COLUMBIA, Mo. – A no-doubt Max Ferguson two-run homer in the eighth inning lifted No. 5 Tennessee to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory in Friday night’s series opener at Taylor Stadium.

The Vols trailed for nearly the entire game before Ferguson’s blast. The junior second baseman finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI.

Chad Dallas provided UT with another quality start and earned the win to improve to 8-1 on the year. The junior right hander allowed four runs on six hits but struck out eight and allowed just one walk on the night.

Sean Hunley retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game and earn his fifth save of the year.

The Vols had a couple early chances to get on the board with runners in scoring position in the first and second innings but were unable to capitalize, leaving the door open for the Tigers to open the scoring on a solo homer by Andrew Keefer in the bottom of the second.

A two-out single by Brandt Belk scored two more runs for Missouri in the third, giving the Tigers a 3-0 advantage after three innings.

Tennessee answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to cut its deficit to one. Jordan Beck singled to score Russell to get UT on the board and Liam Spence drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to make it a 3-2 game.

Ferguson tied the game at three with a two-out double in the top of the sixth, but Mizzou quickly regained the lead with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.

After leaving a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh, it was Ferguson who came up big again for the Big Orange in the eighth, hitting a monster two-run blast to right field to give UT a 5-4 lead. With Ferguson’s bomb, the Vols have now hit at least one home run in each of their last nine SEC games.

Jacob Kush was the losing pitcher for Missouri, allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of relief. Tigers’ pitchers walked 10 batters and hit two others in the game.

The Vols will look to take the series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on the SEC Network.

NOTABLE

FERGIE FOR THE WIN: Junior second baseman Max Ferguson had a huge night for the Vols with three hits and three RBI, including a mammoth two-run homer in the top of the eighth to give Tennessee its first lead of the night. The blast was Ferguson’s sixth home run of the year.

FREE BASES? WE’LL TAKE EM’: The Vols were able to take advantage of 12 free bases issued by the Tigers on Friday night. UT batters walked 10 times while MU pitchers also hit two batters.

Box Score (PDF) | DOWNLOAD: Vitello Postgame Interview

-UT Athletics