KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 4 Tennessee jumped out to an early lead with four runs in the first inning and never looked back, cruising to a 10-1 win over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The bats of Trey Lipscomb and Logan Steenstra did the majority of the damage for the Vols, as the duo combined for four hits and five RBI on the night. Lipscomb opened the scoring with a two-run double while Steenstra also recorded an RBI double in the first inning to put UT ahead 4-0.
Steenstra drove in two more runs with single in the fifth to extend Tennessee’s lead to six and give him a career-high three RBI for the game. Jake Rucker also had another strong night, joining Steenstra and Lipscomb as Vols with multiple hits after going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
The Vols (25-5) used nine different pitchers, each one pitching one inning. Freshman Jake Fitzgibbons made his second-career start and looked good despite walking one batter in the first inning.
Redshirt junior Jason Rackers and sophomore Will Mabrey both pitched scoreless innings in their first appearances since early-season outings against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Feb. 23. Rackers was credited with the win, the first of his UT career.
The Big Orange scored multiple runs in the first, fifth and eighth innings and finished with 11 hits on the night. UT has now scored eight or more runs in 10 of its last 15 games.
Kendal Ewell drove in the only run of the night for the Colonels (9-18) with an RBI single in the fourth inning. EKU starter Garret Simpson fell to 0-3 on the year after allowing four runs on five hits in three innings of work.
Next up for Tennessee is a showdown with No. 9 Florida at home this weekend. First pitch for Friday night’s series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
NOTABLE
25-5 THROUGH 30: With Tuesday’s victory, Tennessee improved to 25-5 this season, which matches its best start through 30 games since also going 25-5 in 2004.
STEENSTRA ON FIRE: In UT’s last three games, Logan Steenstra is batting .417 (5-for-12) with three doubles, three runs and four RBI. The Liberty, Missouri native had two more hits and set a career high with three runs batted on Tuesday night.
Box Score (PDF) | Vitello & Steenstra Postgame
-UT Athletics
