#1/1 Vols Even Series with Gritty Win Over #10/12 Tide

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 1/1 Tennessee gutted out a hard-fought 10-7 victory on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to even its series with No. 10/12 Alabama.

For the second straight game, the Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and two more in the second to chase Crimson Tide starter Riley Quick, who had allowed just three runs total this season entering the night, after just two innings.

The first three batters of the game all reached base and came around to score for the Vols in their three-run first inning. Andrew Fischer made it four straight batters to reach base with an RBI single before Reese Chapman drove in the final run of the frame with an RBI fielder’s choice.

A pair of RBI singles by Jay Abernathy and Hunter Ensley in the second inning increased the UT lead to 5-0 in the early going before Alabama answered with its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Ensley led the Vols with his third straight multi-hit effort, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.

Tennessee (21-2, 4-1 SEC) never trailed in the game but was never able to build a real comfortable lead either, as the Tide continued to battle throughout the night.

After the two sides traded runs in the seventh, the Vols put together an impressive two-out rally in the eighth to score four runs and build their largest lead of the game at 10-4.

After a strikeout and a flyout to start the inning. nine-hole hitter Ariel Antigua got the rally started with an infield single before Curley blasted a two-run homer to left center for his seventh long ball of the year.

Following Curley’s homer, a pair of walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before Dalton Bargo came through with his second RBI hit of the game, lacing a single into center field to plate two more runs and extend the UT lead to six.

Despite the big inning by the Vols, the Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) continued to fight, answering with a run in the bottom of the eight before scoring two more in the bottom of the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.

The duo of Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin was able to end the comeback bid with a pair of big outs to close out the game and secure Tennessee’s first road win of the year.

Bargo Big Off the Bench

Bargo finished the night 2-for-2 with three RBIs after entering the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. His first knock was a two-out double to score Fischer from first base.

Two Out Hitting the Difference

Two-out hitting was pivotal for the Big Orange on Friday night, as they scored seven of their 10 runs – including all seven after the first inning – with two away. UT was 7-for-15 at the plate with two outs as a team and 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, a stark difference from Thursday’s game one loss.

Notable Performances on the Mound

Marcus Phillips provided the Vols with another solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings of work.

Dylan Loy picked up his team-leading fourth win of the year after getting Tennessee out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out Brennan Norton to strand the bases loaded, keeping the Vols lead intact.

Nate Snead allowed four runs but battled to provide UT with 3.1 important innings of relief before handing the ball off to Behnke and Franklin in the ninth. Franklin struck out Will Plattner with runners on first and second to end the game and earn his second save of the season.