University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Eastern Kentucky
Tennessee Outlasts Eastern Kentucky, 4-3
April 26, 2016 | Baseball
Box Score |
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- After a back and forth battle with Eastern Kentucky, a walk-off single down the left field line by Chris Hall lifted Tennessee (24-17, 6-12 SEC) to a 4-3 win over the Colonels at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee's 4-3 victory vs. the Colonels now gives the Vols a 25-4 all-time record against EKU, including a 14-2 mark in games played in Knoxville.
UT's offense combined for eight hits against Eastern Kentucky, led by senior Vincent Jackson (1-for-4, 2 RBI), who blasted his seventh home run of the season. Chris Hall (2-for-4, RBI) also recorded multiple hits and delivered a hit down the left field line to score fellow senior Jared Pruett for the walkoff win.
The Vols jumped ahead early, plating one run in the first after back-to-back base hits by Benito Santiago (1-for-5) and Hall put runners on second and third. With one out, Jackson recorded an RBI-groundout to put UT on top, 1-0.
A free pass granted from UT starter Eric Freeman and two base hits gave the Colonels a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.
EKU held their one-run advantage until the bottom of the sixth, when Jackson blasted his solo homer over the right field wall to tie the game at 2-2.
A bases-loaded balk by Colonels reliever Brian Mroz brought one run across for Tennessee in the seventh. The Colonels then answered in their next at-bat, scoring one run on two hits to tie things up again at 3-3.
Pruett (1-for-3) led off the bottom ninth with a single, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt executed by center fielder Brodie Leftridge (0-for-2). Hall smacked a hard single down the left field line to score Pruett and give Tennessee their 4-3 final.
Vol starter Freeman went a career-long 5.1 innings against the Colonels, tying his career-high four strikeouts while allowing seven hits in the no-decision.
Junior Jon Lipinski entered the game in the sixth and threw 1.1 innings before lefty Zach Reid (0.2) was called upon in the seventh.
Righthander Hunter Martin went to the mound in the eighth and fired two strikouts in his 2.0 scoreless innings of relief. With his performance, Martin picked up his third win of the season.
Vol Baseball Quick Hits
- With the win, Tennessee moves to 24-17 (6-12 SEC) on the year, while Eastern Kentucky is now 17-25 and 7-11 in conference play.
- Senior Andy Cox pinch ran for pinch-hitter Tyler Schultz in the eighth.
- With his solo home run in the sixth, Vincent Jackson now owns a team-best seven homers on the year. Entering Tuesday's game, Jackson ranked tied for ninth in the SEC with six homers.
- Tuesday night's attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium: 1,187
- On Deck for the Vols: Tennessee continues their back-to-back midweek action hosting the Alabama State Hornets on Wednesday, April 27 at 6 p.m. ET. Freshman Alex Harper-Cook (0-0, 0.71) gets the starting nod for the Volunteers.
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