Update: The bad had a “midweek inspection” sticker but not a “weekend inspection” sticker.

So, the issue in the Vandy-Tennessee game is that the sticker present on the bat was from a midweek game, and did not have an updated sticker for the weekend series.

— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) April 1, 2022

The Tennessee-Vanderbilt baseball series was widely expected to be an intense rivalry clash between 2 teams that don’t like each other. It didn’t take long for the first controversy of the series.

Tennessee’s Jordan Beck hit a home run in the top of the 1st inning. Beck’s homer did not count, however, as he was called for an “illegal bat.” As reporters noted and video shows, the bat in question had an inspection sticker, adding to the confusion. Vols skipper Tony Vitello was predictably unhappy with the call, laying into the SEC crew at Hawkins Field.

JORDAN BECK HOME RUN JUST GOT CALLED BACK TO NO STICKER ON THE BAT. OMG pic.twitter.com/dcmoz5NmNr

— 11Point7: The College Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@11point7) April 1, 2022

The bat clearly had a sticker on it… wtf is happening. pic.twitter.com/aRfSlpVss5

— 11Point7: The College Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@11point7) April 1, 2022

In the 2nd inning, Luc Lipcius hit a 2-run homer. He did a mock bat exam after crossing the plate.

Tennessee’s Luc Lipcius drills a Homer and touches home plate and immediately grabs the bat, taunting. pic.twitter.com/yBVxSgrtby

— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 1, 2022

It’s shaping up to be quite a weekend in Nashville. The Vols are up on 2-0 in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The game is airing on ESPN2.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.