Tennessee baseball’s offense bounced back in a major way, scoring nine first inning runs and run-ruling the Golden Eagles 20-2 in seven innings on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Here’s how it went down as the Vols earn the win to improve to 13-4 before the start of SEC play this weekend.
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A Much Needed Early Offensive Explosion
Tennessee scored just nine total runs in its weekend series against Wright State as its offense continued to scuffle. But the Vols quickly got their offense going against Tennessee Tech.
Hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, Garrett Wright took Lawson Stricklin deep on just the second pitch of the game for a solo homer. The Vols were far from finished, scoring nine runs in the inning and five runs before Tennessee Tech recorded its first out.
Blaine Brown and Henry Ford walks followed by a Blake Grimmer single loaded the bases for Reese Chapman. The senior outfielder hit Tennessee’s first grand slam of the season to push the lead to five runs.
Brown and Ford would drive in four more runs in the first inning. Brown worked a bases loaded walk while Ford roped a bases clearing double in the left-center gap.
As a whole, Tennessee sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on five hits. It was a breath of fresh air for a struggling offense.
Manny Marin Keeps It Rolling
The lone offensive positive from Sunday’s shutout loss was Manny Marin, who went three-for-three at the plate and responded to a challenge from Josh Elander.
Marin remained hot against Tennessee Tech. He was apart of the first inning explosion with his double helping set up the Brown and Ford RBIs. In his second at-bat, Marin hit a two-run homer into the left field porches for his second long ball of the season.
The sophomore shortstop has not reached base safely in six straight plate appearances, including three extra-base hits and the walk-off single on Friday night.
Tennessee pinch hit Ariel Antigua for Marin in the fifth inning after the game was fully over. With Marin gaining confidence and Antigua having plenty of reps this season, the move was a bit bizarre. Alas, Marin had another strong day and looks like Tennessee’s starting shortstop as the Vols enter SEC play.
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Freshman Pitchers Get Innings
Six Tennessee freshman got work on the mound in the run-rule victory starting with Taylor Tracey who started in a midweek game for a second consecutive week.
Tennessee Tech scored its lone run off Tracey in the third inning when Cade Fuller hit a solo home run into the left field porches. Despite the long ball it was a good outing from Tracey. He pitched three innings, striking out six batters while allowing just four baserunners. However, the Golden Eagles did have two hard hit fly outs to the warning track.
Things got shaky for Ethan Baitto in the fourth inning as Tennessee Tech put two-on with one-out and loaded the bases with two-outs. However, Baitto got out of the inning by striking out leadoff hitter Landon Smelser. Baitto got two more ours in the fifth inning before exiting.
Left-handed pitcher Chandler Day faced just one batter but recorded the out. Right-handed pitcher Sawyer Deering pitched one inning, walking one batter and striking out another. Left-handed pitcher Will Haas got two outs in the seventh inning, striking out a pair while walking one better. Right-handed pitcher Jax Bishop came in and allowed the inherited run to score before totaling the final out.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball opens up SEC play on Friday night when they travel to Athens to face Georgia. First pitch for the weekend series is at 6 p.m. ET at Foley Field. The SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
