Freshman Evan Russell started his first series as a designated hitter this season against Alabama, the only thing is, his ability to hit isn't what stood out. Instead, it was his patience at the plate.
"We try and coach that stuff up, there's no doubt about it," said head coach Tony Vitello, "about being calm in the moment. or being under control or composed, but it's kind of who he is."
On Friday, Russell sat calmly with his bat in hand, bases loaded and the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, and watched four pitches sail just outside of the strike zone. He walked his way to a walk-off win in just his fourth start in Big Orange.
"I wasn't very nervous," said Russell, "the coaching staff has done a very good job of making sure we work for everything we get."
The very next game, a Sunday doubleheader against the Tide, in a position to take the lead late with the bases loaded again, and what does Russell do? Watch the ball fly by and take his base.
The 3-game series sweep of Alabama is the first SEC sweep for Tennessee since May 2015 against Mississippi State, this coming off of the first road win against a ranked opponent since April 2017. It's also the first time since 2014 UT baseball has swept multiple 3-game series in the same season. A whole lot of firsts for first year head coach Tony Vitello.
"I'm still kind of elated with the fact that we won a series, which is our goal, and then you throw in another win in there, it's like having two desserts after one meal."
He was especially impressed with how the team handled itself between games in the doubleheader, remember, this group is the youngest among Power 5 conferences with 30 underclassmen and 6 upperclassmen.
"I think maturity with this group at all surprises me, they're a bunch of goofballs and they're young, but I think they really are learning as they go and you're starting to see some guys holding each other accountable."
Tennessee's weekend pitchers are starting to settle in. Freshman Garrett Crochet went 6.1 innings with eight strikeouts and two earned runs. Sophomore Garrett Stallings went all seven innings in the abbreviated Sunday games, giving up no earned runs and striking out five, and junior Will Neely finished the job with another seven innings, four strikeouts and no earned runs.
The baseball Vols have a difficult week ahead of them with a Tuesday trip to Western Carolina followed by a weekend series against South Carolina in Columbia.