Tennessee baseball held a home run party in the third inning of its series opener against Kentucky. The Vols went deep three times in a seven run third inning and never looked back, holding off a three-run Kentucky ninth inning comeback to win 10-6.
Here’s everything to know about the Vols’ 10th straight home win.
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A Home Run Party
Tennessee baseball reached 100 home runs for just the third time in program history in Tuesday’s win over Austin Peay. They continued the success in extreme fashion in Friday night’s series opener against Kentucky.
The Vols scored nine runs on five home runs as their bats blew Kentucky out of the water in the victory.
Christian Moore got the scoring started with a 440 foot homer that shattered the side windshield of a car parked on Todd Helton Drive behind the left field porches.
Moore barely out did Hunter Ensley who reclaimed the lead for Tennessee an inning later with 439 foot two-run home run which also cleared the porches in left field. It was the first of three home runs Tennessee hit in a seven-run third inning which broke the game open.
Jared Dickey made his back-to-back homers with a long ball off the video board in right field. The ensuing two batters reached base before Kentucky went to its bullpen. LHP Jackson Nove fared no better than starter Travis Smith. Designated hitter Griffin Merritt hit a line drive three-run homer right after Nove entered to extend the Vols’ lead to 7-1.
Merritt added Tennessee’s fifth and final home run in the sixth inning, going opposite field off the video board for a two-run homer— his 16th long ball of the season.
Andrew Lindsey Turns In One Of His Best Outings
Andrew Lindsey made a costly mistake as a fielder in the third inning when he fired the ball over Zane Denton’s head to bring home an unearned run on what should have been an easy out.
But on the mound, Lindsey was simply fantastic against the Wildcats. Devin Burkes hit a solo homer to right field in the fifth inning but it was the one of just two earned run Kentucky scored off the right-hander.
Lindsey allowed just six hits and surrendered two walks while striking out four in 6.2 innings pitched. It wasn’t a rarity for Kentucky to earn baserunners but Lindsey kept the Wildcats at bay and they never threatened for a big inning following the third when Lindsey’s throwing error gave Kentucky a runner in-scoring position.
The Volunteer State native’s 6.2 innings pitched tied his season-high while throwing a season-high 103 pitches.
Tony Vitello’s decision to move Lindsey into the starting rotation has arguably been his best this season. The Charlotte transfer turned in one of his best starts of the season against the Wildcats Friday night and helped Tennessee coast to the series opening win.
Tennessee Controls The Run Game
Tennessee’s ability to control Kentucky’s run game was a major storyline to watch entering the weekend series. The Wildcats are the SEC’s top base stealing team by a large margin and Tennessee has struggled to hold runners this season.
Kentucky tested Tennessee early when Ryan Waldschmidt tried for his 14th stolen base of the season in the second inning. Tennessee catcher Cal Stark had other ideas, catching the Wildcats’ left fielder stealing for the first time all season. It set the tone for a strong defensive game from Stark.
The Wildcats stole just two bases on Tennessee in the series opener with one being on a ball four with two-outs while Stark focused on framing the pitch instead of the runner.
Stark also helped Tennessee get out of a jam in the eighth inning when he threw behind Emilien Pitre at first for the second out of the inning. It was the second time in two weekends that Stark has successfully thrown behind a runner. The junior backstop has gotten better-and-better there for Tennessee in recent weeks.
It’s just one game, but the Vols need him to be on his game more than ever this weekend. The series opener was a great start.
Stark also provided a RBI double at the plate which was Tennessee’s only run not on a homer.
Final Stats
Up Next
Tennessee resumes its weekend series with Kentucky Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is at noon ET.
