KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 13/20 Tennessee rode strong pitching and a seven-run seventh inning to an 8–3 victory over Bellarmine on Tuesday evening at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Sophomore Blaine Brown took the mound for his second start of the season as the Vols looked to right the ship from a disappointing weekend series before a big weekend in Arlington.
The Big Orange got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when Tyler Myatt came in to score on a Hunter High sacrifice fly, making the score 1-0.
Tennessee was quiet for five innings, with only two runners reaching scoring position, but with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Marin launched a two-run homer into the porches to extend the lead.
After scoring two more runs on a wild pitch and an error, Brown broke the game wide open, depositing a 2-1 pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run blast to give the Vols an 8-0 lead.
The Tennessee pitching staff held the Knights scoreless on five hits until they pushed across three runs on four singles in the bottom of the ninth. Freshman lefty Chandler Day got Eli Watson to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally and seal the Volunteers’ 8-3 win and sixth victory of the season.
Jay Abernathy continued his impressive string of performances with three base hits and a run scored from the leadoff spot to spark the offense while Myatt and Marin finished with two hits apiece.
Cam Appenzeller picked up his second win of the season after pitching a scoreless inning of relief. Taylor Tracey, Nic Abraham, Sawyer Deering and Mark Hindy all posted scoreless relief outings, as well.
UP NEXT: UT will hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Arlington, Texas to face No. 1 UCLA, Arizona State and Virginia Tech in the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field.
