KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 14 Tennessee used a complete performance in all phases to earn a 6-2 victory over UNC Greensboro in Friday’s series opener on a damp night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Chad Dallas made his return to the mound after missing last weekend’s series with oblique soreness and was fantastic in 5.1 innings of work. The junior right hander retired the first 11 batters of the game, six via strikeout, and did not allow a hit until he gave up a solo home run in the top of the sixth. Dallas finished with seven strikeouts and two walks on the night en route to his second win of the season.
Eight of UT’s nine starters recorded a hit on the night as the Vols racked up 10 total hits, marking the fourth time this year that they finished with double-digit base knocks.
Junior second baseman Max Ferguson had a solid night at the plate with two extra-base hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Jordan Beck also broke out of his recent slump with a two-run double to open the scoring in the fourth inning and finished the game with a team-high three runs batted in.
After three scoreless innings for both teams to start the game, the Vols were able to break the deadlock with a pair of runs in the fourth. Beck ripped a two-run double into left center to score Jake Rucker and Pete Derkay, who led off the inning with a double of his own.
Tennessee (12-3) increased its lead to 3-0 with another run in the fifth. Ferguson led off the frame with a double and came around to score on an RBI single by Connor Pavolony.
UNCG (10-3) cut its deficit to one with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the sixth. Corey Rosier hit his fifth of the year to make it 3-1 and prompt a pitching change. Two batters later, Pres Cavenaugh made it a 3-2 game with a no-doubter to right field.
Ferguson continued his big night with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the seventh, leading off the inning with a rocket that cleared the videoboard in right center to put the Vols back ahead by two. It was the second homer of the year for Ferguson and his second extra-base hit of the night.
Beck drove in his third run of the night with a sacrifice fly to give UT a three-run lead before Evan Russell added another insurance run with an RBI fielder’s choice to make it 6-2 heading into the ninth inning.
Redshirt senior closer Redmond Walsh pitched the final 1.2 innings to slam the door and earn his third save of the year, giving him sole possession of third place on UT’s career saves list with 14. The local product allowed just one hit and recorded all five of his outs via strikeout, tying a career high in the process.
Spartans’ starting pitcher Austin Koehn fell to 1-1 on the year after allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings of work.
First pitch for Game 2 of this weekend’s series is scheduled 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. Senior left hander Will Heflin is slated to get the start for UT. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
NOTABLE
WALSH CONTINUES TO DOMINATE: Tennessee closer Redmond Walsh continued his dominant start to the season with another impressive performance on Friday night. The redshirt senior left hander struck out five of the six batters he faced in 1.2 shutout innings to record his third save of the season, moving him into sole possession of third on the Vols’ career saves list. He needs four more saves to tie Sean Watson, who had 18 from 2004-06, for second all-time at UT.
With another scoreless outing on Friday, Walsh has now gone 12 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, a span of 24.1 innings pitched. The last earned run Walsh allowed was against Liberty on June 2, 2019 in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional.
DALLAS DAZZLES IN RETURN: After missing his scheduled start last Friday due to soreness, junior right hander Chad Dallas looked sharp in his return to the mound against the Spartans. Dallas retired the first 11 batters he faced and did not allow a hit until the final batter he faced hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. It marked the second time this season that Dallas carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning or later after throwing 6.1 innings of no-hit ball in UT’s season opener at Georgia Southern on Feb. 19.
Box Score (PDF) | DOWNLOAD: Postgame Media Videos (Vitello, Dallas, Ferguson)
-UT Athletics
