Levi Clark and Blake Grimmer each hit multiple home runs to lead Tennessee baseball to a 13-5 series salvaging victory over Ole Miss on Sunday afternoon.
The Vols flipped the game in the third inning, overcame a crucial defensive miscue and picked up an important victory. Here’s how it happened.
A Third Inning Turning Point
Having already scored one run, Ole Miss was threatening to blow the game open with the bases loaded and two outs in the third inning. After retiring the first six batters he faced on 15 total pitchers, Evan Blanco was teetering for Tennessee.
But the senior lefty exited the jam, getting Will Furniss to pop out to second base to end the inning and limit the damage.
Then after looking lifeless at the plate the first two innings, the Vols offense finally found their footing. In his first at-bat back from injury, Stone Lawless singled to right field. Levi Clark then gave Tennessee the lead with a two-run homer to left-center field.
Tennessee wasn’t done either. Henry Ford singled and Reese Chapman doubled to give the Vols two in-scoring position with one-out. After Trent Grindlinger struck out, Blake Grimmer came through with a three-run homer into the Tennessee bullpen.
In an inning when Ole Miss was one swing away from leading 5-0, the Vols exited with a 5-1 lead.
Levi Clark And Blake Grimmer Had A Career Days
It was a quiet first two games of the series for sophomore Levi Clark as he reached base just once. But Clark turned in a career-day at the plate in the series finale.
He hit the previously mentioned home run in the third inning and followed it up with a mammoth 438 foot home run over the batter’s eye in centerfield. Then in his third at-bat, Clark roped a double into the right-center gap.
Clark hit the ball 106, 110 and 102 mph in his first three at-bats. All hits were on the first pitch that he saw. It was the first fifth three-hit game of Clark’s career and the first two-home run game.
Grimmer one-upper Clark, hitting three home runs for the first multi-homer game of his career. He hit the clutch two-out homer in third inning and then provided some insurance with a lefty-lefty solo shot off the foul pole in the seventh inning.
The left-handed slugger went four-for-five at the plate with home runs his 353, 370 and 406 feet.
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A Defensive Miscue Cost Tennessee
Ole Miss threatened to do real damage in the fifth inning when they put runners on second and third with one-out. But it looked like Blanco would again get out of the inning.
The senior lefty struck out Collin Reuter then again got Furniss to hit a towering pop up to left-center field. But this one dropped between Manny Marin, Blaine Brown and Garrett Wright. The outfielders were playing deep but the ball was in the air long enough that either should have gotten to it, especially considering Marin never seemed to have a good beat on it.
Both baserunners scored to cut Tennessee’s lead to 7-3. It also made Blanco’s outing look worse than it was as he allowed three earned runs in six innings pitched.
Tennessee Provided Insurance With Three Late Homers
When Tristan Bissetta hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to cut Tennessee’s lead to 7-5, things suddenly felt very dicey for Tennessee.
But the Vols secured the win with a pair of big swings. In the seventh inning, Grimmer hit the previously mentioned homer off the foul pole.
Then Henry Ford truly helped Tennessee relax in the eighth inning when he blasted a three-run homer 427 feet to left-center field. It was Ford’s fourth hit of the game and marked the first time a Tennessee player totaled four hits this season.
Grimmer’s third homer of the day made it 13-5 just a few at-bats later.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee baseball is back in action this Tuesday night when they host Lipscomb. First pitch from Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6 p.m. ET. The Vols host rival Alabama at home next weekend.
