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SEC tournament doubtful after Vols lose eighth in a row
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Jeff Lockwood sat in the dugout, arms crossed and obviously frustrated.
He was trying to figure out if somebody has a vendetta against the Tennessee baseball team.
“It’s almost like we’re being punished or something,” the sophomore first baseman said.
Those are the emotions that come out after an eighth consecutive loss.
A familiar pattern held true again as No. 22-ranked Kentucky took a series-clinching 5-2 victory Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“I don’t have any answers honestly,” Lockwood said after going 2-for-4. “I have no explanation.
“We’re getting good pitching, but we’re just not getting timely hits and putting anything together.”
The Vols (25-26, 11-15 SEC) still haven’t been mathematically eliminated from SEC tournament contention, but it would take a dramatic turnaround to land in Hoover, Ala., May 21-25.
“We just can’t catch a break right now,” UT first-year coach Todd Raleigh said.
UT ace Bryan Morgado came out firing his usual 93-mile-per-hour missiles, but he was throwing a lot of them.
Through the first five innings, he had struck out nine Wildcats to reach 100 for the season. Only James Adkins has struck out more batters in a season as a freshman for the Vols.
“When Bryan is on early, he has really good stuff,” Raleigh said. “I know he had 38 pitches through two innings with five strikeouts. That’s too many pitches.”
Kentucky coach John Cohen just told his team to be patient.
“We’re trying to get him to that 100 pitch count by the fifth inning,” he said. “In the sixth, he got to 121 pitches and there’s no way he can keep throwing 92, 93 with that great breaking ball.
“But he was spectacular early. When he has his command, he’s one of the best in this league.”
Morgado (5-4) was feeling the same kind of frustration as Lockwood after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings.
It was the fourth time this season the Vols had scored fewer than three runs in support of Morgado on the mound.
“I did get up in the pitch count, but I felt fine out there and had my stuff today,” he said. “We just didn’t make the plays we needed to and didn’t hit.
“Things just aren’t going our way right now and it’s sad.”
The first proof of that came in the first inning when UT’s Kentrail Davis was gunned out at the plate on a close play.
Kentucky (37-14, 13-13) manufactured a run in the fourth and finally started getting to Morgado in the sixth.
The Wildcats scored three runs on three hits, including a two-run homer by third baseman Chris McClendon.
Tyler Howe added a solo homer off UT reliever Joey Rosas in the top of the ninth to make it 5-0.
Tennessee’s only offensive pop came in the bottom of the ninth when junior third baseman Cody Brown and Lockwood went back-to-back with solo home runs.
The series finale — and Senior Day — is today at 2 p.m. in the Vols’ final home game of the season.
“It’s technically still not over,” Raleigh said. “We could beat them tomorrow, they get swept next weekend (against Ole Miss in Lexington) and we win two (at South Carolina), and we’re in front of them.”
Hope remains, but it’s down to its last gasp for the Vols.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by marinevol on May 10, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is going on? I can't believe we have a losing record. Sure hope we have some improvement next year.
Posted by BigOrangeHustler on May 10, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
marinevol, the only way for us to have a better season next year is to get rid of that terrible redneck coach we have.
Posted by ImAllVol on May 10, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe we can hire Cohen.
Posted by kdt0725 on May 10, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
were garbage at baseball...Todd Helton for coach when he retires...
Posted by Pullingguard on May 10, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First year coach of a team where the previous coach was fired because of not producing in recent years... So, everyone expects him to be highly successful with not much talent and blames everything on the coach and suggesting his being replaced... Wake up, evaulate him after next year of give him 3 years to get the thing turned around. If he does not, then clamor for his job.
Posted by bamacheats on May 10, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is a late season flop that sure would make Buzz proud.
Posted by warriorman86 on May 10, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Todd Raleigh is worse than FOOLmer
Posted by Tbaseballfan on May 11, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bottom line, you need to be positive with your players, to get results!!! When you think your players suck, why would you keep your chin up to play.
I have two questions, if someone could help out with them....Why was Griffen on the bench?
The second question is, Isn't there someone on the coaching staff that makes sure that there are no academic problems that keep players from playing. I guess Andy S. gets no help. Good one Coach Todd!!!
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 11, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Todd Raleigh will lead us to the World Series if given a chance.
Fritter Logic
Posted by sdye16 on May 11, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Todd Raleigh brings the same enthusiasm and excitement to his game as Pearl does for the basketball team. The problems are that the players are young and they did not fully buy into his system like the b-ball players did during Pearl's first year. But Raleigh's system has proven that it works: beating Texas, the great start, but the team just has to keep doing what he coaches.
Posted by warriorman86 on May 11, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like I said on another board. I was sitting by Simunic at yesterday's game and he was very upset. After SportSouth said on the telecast that he wasn't eligible he personally called and told them to correct it, and they did. Not only is he eligible, but his mother came into town last night just to learn the Coach Raleigh kicked him of because he "didn't like him". Very concerning situation.
Posted by sdye16 on May 11, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That raises several questions, but I really think that there is something else there besides Raleigh "not liking" Simunic.
Posted by rpoll1095 on May 11, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OMG......."...we can't catch a break." ????? Now, right there is a big part of the problem......if you are waiting for breaks to come your way, you already lost. The good teams go about making their own breaks. There is a negative mindset that has been a part of Tennessee baseball for a few years now. You hear it in the interviews and see it on the field. This did not come with the coaching change, its been here. It's one reason a coaching change was made. BUT, Raleigh is now the one who must get it changed and it sure didn't improve this year. Based on his past record, we would think he is capable of turning this around, but by the end of next season we need to see some positive movement......not a championship, just development! That would be refreshing. I think we could use a little more talent, yes. But with whatever talent we get, we need a whole new attitude and approach. This program has almost nowhere else to go but UP.
Posted by sdye16 on May 11, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What he meant was that every hard hit they had during that game was caught. If you were watching the game, you would've noticed that the Wildcats made diving catches, catches while falling over the wall in foul territory, etc. That's what he meant. Yes, this team needs to start making their own breaks, but when they actually do what they need to do and don't get rewarded for it, that's not within their power. But I do agree that they need some more talent and hopefully that talent will buy into his philosophy.
Posted by CatScratchFever on May 11, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OUCH!! The Big Blue Machine beat up on the vols like they were a Little League team.....wait, tennessee is a Little League team!!!
Posted by CatScratchFever on May 11, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OUCH!! The Big Blue Machine beat up on the vols like they were a Little League team.....wait, tennessee is a Little League team!!!
Posted by VolBallFan on May 11, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Todd Raleigh has destroyed this team. There's no lack of talent, just poor decisions by the coach to not even use his best players. Simunic is in fact eligible and Griffin was benched for no good reason. Clearly this guy has an agenda since he wouldn't even acknowledge AS on senior night. The things he's said to players is discouraging and disgraceful to the Volunteer name. It's a shame Raleigh is allowed to wear the uniform. There's clearly been a huge failure by the athletic dept. to provide any oversight.
Lots of power in the hands of a small man= complete disaster. Raleigh has been attacking players and saying things that would get the President fired. Raleigh is a cancer to UT Athletics and he needs to be removed before more damage is inflicted.
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