In a thrilling 11-inning marathon at Citizens Bank Park, the Colorado Rockies (16-23) edged out the Philadelphia Phillies (17-22) with a 9-7 victory on Friday night. The game served as a showcase for former Tennessee Volunteers standout Chase Dollander, who took the mound for the Rockies and delivered a solid performance in the series opener.

Dollander, the Rockies' first-round pick (No. 9 overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft, pitched 5.2 innings, striking out five batters while throwing 89 pitches—48 of which were strikes. Despite issuing five walks and allowing three hits and two earned runs, the right-hander kept his composure against a tough Phillies lineup, facing 24 batters and giving Colorado a chance to rally late.

Joining Dollander in the lineup was fellow former Vol Jordan Beck, who started in left field. Beck went 0-for-4 at the plate but contributed a run and a walk, showing patience in key moments.

The win marked a strong start to the three-game series between the two clubs. Game 2 is set for Saturday at 6:05 p.m. EDT, with both teams looking to build on early-season momentum.

Dollander's journey to the majors has been impressive. After transferring from Georgia Southern, he played for the Vols from 2022 to 2023, appearing in 33 games (31 starts) and posting a 17-6 record. During his Tennessee career, he racked up 228 strikeouts, one complete game, and a solid .364 ERA over 168 innings pitched. His standout 2022 season earned him SEC Pitcher of the Year and All-America honors, as he helped lead the Vols to both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships, as well as a trip to the 2023 College World Series.

For Rockies fans and Vols faithful alike, Dollander's performance is a promising sign of what's to come from this young arm.