a 4-2 deficit to pick up their 36th win of the year. Here’s four quick takes on the victory.

Have a day Stone Lawless — Canon Peebles has settled in as Tennessee’s catcher but Tony Vitello likes to play two so Lawless getting the start on Tuesday was no shocking news or revelation. The freshman has had a good year and had a great night Tuesday night. 

Lawless had two home runs and applied the tag at the plate on a great throw to end the first inning by Reese Chapman. Lawless was so good that in the bottom of the 7th the catcher drew the intentional pass. 

The bullpen good and bad — Tennessee’s struggled to find the strike zone in the second inning as no one out of the bullpen could find the strike zone. In Northern Kentucky’s four run second inning, the Vols relievers walked 4 batters and hit one. The Blue Norse scored four runs on one hit. 

Combs and Arvidson out of the bullpen went one inning, gave up 1 hit, 4 runs, 4 walks, 1 hit batter, a wild pitch and one strikeout. The two threw 42 pitches and only 17 were strikes. 

Sharman came in and settled things down working 4.1 innings giving up one run on 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks. Sharman threw 86 pitches and found the zone throwing 52 strikes and forced 5 groundouts. 

Breedlove came in ready to pitch striking out the one batter he faced. Then Dylan Loy gave them an inning and a third before Nate Snead closed it out in quick fashion. 

So the bullpen did their job, but Tennessee pitchers didn’t do much to show signs of more depth. 

Krenzel’s return was big — Krenzel returned to the bump after missing a couple of weeks with illness. He got through the first inning without giving up anything thanks to Chapman’s throw to the plate. Krenzel struck out two after walking the first hitter to open the game. Krenzel threw 20 pitches which was the plan. Krenzel should be available this weekend and for a bullpen searching for help Krenzel’s return is certainly a welcomed sight. 

How Tennessee manages Sunday and how they manage middle relief in on SEC weekends is going to be interesting, but Kenzel will factor in that plan which is why his return is important.

Can Dean Curley stay warm this weekend ?  — Curley went into Sunday’s game against LSU 2 for his previous 18 over a five game stretch. Curley went 2 for 4 in Baton Rouge in the run ruled loss on Sunday and Tuesday night, Curley’s work at the plate was again productive. Curley went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a walk, 2 stolen bases and 2 runs scored. 

Curley’s bat is needed for this team and it was good to see him follow up a multi-hit game with another multi-hit game. Curley hasn’t been in a major slump at the plate but it’s a positive sign to see him come out of five game stretch were he hit just .111. 

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