KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 15 Tennessee overwhelmed Iona from start to finish in a 27-1 victory in Friday’s series opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Trey Lipscomb finished the game a perfect 5-for-5 with nine RBIs and became the first Vol to hit for the cycle since Jordan Rodgers against Kentucky in 2016.
Ten different Vols drove in runs in the game as UT scored in seven of the eight innings it batted in, including four runs in the first, eight in the second and five in the fourth. The Big Orange blasted five home runs for the second straight game with freshmen Blake Burke and Jared Dickey hitting the first homers of their careers.
Freshman right hander Chase Burns made his second start and put together another impressive performance on the mound, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out four in five innings of work to earn the win and improve to 2-0 on the year.
Tennessee (5-0) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead thanks to a Drew Gilbert RBI single and a three-run homer by Lipscomb in the bottom of the first. The Vols blew the game wide open with an eight spot in the second. Gilbert, Lipscomb, Jorel Ortega, Evan Russell, Cortland Lawson and Seth Stephenson all drove in runs in the inning to give the Big Orange a 12-0 lead.
UT’s bullpen allowed just one hit and didn’t issue a walk in four innings. Camden Sewell, Drew Patterson, Kirby Connell and Mark McLaughlin all pitched a scoreless inning and combined for nine strikeouts.
Luca Lotito and Phoenix Bowman both had a pair of hits for the Gaels (0-4) while Brad Polinsky drove in Iona’s lone run.
The Vols will look to take the series with a win on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Tickets for the game are available at AllVols.com
NOTABLE
LIPSCOMB’S CYCLE: Tennessee senior third baseman Trey Lipscomb had a night to remember, becoming just the fourth player in program history to hit for the cycle and the first since 2016. Lipscomb homered in the first inning, doubled in the second, singled in the third and tripled in the fifth to accomplish the rare feat.
The Frederick, Maryland, native finished the day with five hits, two doubles, three runs scored and nine RBIs, all career highs. Lipscomb’s nine RBIs was one away from tying the program record. He is the first Vol to finish with eight or more RBIs in a game since Jordan Rodgers had eight against Kentucky on April 1, 2016, when he also hit for the cycle.
Tennessee Cycles
- Chris Burke at Vanderbilt (May 11, 2001)
- Matt Duffy vs. New Orleans (March 9, 2011)
- Jordan Rodgers vs. Kentucky (April 1, 2016)
- Trey Lipscomb vs. Iona (Feb. 25, 2022)
More Long Ball: The Vols cranked five home runs for the second consecutive game to increase their season total to 16 through five complete games. Twelve different players have accounted for those 16 homers with three players hitting multiple long balls this season.
Freshmen Blake Burke and Jared Dickey hit their first-career homers on Friday while Evan Russell and Cortland Lawson both went deep for the first time this season.
Double Digit Ks: Tennessee’s pitching staff racked up double-digit strikeouts for the second straight game and the third time in five games this season, finishing with 13 punchouts on Friday. Chase Burns led the Vols with four while Camden Sewell, Drew Patterson and Kirby Connell all finished with two apiece before Mark McLaughlin struck out the side in the ninth to end the game.
-UT Athletics
