Crimson Tide Baseball Takes “Bad” Loss to UNA
Tennessee tied its single game home run record in its, 10-2, victory over James Madison Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Six different Tennessee players went deep for a total of seven home runs as the Vols completed the two-game sweep of James Madison.
“Today was a complete 180 mentality wise from yesterday,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said. “I thought the guys came today with much more focus and a greater mentality overall and it carried over to getting the lead but also having the calm about you when they punch back. … I don’t have the answer to why guys relaxed and started taking their best swings. Obviously, the home runs make it look like that, but also there were some guys you could see themselves thinking their way through some swings and then finally to see Cortland and Luc cut it loose and be the athletes they are, it was refreshing.”
It didn’t take long for Tennessee’s offense to get going against the Dukes. Utility man Jared Dickey — who started at catcher Wednesday — took the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning into the Tennessee bullpen for a home run.
From there, Tennessee’s offense was quiet until James Madison took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. That lead didn’t last long as third baseman Trey Lipscomb took the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning deep to left field.
Freshman Christian Moore hit a no doubt, pinch hit home run to extend Tennessee’s lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning.
The onslaught of home runs began in the seventh inning when Dickey, Logan Steenstra and Luc Lipcius all went deep.
Shortstop Cortland Lawson hit the seventh and final home run in the eighth inning with a long shot onto Todd Helton Drive in left field.
After Jorel Ortega walked off Tuesday’s delayed game earlier Wednesday afternoon, the game two win gave Tennessee its 12th win on the young season.
“I think that kind of shows we have a lot of people in the lineup that can leave the yard,” Tennessee utility man Evan Russell said. “No pitcher is safe no matter who is up. I think what was giving us a lot of positive outcomes last year, last year we had a really good offensive team and I think we have the chance to do that and more with this team.”
The Vols will return to action this weekend when they host Rhode Island for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee and Rhode Island will play a doubleheader on Friday and will play the series final Sunday.
