Tennessee baseball trailed 4-2 to Clemson entering the ninth inning on Saturday night in Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Clemson starter Caden Grice had been phenomenal through eight innings and showed no signs of slowing down.
After Grice retired Jared Dickey and Griffin Merritt in the top of the ninth, the Tigers were an out away from advancing to the Regional Final.
But Tennessee fought back, as Christian Moore and Blake Burke each singled to put runners on the corners and get Grice out of the game.
Then, Zane Denton took Tigers reliever Ryan Ammons yard for a 410-foot, game-saving, go-ahead three-run home run.
Denton’s bomb silenced the Clemson faithful in Doug Kingsmore and caused every single Vol to come out of the dugout to celebrate.
Watch Denton’s home run below.
THIS HAS TO BE A DREAM
VOLS PUT TWO ON WITH TWO OUTS AND ZANE BLASTS A THREE-RUN SHOT TO GIVE TENNESSEE THE LEAD DOWN TO ITS FINAL STRIKE pic.twitter.com/ekdI48lTSQ
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 4, 2023
Denton’s home run was undoubtedly among the top moments for Tennessee baseball this season, and maybe in the Tony Vitello era. Because more than likely, Tennessee doesn’t win the regional if they lose Saturday night’s contest. Now, it’d be a major upset if the Vols don’t reach the supers given the pitching depth they have left for Sunday and Monday.
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And to think, Denton, and Burke an at-bat prior for that matter, were down to their final strike. The former Alabama and current Tennessee third baseman fell down 0-2, then battled back to a 2-2 count before sending the mammoth blast well over the left field wall in Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
The great John Wilkerson’s call of Denton’s home run on Vol Network radio can be listened to below.
.@Vol_Baseball was down to their last strike in the 9th when @ZaneDenton3… @JWilkersonWNML can tell you the rest. pic.twitter.com/Rrp5TFQHyp
— Vol Network (@VolNetwork) June 4, 2023
The Vols have two chances to win one more game and ultimately win the Clemson Regional. Tennessee will be back in action on Sunday night at 6 p.m. ET against the winner of Clemson vs. Charlotte at Noon ET. If the Vols happen to lose on Sunday night, the same two teams will play Monday at 1 p.m. ET.
