Tennessee Hits Six Homers, Finds Stride Late to Smother Auburn

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.– No. 1 Tennessee confronted off in opposition to No. 19 Auburn in Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday night time for sport one of many weekend collection. 

The Vols struck first with a pair of runs within the second inning off an Auburn error and an Evan Russell sac fly, however Tennessee didn’t rating one other run till the seventh inning. 

In UT’s scoring drought, Auburn took the lead within the high of the sixth with a four-run inning, that includes a three-run homer from Blake Rambusch. 

Nonetheless, Tennessee went on to obliterate the Nineteenth-ranked SEC foe, because the Vols scored 15 mixed runs within the eighth and ninth innings. 

The Vols began rapidly within the backside of the seventh with a leadoff double from Evan Russell to get the momentum going. Seth Stephenson adopted it up with a single to place runners on the corners for Tennessee with no outs. Cortland Lawson then continued his sizzling streak on the plate with an RBI single to attain Russell, and Christian Moore received on base afterward to load the bases for Jorel Ortega with no one out. 

Ortega’s at bat was fairly a journey for the Tennessee second baseman, as Auburn reduction pitcher Blake Burkhalter was coping with some ache and needed to be checked out by trainers. Whereas Burkhalter labored by way of his discomfort finally received cleared by the trainers, Ortega patiently waited by the plate for what would find yourself being probably the largest hit of his profession in orange and white. 

Ortega took a 1-2 pitch from Burkhalter over the left heart wall for a grand slam to provide Tennessee a 7-4 lead. 

Tennessee was removed from performed. 

After the grand slam, two extra Vols received on base within the inning to provide Evan Russell a two-on, one-out scenario. And the senior took care of enterprise by knocking a three-run homer into the Tennessee bullpen to increase the Vols’ result in 10-4. 

Auburn’s struggling within the seventh was over with after Russell’s homer, however the Vols poured it on much more within the eighth with seven extra runs together with 4 residence runs. 

Blake Burke was the primary Vol to go away the yard within the eighth, demolishing a 435 ft. mammoth solo homer. Jorel Ortega and Trey Lipscomb adopted Burke with homers of their very own, with Lipscomb’s being a two-run shot to provide the senior sole possession of the SEC residence run lead (17). 

Russell’s second homer of the night time was the ultimate run for the Volunteers, and the senior’s two-run shot marked the one centesimal residence run of the season for the top-ranked Vols. 

Following Russell’s 2 RBI homer, the Vols had scored 15 runs of their final 20 at bats as they picked aside Auburn’s bullpen to realize the win. 

Final yr–in Tennessee’s School World Sequence run–the Vols hit 98 residence runs in 68 video games. This yr, in 26 much less video games, UT has already hit 100 residence runs. 

The stat goes to point out how exceptional Tennessee’s baseball season has been up up to now, because the Vols proceed to exceed expectations and hold everybody on the sting of their chairs. 

And it isn’t simply the Tennessee bats that proceed to impress, because the Vols’ pitching in opposition to Auburn labored by way of many robust conditions. 

Chase Burns–the Friday starter–was on the mound for five.0 innings of labor, dealing 9 strikeouts, permitting six hits, one earned run and three walks. Whereas Burns’ stat line is way from essentially the most spectacular of his freshman profession, the Gallatin, Tennessee, native struck out the facet after strolling the bases loaded within the high of the third inning. 

Will Mabrey was abnormally ineffective in reduction of Burns, however Mark McLaughlin delivered two shutout innings and retired six of eight batters confronted. McLaughlin earned the win for the night time, bringing his season report to 2-0. 

Tennessee and Auburn each entered Friday on seven-game successful streaks, however one of the best crew within the nation prevailed with an onslaught of the Tigers late in Knoxville to report their eighth consecutive win. 

Whereas a 17-run efficiency is way from anticipated to be repeated tomorrow, the Vols will look to earn the collection win over Auburn on Saturday. Blade Tidwell will get the beginning nod on the mound. 

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