KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee cruised to an 11-1 run-rule victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium thanks to a career day from shortstop Manny Marin.
The game started slowly with both teams failing to record a hit in the first two innings, but Garrett Wright put an end to that with an RBI double down the left field line to plate the game’s first run. Reese Chapman followed him up with a looping RBI single over the second baseman’s head, scoring Wright from second to give the Vols a 2-0 lead.
After a leadoff double from Henry Ford, a walk from Blake Grimmer and a single by Trent Grindlinger, the Big Orange had the bases loaded with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. With ducks on the pond, Marin cashed in with a two-RBI double to right field to extend the Vols’ lead to four.
The Bulldogs (16-21, 4-8 Big South) pushed across their first run of the game in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout with the bases loaded, making the score 4-1.
UT (25-12, 7-8 SEC) responded to Asheville’s lone run with five in the bottom half of the seventh. Grimmer got things started with an RBI single that went in and out of the right fielder’s glove as he hit the wall, then Marin stepped up and parked his second career grand slam into the second deck of the porches to make it 9-1.
Pinch hitter Finley Bates entered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and brought a run home on an RBI groundout to the third baseman. Grindlinger came up one batter later and sent the fans home happy with a walk-off single to left field, sealing the run-rule victory by a final score of 11-1.
Marin led the way offensively with two extra base hits and a career high six RBIs in the win. Freshman left-hander Taylor Tracey recorded his first collegiate win on Tuesday night with two scoreless innings of relief. The Vols are now 10-0 this season in midweek games and have outscored their opponents 106-27.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will be back in action on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium as they begin their weekend series against No. 22/25 Ole Miss at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+.
