Tennessee baseball pitcher Landon Mack hits Alabama batter in head

TL;DR

Tennessee pitcher Landon Mack struggled in a game against Alabama, hitting a batter in the head and allowing five earned runs in just over two innings. The Vols needed a strong performance but faced a disappointing start in a crucial SEC series.

Key points

Landon Mack hit an Alabama batter in the head
Mack allowed five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings
Tennessee needed a strong start in a key SEC series

Landon MackTennessee VolunteersAlabama Crimson TideSEC

Tennessee baseball pitcher Landon Mack hits Alabama batter in head

Tennessee baseball starting pitcher Landon Mack opened the game against No. 15 Alabama with a walk, and it went downhill from there.

Mack (3-3, 4.39 ERA) had one of his worst games of the season when the Vols (27-14, 8-10 SEC) desperately needed a good start in a key three-game SEC series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 23.

The starting right-hander only pitched 2 1/3 innings. He finished with five hits, five earned runs, four walks, two strikeouts, two hit by pitches and a balk against the Tide (28-14, 9-9)

Tennessee coach Josh Elander stuck with Mack until he couldn't. In the third inning and on his final pitch, Mack threw a fastball at 95 miles per hour right into the helmet of Alabama hitter Luke Vaughn. Vaughn collapsed on the ground in pain. He later got up and walked to the dugout, but did not return to the game.

The pitching struggles continued past Mack. The Vols have dug deep into their bullpen, going through six pitchers. Freshman Cam Appenzeller got the bulk of the work with 3 1/3 innings pitched.

Tennessee trails 12-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball pitcher Landon Mack hits Alabama batter Luke Vaughn in head

Q&A

What happened to Landon Mack during the game against Alabama?

Landon Mack hit an Alabama batter in the head and had a poor performance, allowing five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

How did Landon Mack's performance affect Tennessee's game against Alabama?

Mack's struggles contributed to Tennessee's disappointing start in a key SEC series, as they needed a strong performance from him.

What are Landon Mack's season statistics after the game against Alabama?

After the game, Landon Mack's record stands at 3-3 with a 4.39 ERA.