How It Happened: AJ Russell shines as Vols claim opener over Texas Tech
ARLINGTON, TX — Tennessee powered behind the incredible effort of AJ Russell on the mound and Billy Amick at the plate Friday night to win the season-opener 6-2 over Texas Tech in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.
The Vols (1-0) return to Globe Life Park on Saturday to take on Oklahoma (0-1) at 8 pm eastern time.
Russell stole the show in what goes down as his first weekend start of his career. The sophomore right-handed hurler allowed two runs and struck out 10 over 73 pitches on the night. AJ Causey was big out of the bullpen to preserve his lead in the fifth inning as well.
A three-run fourth inning at the plate – highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Billy Amick – got the Vols rolling. Tennessee, who plated three more in the eighth, finished the game with six runs off eight hits and zero errors defensively while Texas Tech finished with two runs off five hits and one crucial error in the field.
Kyle Robinson (0-1) took home the loss for the Red Raiders after allowing three runs (two earned) over 3.2 innings and 83 pitches (56 strikes) total. The right-hander allowed four hits, struck out four and walked two in the process. Reliever AJ Causey (1-0) is credited with the win after tossing the final 4.2 innings of the ballgame with no runs charged to his name.
Texas Tech will move on to play Nebraska Saturday at 4 pm ET.
Scoring Summary
Top 4th: Billy Amick lined a two-run home run just inside the foul pole down the right field line. Vols 2-0
Top 10
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- 4
Ryan Williams NIL
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Deion Sanders
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Oppo 🌮 for Billy's first HR as a Vol!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 17, 2024
📺https://t.co/K9txqjSJM9#GBO // #OTH // #BeatTTU pic.twitter.com/D5GUmyuQvd
Top 4th: Bradke Lohry reached first base on a fielding error by the second baseman, Tracer Lopez. Kavarez Tears scored from third base. Vols 3-0
Bottom 5th: TJ Pompey tripled to the wall in right-center field to plate a pair. Vols 3-2
Big time for your first base knock!
— Texas Tech Baseball (@TTU_Baseball) February 17, 2024
TJ triples home a pair and we're within a run!
📺 – @flosports
Tenn: 3
Tech: 2#WreckEm | @Tpompey_Jr pic.twitter.com/qRslXeYNYu
Top 8th: Bradke Lohry sacrifice fly, Billy Amick scored. Vols 4-2
Top 8th: Dylan Dreiling scored on a wild pitch. Vols 5-2
Top 8th: Hunter Ensley singled in Kavares Tears from third base. Vols 6-2
We're cookin' now!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 17, 2024
Three runs and counting here in the eighth after a Lohry sac fly, wild pitch and Ensley RBI single! Pitching change for the Red Raiders.
6-2 Big Orange
📺https://t.co/K9txqjSJM9 #GBO // #OTH // #BeatTTU pic.twitter.com/QSjz02CXCH
Weekend Schedule
Friday: Tennessee 6, Texas Tech 2 | Final Stats
Saturday (8pm ET) vs. Oklahoma | Watch: FloBaseball | Listen: UTsports.com | Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Sunday (7:30pm ET) vs. Baylor | Watch: FloBaseball | Listen: UTsports.com | Live Stats: StatBroadcast
The Final Stats
Postgame Video
Projected Weekend Starting Rotation
Friday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 21 Texas Tech | RHP AJ Russell vs. RHP Kyle Robinson
Saturday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. Oklahoma | RHP Drew Beam vs. RHP Brendan Girton
Sunday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. Baylor | TBA vs. TBA
Vols in the Preseason Polls
NCBWA – No. 5
USA Today Coaches Poll – No. 8
Baseball America – No. 8
D1 Baseball – No. 9
Perfect Game – No. 11
*Tennessee was picked to finish second in the SEC East in 2024, voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.
