OXFORD, Miss. – No. 4/5 Tennessee came out on top in a thrilling back-and-forth battle against No. 6/6 Ole Miss, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth to earn a 10-8 victory in Sunday’s rubber game at Swayze Field.
The Vols (31-5, 11-4 SEC) entered the ninth inning trailing 8-7 after the Rebels responded from a five-run top of the sixth from UT with five unanswered runs of their own to take a lead on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth.
Sunday’s contest featured six lead changes as both teams traded punches throughout the day before Reese Chapman dealt the deciding blow with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to give the Big Orange a 9-8 lead. Hunter Ensley singled to score Manny Marin and provide an insurance run heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Despite allowing a pair of base runners, Nate Snead wrapped up the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to secure a big series win on the road for the Vols. Snead was the winning pitcher, improving to 3-0 on the year, after tossing 2.2 innings of relief to finish the game.
Seven different Vols had RBIs on Sunday, led by Chapman and Cannon Peebles, who both hit clutch two-run homers. Peebles had a team high three hits and threw out an attempted base stealer late in the game, as well.
Five of UT’s 11 total hits came in its five-run sixth inning that resulted in a 7-3 lead. The Vols batted around and sent 10 hitters to the plate in the inning with three different players driving in runs.
The Rebels (27-9, 9-6 SEC) quickly cut into the Vols lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning before tying the game with a run in the seventh and taking the lead back with another in the eighth before Tennessee rallied in the ninth.
Up Next
Tennessee will be back at home for four games next week at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols welcome Bellarmine on Tuesday night before hosting Kentucky for a three-game set starting on Friday night.
