KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/8 Tennessee got back in the win column with a 10-2 midweek win over Xavier on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers (19-3) held the Musketeers (9-12) to just four hits on the night thanks in large part to impressive performances on the mound from starter Zander Sechrist and reliever Kirby Connell.
Sechrist had three strikeouts and allowed just one baserunner in three hitless innings to start the game while Connell surrendered just one hit in 2.1 scoreless frames to pick up his second win of the year.
Cannon Peebles led UT at the plate with a pair of hits, a walk, a run scored and three RBIs after a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning.
Blake Burke also drove in two runs with a no-doubt home run over the right-center field wall to open the scoring in the first inning, marking his eighth long ball of the season and 38th of his career, two shy of tying the program record.
Christian Moore, Dylan Dreiling, Reese Chapman and Charlie Taylor also had RBIs for the Big Orange in the victory.
Connor Misch led Xavier with two hits and an RBI on the night. Jonathan Kelly made his first start of the season for the Musketeers and was stuck with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work.
UP NEXT: Tennessee continues SEC play when it takes on Ole Miss this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Game one of the series is slated for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
STAT OF THE GAME: With Tuesday’s win, the Vols improved to 71-10 in midweek games under head coach Tony Vitello, including a perfect 7-0 mark this year. Since the start of the 2019 season, UT is 61-6 in midweek games.
