Five-Run Second Dooms Vols in 10-4 Loss at No. 4 Vanderbilt

Saturday, March 30

Nashville

1:30 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

20-8, 0

#4 Vanderbilt

22-5, 0

Tennessee

Vanderbilt

Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

Five-Run Second Dooms Vols in 10-4 Loss at No. 4 Vanderbilt

March 30, 2019 | Baseball

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 23 Tennessee couldn't slow down No. 4 Vanderbilt's high-powered offense in Saturday's 10-4 loss at Hawkins Field.

The 10 runs scored by the Commodores were tied for the most given up by the Volunteers this season. Five Vanderbilt hitters finished the afternoon with multiple hits.

The Big Orange had their fair share of base knocks as well but were unable to keep pace on the scoreboard as the Dores secured their second consecutive series win against the Vols. Freshman infielders Max Ferguson and Jake Rucker led Tennessee at the plate with two hits each. Rucker also drove in one of UT's four runs on the day.

Knoxville native Patrick Raby improved his record to 5-0 on the year with the win. The senior right hander gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out five in 5.1 innings of work.

For the second day in a row, the Vols jumped out to an early lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Jay Charleston scored on a double to center by Alerick Soularie before Andre Lipcius trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Evan Russell to spot UT a 2-0 lead.

The Commodores answered immediately with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Stephen Scott drove in the first run with a single to right field before Phillip Clarke tied the game with an RBI fielder's choice.

UT briefly regained the lead in the top of the second with an RBI single by Rucker, but once again, Vanderbilt had the answer in the bottom of the inning, striking for five runs on six hits to take a 7-3 lead and chase starter Zach Linginfelter after just 1.1 innings.

The Commodores added two more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to cap their scoring. Bleday and Infante both homered for Vandy while leadoff man Cooper Davis led the team with three hits, three runs and a pair of runs batted in.

NOTABLE
SOULARIE EXTENDS ON-BASE STREAK: Alerick Soularie has now reached base in 20 straight games after recorded an RBI double in the top of the first inning. The streak is currently the longest on the team. Soularie's double was the first extra-base hit surrendered by Vanderbilt starter Patrick Raby this season.

PAVOLONY HITS FIRST-CAREER HOME RUN: True freshman catcher Connor Pavolony hit his first-career home run with a solo shot to lead off the top of the ninth inning. The Georgia native crushed the first pitch he saw for a no-doubter over the bleachers in left field.

UP NEXT: The Vols will look to salvage a game in Sunday's series finale, which will begin at 3 p.m. ET and be broadcast live on the SEC Network. As always, fans can also listen to the Vol Network radio broadcast (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as John Wilkerson calls the action.