University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Arkansas
Vols Win Series Opener, 14-9
April 19, 2002 | Baseball
April 19, 2002
Fayetteville, Ark. -- Jordan Czarniecki went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two home runs, tying the school record for extrabase hits in a game, as the Tennessee Volunteers powered their way past the Arkansas Razorbacks, 14-9, in the series opener at Baum Stadium.
Czarniecki tied the mark set by Stuart Driscoll against Carson-Newman in 1971 when he collected three triples and a double. His two home runs helped the Volunteers build a 6-0 lead after two innings. Following a solo shot in the first, Czarniecki's three-run blast capped a two-out five-run rally in the second.
The victory pulled Tennessee (20-20, 6-10 SEC) back to the .500 mark for the third time this season, while extending its winning streak to three games. Arkansas fell to 21-14 overall and 5-8 in the league.
In the second, a walk to Dennis Gomez, followed by back-to-back singles by Matt Sternberg and Rob Fitzgerald gave Tennessee a 2-0 lead. Then Nick Crowe laid down a bunt that was fielded cleanly by first baseman Nick Pitts who missed the tag allowing Fitzgerald to score and Crowe to reach setting the table for Czarniecki's bases clearing clout.
Tennessee tacked on four runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings in taking a 14-1 lead. Walter Sevilla's two-run single gave the Vols an 8-0 lead in the fifth, while they tacked on two more following a bases loaded walk and a Matt Sternberg single.
Dennis Gomez's two-run double capped the scoring in the sixth, as the first two runs plated on the second Razorback error.
Ben Riley (3-2) picked up the win after being touched for four runs on two Razorback home runs in the fifth and sixth. He finished with six strikeouts while giving up five hits and two walks in six innings.
After Aaron Graves' first career home run leading off the bottom of the fifth to put the Razorbacks on the board, the Razorbacks began their rally when Michael Conner unloaded with his 10th home run in the sixth. The three-run blast off the batters eye in center field cut the lead to 14-4.
A sacrifice fly, an error and a single by pinch hitter Brady Toops led to three more Razorback runs in the seventh, while another sac fly and a Jeff Fletcher RBI single cut the lead to 14-9 in the eighth.
Jarrett Gardner (1-1), who was making his third straight start in league action, took the loss as he was roughed up for 10 runs (six earned) on six hits in four innings. He issued four walks with two strikeouts.
Luke Weatherford came off the bench to go 3-for-3 to pace the Razorbacks.
Game two of the series will be Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
