KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- On Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers and Cincinnati Bearcats faced off for both teams’ second game in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Tennessee defeated Cincinnati 10-6 to move to 2-0 in their quest to defend their national championship.
The offense came early for Tennessee as Dean Curley had three RBIs in the first three innings. The first two were off a base hit that scored two runs in the first inning, and the third one was a solo home run that hit the center field batter’s eye.
“He’s just freed himself up to play,” Volunteers head coach Vitello said. “He’s done well defensively and on the bases. The at-bats have also been really good.”
After those runs, Cincinnati responded in the bottom of the third inning with two runs to cut the lead to just one run. However, the Volunteers were not fazed.
Andrew Fischer came up big with three RBI in the fourth and sixth innings off a ground out and a two-run double. Then, a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly ball from Reese Chapman made it an 8-2 game in favor of Tennessee.
Cincinnati added more scoring as second baseman Christian Mitchelle hit a solo home run. Big 12 Player of the Year Kerrington Cross crossed home plate to score on a passed ball. This cut the Tennessee lead in half.
In the ninth inning, Manny Marin hit a ball up the middle that scored two more runs to extend Tennessee’s lead out to 10-4.
After two runs by Cincinnati in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brandon Arvidson struck out the final batter to end the game, resulting in a Tennessee win.
After 12 hits and 10 runs, Cincinnati pitcher Brandon Scheurer talked about what went into facing Tennessee’s lineup.
“It’s a really good lineup,” Scheurer said. “We all knew that coming in…credit to them. They made it really tough on me.”
Phillips, Russell Shine for Tennessee Pitching – Marcus Phillips had a great start for Tennessee. He had eight strikeouts, a season-high, in six innings of work. He was credited for the win.
AJ Russell came in and was phenomenal in relief for Tennessee. In 2 and 2/3 innings, he had six strikeouts before he was pulled for Arvidson, who recorded the final out.
Gavin Kilen’s Big Weekend Continued with Four Hits Versus Bearcats – The Volunteers’ lead-off hitter, Gavin Kilen, had four hits, which brings his total to six on the weekend.
With a .364 season batting average, he has been Tennessee’s leading hitter and Vitello talked about his great play against Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati.
“Gavin has been very accepting of his new role at shortstop,” Vitello said. “He has played well there, and the base running has been special. He’s most known though, because he can hit.”
Up Next – With the win, Tennessee has set themselves up to win the Knoxville regional on Sunday, June 1.
They will play the winner of the elimination game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Cincinnati Bearcats. The first pitch for that matchup is scheduled for noon EDT.
Photo: Reese Chapman (13) runs to first base after connecting for a hit during an NCAA regional baseball game against Miami on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
