Clark’s Eighth Inning Grand Slam Powers #2/4 Vols Past Samford

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 2/4 Tennessee took game two of their series against Samford in thrilling fashion with an eighth inning grand slam from Levi Clark, launching the Vols to a 7-3 victory on Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Bulldogs (3-3) struck early with a run in the top of the first and held the Vols (6-0) scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning before Jay Abernathy doubled to put runners on second and third for Gavin Kilen, who drove in UT’s first run with an RBI groundout.

With the Vols still trailing a run, Dalton Bargo blasted a solo homer to tie the game one inning later. The Omaha native registered his third home run of the season and the week after a two-homer inning in the UT’s route of UNC Asheville on Tuesday.

Freshmen Show Up Again

Samford regained the lead with an RBI double in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 3-2, but Abernathy was there to answer the call once again. After reaching base with a single to lead off the inning, the freshman made his way around the bases before eventually scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at three.

After a pair of walks and an error loaded the bases, Clark stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth. The freshman delivered as he blasted a 3-1 pitch into the porches for his first collegiate grand slam to give Tennessee its first lead of the game.

Piling Up the Punchouts

Marcus Phillips got the start and shattered his career high for strikeouts, throwing eight over 4.2 innings of work. Nate Snead pitched 4.1 innings of relief, striking out six more batters of his own without allowing a walk to earn his first win of the year.

Tennessee’s pitching staff continued to dominate with a combined 14 strikeouts on the day following Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin’s 20 strikeout effort on Friday afternoon.