KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball gutted out a series-clinching win over Samford Saturday in Lindsey Nelson Stadium, narrowly defeating the Bulldogs 7-3.
Tennessee had its worst day at the plate so far this season but found enough offense down the stretch to get it done. Freshmen Jay Abernathy and Levi Clark, the latter of which hit the go-ahead grand slam in the eighth, highlighted Tennessee’s offensive effort while starting pitcher Marcus Phillips was imperfect but solid yet again on the mound.
Nate Snead also turned in a key relief outing and got the win on the day, giving up one hit and one unearned run while striking out six in 4.1 innings of relief.
Here’s how Tennessee clinched the series on a chilly Saturday in Knoxville.
Eventful Marcus Phillips Start
Samford drew first blood in the top of the opening frame as leadoff hitter Jeffery Ince drew a walk and worked his way to third thanks to a stolen base and one-out single. The Preseason All-SoCon selection then scored on a one-out RBI fielder’s choice from first-baseman Jackson Harris.
Phillips settled in after the first, recording three consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the second, third and fourth. Phillips had retired 11 straight until left-fielder Trey Higgins worked a leadoff walk in the fifth.
Poor defense from Tennessee allowed Samford to extend its lead in the fifth. After a leadoff walk and stolen base, Phillips committed a throwing error trying to pick off Higgins at second. Higgins scored thanks to the error to give Samford a 2-0 lead. After a strikeout for the second out of the frame, Phillips plunked nine-hole hitter Michael Gupton, who then stole second.
Phillips’ day was done the next at-bat, as hard-throwing righty Nate Snead relieved him mid-count (2-0). Snead wasn’t sharp out of the gate, throwing a wild pitch that allowed Gupton to take third then completing the walk to Ince, who immediately stole second.
However, Snead recorded a massive strikeout to strand the pair of runners in scoring position, keeping Tennessee’s deficit at two runs.
Phillips ended his day giving up two hits, two runs (one earned) and three walks while striking out eight in 4.2 innings. The South Dakota native was as dominant as dominant gets for a stretch, but his day was abruptly ended due to some loss of command in the fifth that was compounded by defensive mistakes.
Vols Finally Find Offense Down the Stretch
Tennessee struggled at the plate for the first half of the game. The Vols were 0-4 with runners on and 0-3 with runners in scoring position in the first three innings.
The Vols finally found some offense in the fifth thanks to the bottom of the order. An Ariel Antigua leadoff hit-by-pitch was followed by a Jay Abernathy shift-beating double down the third-base line.
Antigua was later brought home by a one-out RBI groundout from Gavin Kilen.
Tennessee tied the game in the sixth thanks to a Dalton Bargo solo homer to right center. The homer marked Tennessee’s first of the game, third of the series and third for Bargo on the young season.
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Levi Clark Grand Slam Proves to be the Difference
Tennessee and Samford traded runs in the seventh. Samford’s Trey Higgins reached on a one-out throwing error from Snead, advanced to second on a wild pitch then scored thanks to an RBI double from third-baseman Gatlin Pitts.
After Snead got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout to strand a runner at third, the Vols quickly tied the game in the bottom half. Abernathy continued his big day, hitting a single to lead off the inning. The speedy freshman made his way to third after a wild pitch and groundout then scored on another wild pitch to tie things up.
Tennessee finally took its first lead in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a massive swing from freshman Levi Clark. Clark pinch-hit for Antigua with the bases-loaded and delivered a grand slam to the top of the left-field porches. The long ball was Clark’s second of the season and undoubtedly the biggest moment of his young career on Rocky Top.
Snead closed things out with his second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the ninth. Snead’s relief performance wound up being key for the Vols in the win, and the junior also earned the win in Saturday’s contest, his first of the season.
In total, Phillips and Snead combined to give up just two hits and one earned run on the day.
Up Next
Tennessee will look to sweep the series over Samford Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
