KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A five-RBI game from Reese Chapman and impressive group effort from the pitching staff highlighted No. 5/5 Tennessee’s 11-1 run-rule victory over in-state foe Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Chapman set a career high in hits with a perfect 4-for-4 night at the plate, recording a double and a three-run homer to lead the Vols, who finished with 14 hits in just seven innings en route to their ninth run-rule win this season.
UT (22-4) used seven different pitchers who tossed one inning apiece to hold the Golden Eagles (13-12) to one unearned run on just three hits. Freshman Dylan Loy got his first-career start and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to begin the game before handing the ball off to fellow freshman Derek Schaefer, who struck out a pair and retired the side in order in the second to pick up the win and improve to 2-0 on the year.
Austin Hunley, Matthew Dallas, Chris Stamos, Brayden Sharp and Marcus Phillips all saw action on the mound, as well, and allowed just three combined hits.
Other standout performers at the plate included Robin Villeneuve (3-for-3), Blake Burke (2-for-2, two RBIs) and Hunter Ensley (2-for-3, RBI), who all posted multi-hit performances and combined to score four runs.
Burke blasted a two-run homer to jump start Tennessee’s six-run fourth inning that blew the game open. It was the junior’s 39th career home run, moving him into a tie for second in program history with Evan Russell, and one away from tying the program record held by Luc Lipcius.
Theo Bryant IV had two of Tennessee Tech’s three hits, going 2-for-2 on the night while scoring the team’s lone run.
Starting pitcher Matt Gelorme was stuck with the loss despite a decent outing after giving up just one run on four hits in three innings of work.
Tuesday’s victory snapped a two-game skid against Tech after the Golden Eagles won midweeks in each of the last two seasons.
UP NEXT: The Vols host another important SEC series this weekend when they take on No. 24 Georgia at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Friday’s series opener is slated for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.
STAT OF THE GAME: Freshman infielder Ariel Antigua made his first-career start in Tuesday night’s contest, getting the nod at shortstop. The Florida native was incredible defensively, tying the single-game program record with nine assists, making a couple of highlight-reel plays in the process.
