Tennessee baseball used an offensive outburst to overcome an early three-run deficit and knock off Texas 14-9 to clinch the weekend series on Saturday night.
The Vols’ found their power and Evan Blanco turned in a gritty outing in their 13th SEC win of the season. Here’s how it happened.
Tennessee Responded To A Poor Top Of The First Inning
It was a less than ideal top of the first inning for Evan Blanco and Tennessee. The Longhorns quickly put two on base thanks to a one-out walk and an Anthony Pack Jr. single to right field. Blanco either slipped on the mound or got his cleat stuck while balking home the first run.
But that mattered little as Temo Becerra hit a two-run homer to left field to give the Longhorns a 3-0 lead.
Tennessee responded in impressive fashion. Garrett Wright led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer to left-center field and the Vols added another run when Trent Grindlinger launched his seventh homer of the season off the batter’s eye.
When Manny Marin hit a two-out solo homer into the left field porches in the second inning, the Vols had overcome the poor start and tied the game. They never trailed again.
Six Home Runs Propelled A Massive Night For The Offense
Josh Elander has said multiple times this season that Tennessee’s offense strives for double-doubles— double-digit runs and double-digit hits.
When Reese Chapman hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, the Vols had a double-double. It was a fitting way to get there as the long ball powered Tennessee’s offense in game two of the series.
Tennessee hit six home runs with Chapman, Grindlinger, Wright, Marin, Blake Grimmer and Stone Lawless all going deep. There were no Lindsey Nelson Stadium specials in the bunch either with Marin’s 387 foot shot being the shortest of the game.
The Vols’ offense was strong even besides the long balls. Tennessee’s 16 hits tied its previous SEC high mark this season.
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Trent Grindlinger Was Phenomenal
Grindlinger’s previously mentioned first inning home run was just the start of his stellar night. The freshman gave Tennessee its first lead of the game in the third inning when he laced a RBI double to left field.
Tennessee’s designated hitter singled to right field and scored in the fifth inning. He came up a triple short of the cycle but added another single in the eighth inning for the first four-hit game of his career.
Grindlinger has changed the Vols’ lineup since emerging as an everyday starter over the six weeks. He came up with another stellar performance on Saturday night.
Evan Blanco Turned In A Gritty Outing
Things looked very dicey for Blanco when Texas totaled four hits and a walk while scoring three runs in the first inning. But the senior buckled down and turned in a gritty and long outing.
He retired the side around a pair of two-out singles in the third inning. Then it looked like Texas was going to run him from the game in the fifth inning when they scored two runs and still has two runners on base with just one out. But Blanco got out of the jam without allowing any more damage.
It was the start of Blanco retiring the final eight batters he faced as he say down the Longhorns in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
Blanco’s final line, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and three walks in seven innings pitched, was nothing special. But given how the game started, Tennessee’s offensive outburst and the Vols having to scratch their Sunday starter, Blanco’s outing was one of his biggest of the season.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Texas conclude its three-game series on Mother’s Day. First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for noon ET. ESPN2 is broadcasting the game.
