Vols Struggle Late in 7-5 Loss vs. Georgia

Saturday, April 1

Knoxville

2:00 PM

University of Tennessee

15-9, 1-7

Georgia

12-16, 2-6

Georgia

Tennessee

April 01, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

April 1, 2017

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee held a two-run lead entering the seventh inning against Georgia on Saturday, but the Dawgs plated five runs over the last three frames to take a 7-5 win at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

With the loss, Tennessee moves to 15-9 on the year and 1-7 in SEC play, while Georgia now stands at 12-16 (2-6 in SEC).

The Volunteers were led by second baseman Jeff Moberg (3-for-5, RBI), outfielder Justin Ammons (2-for-5) and designated hitter Benito Santiago (2-for-4) at the plate.

In the first inning, back-to-back doubles delivered by Ammons and Jordan Rodgers put Tennessee up, 1-0, vs. Georgia. The Vols went on to plate two runs in the frame to take a 3-0 lead headed into the second inning.

After a scoreless second inning, Rodgers scored again for Tennessee in the bottom of the third, reaching on a leadoff walk and coming around on an RBI single from Andre Lipcius.

Georgia scratched one run across in the top of the fifth with the help of a sacrifice fly from second baseman LJ Talley to make it a 4-1 ballgame.

The Bulldogs continued to chip away at the deficit and took a 5-4 lead over the Vols in the seventh. Insurance runs in the eighth gave the Dawgs a three-run edge, 7-4.

In the bottom of the eighth, Tennessee trimmed UGA's lead to two runs but couldn't stage a comeback in the 7-5 final.

Georgia's Zac Kristofak relieved starter Kevin Smith in the third and went on to hold UT scoreless over 4.2 innings to secure the win for the Dawgs.

In his first career start for the Big Orange, Garrett Stallings went 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on six hits and four strikeouts in the no-decision.

Tennessee later went to right-hander Will Neely (1.1 IP) and Daniel Vasquez, who was charged with the loss, before Zach Warren made his second relief appearance in as many games. Warren threw 1.1 innings and surrendered two runs.

Jacob Westphal and Will Heflin finished the relief effort for UT, combing for 1.2 scoreless innings of work.

TENNESSEE QUICK HITS

With the loss, Tennessee moves to 121-113 all-time in its series vs. Georgia, dating back to 1909. UT now holds a 67-45 overall record during those contests played in Knoxville.
With a double in the first inning, Justin Ammons extended his current team lead to nine doubles on the year.
RODGER(S) THAT: With a 1-for-4 effort in Saturday's game, Jordan Rodgers has now reached base safely in each of his 23 games started this season - a team high streak. He now owns a 12-game hitting streak, also a team high in 2017.
SAFETY IN NUMBERS: Rodgers (23), Jeff Moberg (17) and Justin Ammons (10) extended their current streak of reaching base safely for the Volunteers.
With a 3-for-5 performance vs. Georgia on Saturday, Jeff Moberg now owns a team-high 12 multi-hit games on the season.
Freshman Garrett Stallings became the third true freshman to start on the mound this season for UT (also, fellow right-handers Zach Linginfelter and Connor Darling).
On Deck for the Vols: Sunday's rubber match vs. the Bulldogs begins at 2 p.m. ET on Rocky Top, with freshman Zach Linginfelter (1-2, 4.97) facing off against Dawgs right-hander Chase Adkins (3-2, 2.82) on SEC Network+ stream.
Saturday's attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium: 2,671