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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 15 Tennessee got dominant performances all over the diamond in a 16-1 midweek victory over UNC Asheville on Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Big Orange (4-0) blasted five home runs and scored in each of the first six innings to race out to a 12-0 lead.

Jordan Beck, Christian Moore, Trey Lipscomb, Luc Lipcius and Seth Stephenson all homered for UT as the Vols racked up nine extra-base hits for the game.

While the bats were doing damage early and often, Tennessee’s pitchers were holding the Bulldogs’ hitters in check as well, finishing the day with 18 strikeouts while allowing just four hits.

Sophomore left hander Zander Sechrist started and got the win after setting a career high with seven strikeouts in just three innings of work.

Five different relievers each pitched one shutout inning for the Vols to secure the shutout, none more impressive than redshirt-junior flame thrower Ben Joyce, who had 10 pitches clocked at 100-plus mph in the fifth inning, including multiple pitches of 103 mph.

Freshmen pitchers Wyatt Evans, Gavin Brasosky and Grant Cherry all threw scoreless innings in their collegiate debuts and combined to strike out five batters. Returners Jake Fitzgibbons and Mark McLaughlin threw the other two innings.

Dylan Bacot led the Bulldogs (0-4) with two hits while Kevin Catrine broke up Tennessee’s shutout bid with a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning.

The Vols will be back in action at home this weekend to host Iona for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Friday’s series opener is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for all three games are available at AllVols.com
 

NOTABLE

LAUNCHING PAD: Tennessee blasted a season-high five home runs on Wednesday night, all by different players. The Big Orange have hit multiple homers in three of their four games this season and already have 11 for the year.

Keepin’ it 100: UT redshirt-junior reliever Ben Joyce wowed everyone in attendance with the sow he put on in the fifth inning. The Knoxville native threw 10 pitches that were clocked at 100-plus mph on the radar gun, including a couple that came in at 103 mph. Joyce allowed one hit but also had two strikeouts in his one inning of work.

Racking Up the Ks: The Vols’ pitching staff finished the game with 18 strikeouts, it’s most this season and most since tying the program record with 21 against Indiana on Feb. 23, 2019. Zander Sechrist led the way with a career-high seven punchouts.

-UT Athletics