KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5/5 Tennessee finished off its 15-game homestand unbeaten after trouncing Eastern Kentucky, 17-2, in a run-rule victory on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The win extended the Volunteers winning streak to 16 games, which is tied for the second-longest in program history.
Kavares Tears, Christian Moore, Hunter Ensley, Dylan Dreiling and Cal Stark all had multiple RBIs in the win while the Big Orange blasted five home runs, marking the seventh time this season they have hit four or more in a game.
Tears got the scoring started with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to extend his hitting streak to 16 games before adding a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to finish 2-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs on the night.
Moore, Dreiling and Ensley also had round trippers for the Vols before Stark punctuated the evening with a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning.
UT (17-1) used seven pitchers in the game, led by starter Zander Sechrist, who gave up just one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings while striking out three batters. Graduate transfer lefthander Chris Stamos made his return to the mound after dealing with some soreness by posting 0.2 shutout frames to earn his third win of the season.
Kirby Connell came on after the Colonels (2-15) had plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning and was able to limit the damage by stranding two runners on base. Redshirt freshman Brady Robertson made his collegiate debut in the sixth inning, retiring two straight batters after allowing a leadoff single.
The freshman duo of Matthew Dallas and Luke Payne combined to record the final four outs of the game with Payne retiring the side in order in the seventh to end the game.
UP NEXT: Tennessee is scheduled to open Southeastern Conference play on Friday night when it begins its weekend series at No. 12/14 Alabama at 7 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa.
STAT OF THE GAME: With Stark’s grand slam in the sixth inning, the Vols have now hit four grand slams in their last six games (one week span). Those four grand slams have come from four different players: Dean Curley, Reese Chapman, Robin Villeneuve and Stark.
