University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Charleston Southern
Three Vol Homers Lead Tennessee Over Charleston Southern 8-2
April 01, 2009 | Baseball
April 1, 2009
Three Volunteer home runs and strong pitching throughout led Tennessee to an 8-2 victory over Charleston Southern on Wednesday night at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Right fielder Josh Liles, left fielder P.J. Polk and first baseman Cody Brown each hit solo home runs for Tennessee (12-16). Five UT pitchers combine to limit the Buccaneers to four hits and strike out 13 batters.
"I thought we played a good game," Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh said. "We really pitched well. Adam Adkins pitched well again. That is two strong starts in a row; he has allowed one run in 10 innings. Matt Ramsey was unbelievable again tonight; he is really starting to develop into something special."
Charleston Southern (12-17) committed two errors in the game, one which allowed the Vols to score three unearned runs in the seventh inning.
Freshman Adam Adkins (2-0) pitched five innings in his fourth start of the year for UT. The left-hander limited CSU to only one run on three hits while walking one and matching a season high with five strikeouts.
Buccaneer left-hander T.J. Green (1-3) allowed four runs on six hits through five innings. Green walked three and struck out two.
The Vols scored the go-ahead run in the second inning on Liles' RBI groundout that scored Tyler Horne, giving UT a 3-0 lead. Polk hit a solo home run to right-center field leading off the inning. Horne then reached on a double to left field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.
Tennessee took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Liles led off the game with a solo home run down the left field line. The home run was his fifth of the season and marked the third time this season he has led off the game with a homer.
Charleston Southern tallied a run in the top of the fifth to cut the Vols' lead to 3-1. Third baseman Kory Morian crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by catcher Blake Hunt.
Tennessee answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Brown hit his first home run of the season over the wall in left field to give UT a 4-1 edge.
CSU first baseman Nick Chinners hit a solo home run to right field to make the score 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning.
A four-run seventh inning put Tennessee ahead 8-2 lead. Designated hitter Jeff Lockwood and third baseman Mike Hornsby both scored when Liles reached on an error by the second baseman. Center fielder Kentrail Davis followed with the big hit of the inning, a two-run single up the middle, sending shortstop Zach Osborne and Liles across the plate. Lockwood, Davis and Liles each collected two hits on the night.
Tennessee junior Stephen McCray went one inning out of the bullpen, allowing a lone run and striking out two. Nick Hernandez, Matt Ramsey and Bryan Morgado each pitched scoreless innings to close out the game. Ramsey struck out the side in the eighth.
The Volunteers return to Southeastern Conference action this weekend when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Game times are set for 7:35 p.m. Eastern time Friday, 5:05 p.m. Saturday and 3:05 p.m. Sunday.
