KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Evan Russell has garnered some national recognition this week after his record-setting performance in last Saturday’s victory over No. 2 Vanderbilt.
The senior outfielder was named one of national players of the week by Collegiate Baseball News on Monday. Russell also earned the Golden Spikes Award National Performance of the Week honor on Tuesday for the second time this season.
The Lexington, Tennessee, native tied the single-game program record with three homers and drove in six of the Vols’ eight runs in their win over the Commodores. It was the second three-homer game of the year for Russell, who hit solo shots in the fourth and seventh innings before blasting an eighth-inning grand slam that proved to be the game-winning hit.
The Lexington, Tennessee, native finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk while setting or tying career highs in hits, runs (three), RBI (six) and total bases (12). With his three long balls on Saturday, Russell became the first player in program history with multiple games of three home runs.
Russell leads Tennessee with 10 home runs this season, eight of which have come during SEC play, which leads the conference. Ten of his 21 total hits this season have left the yard.
-UT Athletics
