KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A two-out, three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning was the difference as the top-ranked Vols fell to No. 17 Auburn, 8-6, Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee (39-4, 18-2 SEC) took the lead three different times, coming in the first, third and seventh innings, but a resilient Auburn (31-13, 12-8 SEC) team kept battling back, time and time again before pulling it out in the ninth inning.
The Vols outhit the Tigers 10-6 and lost for the first time this season when outhitting their opponent. Seven different Big Orange batters collected base knocks and three logged multi-hit games.
Drew Gilbert and Cortland Lawson led the offense, with two hits apiece while driving in three of UT’s six runs. Lawson gave UT a jolt on offense after going down in the top of the ninth, shooting an opposite-field liner over the wall to pull the Vols within two. Tennessee brough the tying run to the plate after a Jorel Ortega one-out single, but Konner Copeland was able to get a pair of flyouts to end the game. Copeland earned the win after pitching the final two innings.
Camden Sewell turned in another strong relief outing, going 4.1 innings after starter Blade Tidwell was pulled in the third inning.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will look for its 10th consecutive series victory in the Sunday rubber match. Matinee action kicks off at 1 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
NOTABLE
LAWSON CONTINUES BIG WEEKEND: Junior SS Cortland Lawson continued his impressive weekend with another multi-hit performance on Saturday night. The Virginia native went 2-for-3 with a pair of extra-base hits, including his ninth homer of the year. For the series, Lawson is 4-for-8 with a homer, two RBIs and a team-high four runs scored.
-UT Athletics
