Skip to main content
tennessee logo

WATCH: Tennessee shows plenty of ‘want-to’ in back-and-forth win over Gamecocks

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•03/29/25•

_Cainer

Cannon Peebles. Credit: Tennessee Athletics/Caleb Griffin
Cannon Peebles. Credit: Tennessee Athletics/Caleb Griffin

It wasn’t the best start for Tennessee on Saturday in what eventually turned into a 7-5 back-and-forth affair in favor of the Big Orange on the road in Columbia, S.C.

The Vols put runners on second and third in the opening frame but a strikeout and groundout negated any runs from crossing the plate. The next nine batters were then retired until things finally got moving for a three-run fourth inning, courtesy of a Reese Chaman home run.

South Carolina got one run back in the bottom of the frame that followed on a solo home run from Jase Woita and then tied things up at three runs apiece in the fifth when the Gamecocks loaded the bases to begin the frame.

The Gamecocks took the lead at 4-3 in the sixth inning on a ball that was riffled to second baseman Manny Marin with the bases loaded once again. The freshman appeared to initially catch the line drive that was smoked off the bat, but couldn’t hang on. A run scored on what went down as a fielder’s choice and a force out at second base.     

“We found a different way to win than we’ve won so far this season, which is really important,” Tony Vitello said afterwards. “You don’t want to pat them on the back too much because, again, the first half of the game wasn’t very good from our standpoint. A lot of want-to right there on display, which was impressive.”

Andrew Fischer handed the lead back to Tennessee in the top of the eighth on a two-run homer off the batter’s eye in centerfield. The long ball was his 10th of the season a ball that travelled 405 feet with 105 miles per hour exit velocity. Dalton Bago, who tallied his second hit of the contest moments before, came around to score on the home run trot.  

“I knew we were down a run, but to be honest, I’m not up there trying to hit a home run,” Fischer said postgame. “I’m trying to hit the ball hard somewhere. One thing you learn here in this program is you’ve got so much depth in the order, and you can easily hand the bat to the next guy. So, if I don’t leave the yard there, someone else will. Just trying to win my at-bat anyway possible.”  

South Carolina just wouldn’t go away, putting runners at first and second with just one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Thankfully it was just first and second as shortstop Ariel Antigua made an incredible effort to get a force out at third and prevent a base hit from potentially scoring a run from second base.

“Ariel’s [Antigua] play is one of the best ones I’ve ever seen,” Vitello said. “He is fully capable of doing a bunch of different things. But I think that just came from trying to find a way to win.”

Beau Hollins followed with a single to right field. Reese Chapman fielded it cleanly and made a solid throw home to the plate. The throw carried catcher Cannon Peebles, who entered the contest midgame as a pinch hitter for Stone Lawless, up the third base line a little. The throw was in time. The tag was not placed on the runner and the Gamecocks had once again tied the contest at 5-5 in the eighth inning.

The man who would probably tell anyone who would listen that he should have made that tag – he was due up third in the top of the ninth. Jay Abernathy singled with one away and Peebles followed with a no-doubter to right-center. The two-run homer was the final nail in the coffin, giving Tennessee its 7-5 lead after travelling 406 feet at 105 mph.   

“We’ve got so much depth. You’ve got probably 15 guys on this team that could bat third in any SEC order,” Fischer continued. “This is not the first time I’ve said this, but Cannon works his tail off. It doesn’t surprise me that he comes through there for us in a big moment. Very poised kid and no moment gets too big for him.”  

Fischer was at it again in the top of the ninth after South Carolina put the leadoff man on. The 4-3 double play ball for pitcher Nate Snead was turned well by Dean Curley (playing out of position at second base) and picked by Fischer at the first base bag – with a stretch to go along with it. This was the second defensive double play Fischer was a part of in as many innings. Both were super impressive.

Tennessee goes for the series-sweep at South Carolina on Sunday at 12 PM ET.

You may also like