KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 20/21 Tennessee opened its week with a 4-2 walk-off win over USC Upstate on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
After a relatively uneventful first six innings that featured just one combined run by both teams, Blake Grimmer was the hero with a ninth inning walk-off homer to complete a back-and-forth final three frames.
The Spartans (12-14) took advantage of an uncharacteristically rough start for freshman lefty Taylor Tracey, plating a run off the freshman in the top of the first inning despite not recording a hit.
Tracey walked three batters in the inning and posted just two outs before handing the ball off to Brady Frederick, who struck out Jake Armsey with runners on the corners to end the inning and keep the damage to just one run.
Frederick went on to toss 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts before making way for Nic Abraham, who followed with 3.1 shutout frames of his own.
The Vols (18-7) were finally able to get something going in the seventh inning, loading the bases on a Trent Grindlinger walk, a Levi Clark fielder’s choice and a Tyler Myatt pinch-hit single. With two outs, Blaine Brown came through with the big hit, lining a two-run single into right-center field to score a pair of runs and put the Big Orange ahead, 2-1.
Following a scoreless eighth inning, Upstate rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth on a pair of doubles by Preston Lucas and Trey Bentley, and had the go-ahead run on third base with one out before Brayden Krenzel came on in relief to put out the fire.
The sophomore right-hander got Gage Griggs to pop out to first base on a bunt attempt before striking out Spartans’ leadoff hitter Henry Zenor to end the threat and keep the game tied at two. Krenzel ended up getting the win and improving to 1-1 on the year.
UT’s ninth inning started with a walk from Clark. Chris Newstrom beat out a throw at first base on a potential double-play ball one batter later to set the stage for Grimmer’s game-winning 391-foot blast to right-center field.
The long ball marked the Vols’ second walk-off home run of the year and third walk-off win.
UP NEXT: Tennessee jumps back into conference play with another big SEC road series against in-state rival Vanderbilt this weekend in Nashville. All three games are slated to be televised with Friday’s opener scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
