With Blake Burke’s 406-foot grand slam in the second inning of Tennessee’s midweek game on Tuesday night, the Vols are now one step closer to a historic mark in college baseball.
According to Tennessee sports information director Bill Martin on Twitter, Burke’s grand slam on Tuesday ties Tennessee with five other teams for the fifth-most grand slams in a single season of NCAA baseball (10).
A #BurkeBlast of the grandest variety!
📺https://t.co/GcMMQMdzTu (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBellarmine pic.twitter.com/lnrD6WrkaW
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 16, 2024
Arizona State hit 14 grand slams during their 68-game season in 2003 while Oklahoma State hit 12 during their 66-game season in 1996. UCLA and Oklahoma State are tied for the third spot with 11 grand slams, the Bruins doing so during their 67-game season in 1997 and the Cowboys accomplishing the feat in their 65-game season in 1995.
What’s perhaps most impressive about Tennessee’s 10 grand slams is that they have come in just 37 games this year. The Vols still have 25+ games that they could reasonably play this season, only looking for five more to take the top spot in college baseball history.
Grand Slams in A Season @NCAABaseball
1. Arizona State – 14 (2003, 68 gm)
2. Oklahoma St – 12 (1996, 66 gm)
3. UCLA – 11 (1997, 67 gm)
Oklahoma St – 11 (1995, 65 gm)
5. @Vol_Baseball – 10 (2024, 37 gm)
5 others – 10 (last LSU, 1998) pic.twitter.com/0wMLb79xo1— Bill Martin (@Bill_Martin) April 17, 2024
Here’s a look at all 10 of Tennessee’s grand slams this season through the first 37 games:
March 5 (Kansas State) – Dean Curley
March 9 (Illinois) – Reese Chapman
March 10 (Illinois) – Robin Villeneuve
March 12 (Eastern Kentucky) – Cal Stark
March 24 (Ole Miss) – Billy Amick
March 30 (Georgia) – Dyllan Dreiling
March 30 (Georgia) – Dalton Bargo
April 6 (Auburn) – Christian Moore
April 7 (Auburn) – Cal Stark
April 17 (Bellarmine) – Blake Burke
More from RTI: Tennessee Baseball Extends Winning Streak By Knocking Off Bellarmine
Here’s a look at Tennessee’s Top 10 home-run leaders through the first 37 games:
1. Christian Moore – 15
2. Blake Burke – 14
3. Dylan Dreiling – 13
4. Billy Amick – 12
4. Kavares Tears – 12
6. Dean Curley – 9
7. Dalton Bargo – 6
7. Reese Chapman – 6
9. Robin Villeneuve – 5
10. Hunter Ensley – 4
With a 20-5 win over Bellarmine on Tuesday night in Knoxville, Tennessee will now turn their attention north. The No. 4 Vols will travel to Lexington to take on No. 3 Kentucky in a massive three-game series on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday afternoon.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more complete coverage of the Vols series from Lexington.
