While the Cincinnati Reds haven’t had the best start to the MLB season so far, former Tennessee baseball player Nick Senzel ended the game against Texas on Wednesday afternoon with a bang.
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Senzel knocked a two-run home run out of the park to left field to win Cincinnati the game. The Reds officially move to 10-15 with the sweep over the Texas Rangers this week.
WE RECKON THAT'S A WALKOFF@LilSenzii pic.twitter.com/alCXJY5XMr
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 26, 2023
After the game was over and the celebration was winding down, Senzel put on a Viking helmet for his post-game interview on Bally Sports.
Viking helmet > Cowboy hat pic.twitter.com/CxVM5yhNHI
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 26, 2023
More from RTI: Tennessee Pitchers Dominate In Midweek Win Against Bellarmine
BIG SWEEP, BIG SWEEP 🧹 pic.twitter.com/QcxHCjalGm
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 26, 2023
This was Nick Senzel’s first career walk-off home run in the major leagues. Senzel is currently hitting .227 with one home run and seven RBIs in his fifth season of Major League Baseball.
What a moment after your first career walkoff HR
Take it all in, @LilSenzii. pic.twitter.com/nZVNqELR8Q
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 26, 2023
Senzel played four years at Farragut High School in Knoxville before arriving on campus for his freshman season in 2014.
Senzel had actually planned on attending the University of Georgia but was granted a release after the Bulldogs had fired their head coach. The Knoxville ball player then made the decision to stay in town and play for the Volunteers.
“Nick is a family guy,” former Tennessee head coach Dave Serrano has previously said about Senzel. “And that’s why I know the decision he made to go to Athens and the University of Georgia was a little hasty one, and maybe he wanted to be wanted a little bit more. But, boy, it sure turned out for the right thing.”
The Tennessee freshman played in 53 out of the Vols’ 54 games and was the starting designated hitter for 45 of those. Senzel also started eight games at second base.
“It was a very hard decision for me,” Senzel said. “But at the same time I wanted to stay close to my family and coach Serrano gave me a chance, an opportunity to do that.”
Senzel would then go on to play at Tennessee for two more years and racked up several prestigious awards while playing for his hometown college. In 2016 alone, Senzel was named a Perfect Game First-Team All-American, Baseball America Second-Team All-American, Golden Spikes Semifinalist, and Second-Team All-SEC.
Nick Senzel finished his Tennessee career with a .326 batting average hitting 101 runs, 149 hits, and nine home runs over the course of 125 games.
