KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A productive night on the offensive end and solid efforts on the mound from eight different pitchers powered No. 9 Tennessee to a 13-5 win over Eastern Kentucky Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tennessee (18-4) tallied 12 hits on the night from nine different players, led by a three-hit, four-RBI performance from Trey Lipscomb. Lipscomb’s totals in hits and RBIs tied career-highs. The junior had a single, double and his first home run of the season, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
The Vols jumped in front quickly with three runs apiece in the first and fourth innings before blowing the game open with a seven-run inning in the fifth, powered by home runs from Lipscomb and Cortland Lawson. Lawson’s home run was the first of his career and came in just his fourth-career at bat.
After a three-run first inning to open the night, the Vols have now scored in the first inning in four consecutive games.
Drew Gilbert gave Tennessee its second multi-hit performance of the night, recording a single and a double while scoring two runs.
Eight different pitchers saw action for UT on the night, with Zander Sechrist getting credited with his first-career win after throwing four strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Jake Fitzgibbons got his first-career start and pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits.
The Vols will play their first SEC series at home this weekend when No. 14 LSU comes to town. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. and all three contests will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus and the ESPN app.
NOTABLE
LAWSON, LIPSCOMB GO YARD: Both with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cortland Lawson and Trey Lipscomb each recorded their first home run of the season. The Vols now have 24 total home runs on the year through 22 games.
Box Score (PDF) | Vitello & Lipscomb Postgame
-UT Athletics
