Rising UT star sticks it to his former team in Clemson regional opener
The transfer portal has reshaped the collegiate sports world, and not just in football. It creates opportunities for compelling storylines and underdog stories across the sports realm. Friday night in Clemson, SC was no different. Andrew Lindsey pitched seven strong innings, allowing 1 run and 5 hits while striking out ten in the Vols 8-1 regional-opening […]
The transfer portal has reshaped the collegiate sports world, and not just in football. It creates opportunities for compelling storylines and underdog stories across the sports realm.
Friday night in Clemson, SC was no different. Andrew Lindsey pitched seven strong innings, allowing 1 run and 5 hits while striking out ten in the Vols 8-1 regional-opening win over the Charlotte 49ers.
For Lindsey, it was a return to the NCAA regional, where he pitched in the 49ers' 13-10 win over Maryland in the 2021 NCAA tournament Greeneville regional. And this time it was at the expense of his former teammates. Lindsey pitched for Charlotte in 2021 after transferring from Walters State Community College after the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He compiled a 4.89 ERA and 6-2 record over 12 starts and 20 overall appearances for the 49ers, but left the program and stepped away from the game altogether.
After working as a temporary city employee to help with cleanup efforts following massive flooding in his hometown of Waverly, Tennessee, Lindsey eventually found his way back to baseball. Tony Vitello and Lindsey's Tennessee teammates couldn't be happier that he did. The Vols are 6-0 in Lindsey's last 6 starts.
It was a bit of a slow start for Lindsey on Friday, as he loaded the bases before getting out of it with a strikeout. From there he settled in, not allowing a baserunner from one out in the top of the 2nd until into the 6th inning.
The UT bats were hot early. Christian Moore got UT on the board early by splitting the right-center gap to drive home Maui Ahuna and Griffin Merritt. He homered in the third to the same spot in right center for a 5-0 lead. Merritt blew the game open in the fourth with a towering three-run shot to left center that hit the overhang over the outfield stands.
Tennessee will face top seed Clemson at 6:00 pm on Saturday in the winner's bracket. The Tigers blew open a tight 7-5 game in the 8th with a five spot to pull away from the pesky fourth seed Lipscomb. Chase Dollander will get the start for UT, per Tony Vitello postgame.
It will undoubtedly be a big challenge, but this UT team has started to find itself lately. And it's in no small part because of one Andrew Lindsey.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
