Liam Doyle received a two-game suspension for his role in a tension-filled moment between Tennessee baseball and Auburn.
The Tennessee ace will be available to pitch in Game 1 between the Vols and Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on May 9. The automatic suspension for a relief pitcher is two games, which Doyle will have served by not pitching in the series finale against Auburn or against Indiana State on May 6.Doyle (8-2, 2.39 ERA) leads the nation in strikeouts with 115 as No. 12 Tennessee (37-11, 14-10 SEC) prepares to face No. 10 Vanderbilt (34-14, 14-10).
Why did Liam Doyle get suspended?
Doyle’s suspension stemmed from an altercation at home plate.Auburn’s Bristol Carter attempted to steal home on the Vols in 11th inning in a 4-4 game on May 4 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Doyle stepped off the rubber, threw to catcher Cannon Peebles and the Vols got Carter in a rundown.Doyle tagged Carter out at home and the pair exchanged words, leading to home plate umpire Javerro January jumping between the two. The benches partially cleared as players and coaches stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating.
Doyle was ejected. Carter was not.
Tennessee won the game 5-4 in the bottom of the 11th on a Chris Newstrom pinch-hit, walk-off single with the bases loaded.
