Tennessee bounced back in fine fashion Saturday night as the Vols used a 6 run 8th inning to pull away from LSU for a 9-3 win to set up the rubber game in the series Sunday afternoon. Here’s four quick takes an what feels like an important win for the Vols as May arrives next week. 

Tennessee’s response I — It was only natural to wonder how Tennessee would respond following the Friday night/Saturday morning 9th inning collapse. It was just out of character for the Vols. You had to go a ways to find a collapse like that in the Tony Vitello era. So how would the Vols respond. 

The answer — the way you are supposed to. Tennessee no hit LSU through the first four innings and the Vols jumped out to a 3-0 lead. 

Tony Vitello said early in the year, his question about this team is how would they respond to adversity. They haven’t been perfect this season, but they have been ok. They haven’t had more adversity to overcome than they had coming to the ball yard Saturday night and Tennessee responded exactly the way a championship program should. 

Tennessee’s response II — Leading 3-0, Tennessee found themselves where they were on Friday and back to back LSU home runs got the Tigers back into the game 3-2 heading into the top of the 8th. 

Tennessee had left 11 on base heading into the 8th frame. The Vols couldn’t get that key hit to have a big inning. 

How would the Vols respond to getting punched in the mouth in the bottom of the 7th and the crowd back into the game? Tennessee responded with 6 runs. 

The Vols took advantage of LSU hitting two, an intentional walk. Hunter Ensley picked up an RBI by getting plunked. Dalton Bargo brought in two on a single and Cannon Peebles put things on ice with a three blast to left field. 

Marcus Phillips was brilliant minus two pitches — Tennessee had lost three straight game two’s in SEC play heading into Saturday night. The Vols had bee outscored 21-9 in those three games. 

In a must have performance to give the Vols a chance to win the game and the series, Marcus Phillips delivered in a big time way. Phillips made two bad pitches out of 100. Phillips no hit the Tigers through the first four frames. He finished going 6.2 innings giving up 2 home runs and 3 total hits. Phillips had 6 strikeouts and gave up 4 walks. 

Phillips worked himself out of a big jam in the fifth. LSU had first and third with one out. Phillips got a fly out to shallow right and made a great play on a bunt attempt getting the out at first to get out of the jam. 

Have a day Cannon Peebles — Eric Cain wrote a good piece on Peebles and his improvement as a hitter as the switch hitting catcher has moved into the every day role behind the plate. 

Peebles improved calm demeanor has showed up the last couple of weeks and it showed up in a big way Saturday night. Peeples went 2 for 3 at the plate and recorded 5 RBI’s with a base hit a three run home run and a sacrifice fly. 

Peebles has 4 multi hit games in the Vols last seven outings. He’s 11 for his last 26 (.423) with 13 RBI’s and 5 HR’s.