Indiana_Mike_Woodson_Postgame_Purdue
Tennessee baseball faced its first dose of adversity on the season Friday night when they fell to Texas in its first game of the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. That adversity continued in the first inning of Saturday’s matchup with Baylor as the Bears hung a four-spot and stole five bases.
The Vols responded to that adversity about as well as possible, scoring nine consecutive runs on their way to a 10-5 victory over Baylor.
Tennessee’s response was immediate, tying the game up with a four-run first inning.
Hitting in the leadoff spot, redshirt-freshman Jared Dickey boosted Tennessee’s offense with a three-for-five day at the plate, including a pair of doubles.
Dickey and Jorel Ortega’s back-to-back doubles to open the game was the immediate response Tennessee was looking for. After the four-run first inning, Tennessee kept pouring it on. The Vols scored one run in the second before scoring four-runs in the third inning to take a commanding lead over the Bears.
Evan Russell and Christian Scott provided the big hits in the four-run third inning. Russell drove in a pair of runs on a double off the wall and Scott brought him home an at-bat later with an opposite field blast.
NINE UNANSWERED RUNS!@ChrisScott1017 hits his third long ball of the year and we lead 9-4!!#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBaylor pic.twitter.com/uFdnVMJ0yc
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 5, 2022
After dominating in his first two outings, Chase Dollander struggled against the Bears. The Georgia Southern transfer gave up four earned runs in three innings though Baylor’s success on the base paths made life harder.
LHP Kirby Connell was fantastic for Tennessee out of the bullpen, allowing just one run and four hits in 4.2 innings of action. The lefty earned the win while holding the Bears’ offense at bay for half the game.
Tennessee will be back in action on Sunday for its final game at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic. First pitch between the Vols and Oklahoma is set for noon ET. RHP Drew Beam will get the start.
