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Tennessee

Marcus Phillips did much more than just manage the run game against Cincinnati

On3 imageby: Eric Cain06/01/25_Cainer
Marcus Phillips. Credit: UT Athletics
Marcus Phillips. Credit: UT Athletics

The biggest storyline entering Saturday’s Knoxville Regional matchup between Tennessee and Cincinnati was the Bearcats’ ability to run on then bases and Marcus Phillips’ struggles to hold runners on. Tennessee won the ballgame 10-6 and this soon became an afterthought.

Cincinnati is tied for 18th in the country with 128 stolen bases. The Bearcats had been caught just 14 times on the season and boasted five players with 10+ stolen bases on the season.

That storyline was a complete nonfactor as Phillips managed things well, allowing just one stolen base while on the mound. He even picked off Cincinnati’s best offensive weapon (Kerrington Cross) on the base paths.

Entering the game, Phillips allowed 36 of 40 would-be base stealers. So, what was the difference in this one?

“I give him a lot of credit. He’s worked really, really hard over the last probably three, four weeks of stopping the running game or being able to do some things, but he made it a lot harder,” Cincinnati coach Jordan Bischel said postgame. “Takes a lot of work to give him a lot of credit. They’ve worked hard with him and he did a nice job.

“Big dude that throws hard and was throwing a lot of strikes and has a good slider,” Cincinnati coach Jordan Bischel said. “There’s a reason he’s projected in the top 50 in the draft.”

It wasn’t just managing the run-game where Phillips shined. The right-handed flamethrower tied for a career-high of eight strikeouts. He allowed just three runs over six-plus innings in the start and four hits. He faced the minimum on three separate occasions.

“He’s very poised. I think it helps our team kind of relax a little bit on defense,” catcher Cannon Peebles said of his battery mate. “He was just competing. He was just out there, next task. If something didn’t go his way, he’s very poised and he can move on very quickly and focus on getting the next job done. And that’s kind of been the basis of this team and work tonight.”

With the efforts of Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips at the top of the rotation pitching the way they have this weekend – and for much of the year – Tennessee is tough to beat. That’s the plan and the Vols are following it well to begin postseason play.

“I’ve always been a baller. I like to play. I like to be around the game. I’ve been around my whole life,” Phillips said. “Just always being around the field and wanting to progress in my abilities. I feel like that’s kind of telling for how sharp my game could possibly be.”

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