University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
USC Upstate
Tennessee Loses 1-0 to USC-Upstate
March 04, 2009 | Baseball
March 4, 2009
The Tennessee baseball team lost to USC Upstate 1-0 at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Locked in a scoreless-pitching duel through the eight innings, the Spartans scored the only run of the game in the top of the ninth inning.
Seven USC-Upstate pitchers, who entered the game with a staff ERA of 8.05, combined to shutout the Volunteers offense for the first time this season and limited it to its lowest hit output (4) of the year.
"We wanted to get the lead, but we just couldn't get that hit," Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh said. "We are not healthy. P.J. Polk hasn't got an RBI all year, he is on one foot. Tyler Horne had a migraine, did not even warm up. Cody Brown is throwing up. We got to get our lineup back. That is the biggest thing we are going through right now."
Spartan second basemen Blake Green led off the top of the ninth inning with a single to centerfield. After the next batter struck out, first basemen Jimmy Tanner hit a double deep to left-center field, scoring Green from first. The RBI was Tanner's 13th of the season. The junior, who entered the game with a .464 average, went 2-for-4 on the day, and was one of only two players to get multiple hits.
Right-hander Ty'Relle Harris took the loss for UT after taking over for starter Adam Adkins at the start of the fourth inning. Harris pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits. Harris struck out six batters and only faced five over the minimum batters. He did not allow two hits in the same inning until the ninth.
USC Upstate right-hander Teddy Fallon earned the victory after pitching the eighth inning for the Spartans. Fallon walked three but did not allow a hit. Fallon worked his way out of a two-on, one-out jam by getting Tennessee catcher Blake Forsythe to fly out to deep right, and catching right fielder Josh Liles off the base at second, getting the out, right field to second base to shortstop.
Junior pitcher Barrett Stover closed out the ninth inning for the Spartans to earn his first save of the year. The Vols put runners on first and second but were then retired in order to end the inning and the game.
In his first collegiate start, Adkins pitched three shutout innings, allowing only two hits. The Goodlettsville native struck out two and walked no one.
Davis' third-inning single extended his hitting streak to seven games. The sophomore also drew his 10th and 11th walks of the season. He was walked intentionally in the eighth inning.
The loss drops the Volunteers' record to 2-5 on the season.
The Vols continue their homestand when they welcome Ohio University to town for a four-game, weekend series. Game times are scheduled for 4 p.m. Eastern time Friday, a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
