Tennessee baseball’s offense started fast and ended strong as the Vols knocked off Alabama 10-7 Friday night to even up the weekend series in Tuscaloosa.
Both Dylan Loy and Nate Snead got out of jams while the Vols used a pair of late two-out rallies to open up the game and outlast Alabama. Here’s how Tennessee got it done.
Tennessee Singles Riley Quick To Death
After dropping the series opener on Thursday night for its second straight loss, Tennessee baseball came out with energy and jumped on Alabama starter Riley Quick. The right-handed Quick had been dominant to this point in the season but Tennessee’s lineup singled him to death.
The Vols scored three runs in the first inning to take control of the game. Tennessee jumped on Alabama quickly with its first four batters reaching base as Hunter Ensley and Andrew Fischer each drove home runs with RBI singles before Reese Chapman drove home a run with a RBI fielder’s choice later in the inning.
After doing most its damage before Quick recorded an out in the first inning, Tennessee did most of its damage with two-outs in the second inning. Jay Abernathy drove home Manny Marin with a 2-2, two-out RBI single before Ensley drove home another run with a single to right field.
Tennessee threatened even after the back-to-back singles as Andrew Fischer walked to load the bases before Levi Clark struck out to end the inning.
But even after getting out of the second inning without things spiraling badly, Alabama went to the bullpen and pulled Quick to start the third inning. Tennessee scored five runs off of Quick doing it with six singles and three walks.
Dylan Loy Picks Up Marcus Phillips In Big Moment In Fifth Inning
While Quick struggled early in the game, Tennessee starter Marcus Phillips rolled. The junior right hander retired six of the seven batters he faced in the game’s first two innings while Tennessee’s offense gave him plenty of run support.
But things got a bit dicey for Phillips after the second inning. Alabama scored two runs in the third inning with two singles, a Tennessee throwing error and an RBI groundout. Phillips was better in the third inning than the two runs scored indicated but that proved to be the crack in the armor.
Phillips did a solid job of stranding two runners in the fourth inning but Alabama ran him from the game in the fifth inning. The Vols’ starter hit Richie Bonomolo to lead off the inning and he eventually scored on a Justin Lebron single. After Phillips walked Jason Torres, Tony Vitello went to Dylan Loy to try and get out of the jam.
Loy threw two scoreless innings in Thursday night’s loss and came up huge in a big moment in the middle of the game. The lefty walked the first batter he faced before getting a big swinging strikeout to strand the bases loaded and preserve the Vols’ 5-3 lead.
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Late Inning Two-Out Rallies Break Game Open
Tennessee was holding on to a 5-3 lead for dear life when Andrew Fischer came to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Alabama pitchers had retired nine straight Volunteer batters and it looked like it was going to be another easy inning for reliever Tyler Fay.
But Fischer worked a walk to give Tennessee its first baserunner since the fourth inning. Dalton Bargo came up big coming off the bench, hitting a pinch hit RBI double deep to right-center field to push the Vols’ lead back to three runs.
Tennessee’s lead didn’t remain at three runs for long as Lebron led off the inning with a single, stole second and scored on a Jason Torres single to center field.
The Vols were once again looking for insurance in the eighth inning and they once again did their damage with two outs. Ariel Antigua’s infield single gave Tennessee a baserunner and Dean Curley made it count with a two-run, 382-foot home runs to left-center field.
If a four-run lead wasn’t enough, Tennessee went back to work after Curley’s long ball. Abernathy, Ensley and and Fischer all reached to load the bases before Dalton Bargo truly broke the game open with a two-RBI single to center field to give Tennessee a comfortable 10-4 lead.
Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee and Alabama conclude their weekend series on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. First pitch is at 2 p.m. ET and the SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
