KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 8/15 Tennessee got back into the win column Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, run-ruling Indiana State, 12-1 in seven innings.
The Volunteers (38-11) got ahead early, beginning their night at the plate with three consecutive singles by the top of the order, while posting four hits and two runs in the first inning.
In the second inning, Blake Grimmer became the second straight Vol to lead off with a single before eventually scoring on an RBI groundout by Jay Abernethy to add to the lead. Gavin Kilen followed that with his first of two home runs on the night to give the Vols an early 4-0 advantage.
Indiana State (22-26) tallied their lone run in the third inning after a leadoff double, a successful bunt and a ball put in play by Carter Beck to drive in a run.
After a quiet third inning from the Vols’ bats, Reese Chapman led off the fourth with a solo shot. Kilen followed it up with a three-run blast later in the inning after Stone Lawless and Jay Abernathy were both hit by pitches.
Brayden Krenzel escaped a jam in the sixth after allowing a leadoff double to Jorge Cartagena – who took third on a passed ball with no outs – by navigating the rest of the inning without allowing a run to strand runners at the corners.
Andrew Fischer and Chris Newstrom both joined the home run party in the sixth inning, hitting solo shots to put UT in position for the run-rule victory.
Smooth Night on the Mound
Redshirt junior lefthander Michael Sharman started and pitched 3.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three.
Austin Breedlove picked up the win, his third of the season, after striking out two batters in one inning of work.
Krenzel recorded his third straight scoreless appearance since returning from an illness and Thomas Crabtree closed the game out with a scoreless ninth inning.
Power Surge
Tennessee finished with five long balls on Tuesday night, tying its season high.
The Vols put consistent pressure on the Sycamores as five of their six leadoff hitters successfully reached base with a pair of singles, two home runs and a walk.
Kilen led the offensive charge by going 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, marking his third multi-homer game this season and fifth contest with three or more hits.
Up Next
Tennessee hosts in-state rival No. 10/11 Vanderbilt in a crucial weekend series to close out its conference home slate. Game one on Friday night is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
