#4 TENNESSEE WINS 20TH STRAIGHT GAME, DEFEATS AUBURN 8-4 TO CLINCH SERIES
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4 TENNESSEE WINS 20TH STRAIGHT GAME, DEFEATS AUBURN 8-4 TO CLINCH SERIES

Posted on March 31, 2024

AUBURN, Ala. – Fourth-ranked Tennessee made history Saturday night at Jane B. Moore Stadium as it knocked off Auburn, 8-4, to open SEC play 8-0 – the best conference start in program history.
 
Tennessee (28-4, 8-0 SEC) also extended its nation-leading win streak to 20 consecutive – the Lady Vols have now reeled off 20 straight wins in back-to-back seasons. UT won its 12th road game in a row, which is the second-longest road winning streak in the country.
 
Saturday turned into a home run derby with Tennessee hitting four long balls to Auburn’s three. Ten of the game’s 12 combined runs were scored off of home runs.
 
McKenna Gibson put UT on the board with a first-inning two-run home run – her fifth blast of the season. The junior finished the night 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs.
 
Auburn (15-11-1, 2-9 SEC) cut into the lead with a KK McCrary solo shot in the bottom half of the frame. The long ball was one of two for McCrary on the night.
 
Taylor Pannell and Zaida Puni clubbed solo blasts in back-to-back innings – Pannell in the second and Puni in the third – to push Tennessee’s lead to 4-1. The Lady Vols scratched across a second run in the third off an error, providing a little insurance.
 
McCrary hit her second long ball of the night in the home half of the third to keep the Tigers within striking distance at 5-2.
 
The teams traded two-run home runs in the fourth with Giulia Koutsoyanopulos hitting her third home run of the year before Icess Tresvik knocked her first out of the park.
 
Rylie West provided a cushion for Tennessee with a sixth-inning RBI single to plate the Lady Vols’ eighth run of the night.
 
Sophomore Charli Orsini was excellent in relief, tossing three innings out of the bullpen. She held the Tigers off the board and gave up only a pair of hits. The Kellyville, New South Wales, Australia, native earned the victory on Saturday and is now 2-0 on the year.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
Tennessee has hit 57 home runs this season – with seven coming over the last two games – and is just 23 blasts away from eclipsing last season’s total of 79.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols and Tigers will close out the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.

UT Men’s Basketball Team Heading to the Elite Eight for Only the Second Time in Program History
UT Sports

UT Men’s Basketball Team Heading to the Elite Eight for Only the Second Time in Program History

Posted on March 30, 2024

The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team defeated No. 11-ranked, third-seeded Creighton, 82-75, Friday night at Little Caesars Arena to earn the second Elite Eight appearance in program history. Tennessee and Purdue will start at 2:20 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be televised on CBS. You can listen on our sister station WNML.

Fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht scored a game-high 26 points for sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee (27-8, 14-4 SEC), which played without five-year starter Santiago Vescovi (flu) in the victory.

The entire first half stayed within an eight-point window, as neither team led by greater than four. After a 2-of-7 start from 3-point range, Creighton (25-10, 14-6 BE) made four of its next five attempts to go ahead, 33-29, with 2:21 on the timer. The Volunteers tallied the next five points to go back in front just 1:24 later, but the Bluejays scored the final basket of the frame to take a 35-34 edge at the break.

Tennessee notched an 8-0 edge in points off turnovers and a 7-0 tally in bench points, while also scoring the only three fast-break points of the opening 20 minutes, but shot 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from the field compared to the Bluejays’ 44.8 percent (13-of-29) ledger.

The Volunteers created separation early in the second half, blitzing Creighton with an 18-0 run in just 4:50 to claim a 16-point lead, 55-39, with 13:59 remaining. They held the Bluejays scoreless for a stretch of 5:25.

Creighton, however, responded with a 20-7 surge in 6:07 to get the margin down to three, 62-59, with 6:04 to play. Knecht answered with a 3-pointer at the other end, but Creighton then hit one of its own to again make it a three-point game with 4:45 to go, but Knecht drilled another one just 13 seconds later to double the margin.

A layup by the Bluejays made it 68-64 with 4:17 on the clock, but they never got any closer than that. A three-point play by sophomore forward Tobe Awaka pushed the margin to seven, 71-64, with 1:39 remaining, with his free throw igniting a stretch during which Tennessee went 7-of-8 at the line to extend the lead all the way to 11, 77-66, with 30.6 ticks left.

Creighton hit three 3-pointers in 13 seconds, the first of which snapped a drought of 3:58 without a basket, to get within five, 80-75, but Knecht knocked down two free throws with 4.9 seconds on the clock to seal the seven-point decision.

In addition to scoring 26 points, his 12th time with 25-plus this season, Knecht pulled down six rebounds, dished out five assists, notched two steals and blocked one shot. The Thornton, Colo., native became the 12th Division I player, including only the second from the SEC, ever to post that line in an NCAA Tournament contest. He went 3-of-7 on 3-pointers and 7-of-8 at the line in the win.

Junior guard Zakai Zeigler scored 18 points and led all players with six assists, breaking the Tennessee record for career assists in NCAA Tournament play in the process. He played all 40 minutes for the second straight game and committed just one turnover, while shooting 3-of-6 from long range.

Fifth-year guard Josiah-Jordan James tallied 15 points, finishing 4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-5 beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. Junior guard Jahmai Mashack, who started in place of Vescovi, led all players with a co-career-best eight rebounds, snatching a career-high-tying five at the offensive end.

Baylor Scheierman scored 25 points to pace the Bluejays, shooting 8-of-19 from the floor, 4-of-9 on 3-pointers and an unblemished 5-of-5 on free throws. Fellow senior guard Steven Ashworth totaled 16 points, going 6-of-9 overall, including 4-of-6 from deep.

Senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner notched 14 points and a co-team-high seven rebounds for Creighton, matching junior guard Trey Alexander, who scored 13 points, in the latter category. The Volunteers held Alexander to 3-of-12 shooting from the field, including to five points on a 1-of-10 clip until the final minute.

The teams posted similar clips in all three shooting categories. Tennessee went 28-of-67 (41.8 percent) overall, 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from deep and 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) at the line, including 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) in the latter category over the final 99 seconds. Creighton shot 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) from the floor, 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) beyond the arc and 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) on free throws.

The Volunteers, though, forced nine turnovers and committed a season-low four, their fewest ever in NCAA Tournament play, leading to a 10-0 tally in points off giveaways. They went nearly 28 consecutive minutes—from 10:19 of the first half to 2:45 of the second half—without committing a turnover.

In addition, Tennessee finished with an 18-5 ledger in fast-break points, a 15-4 edge in bench points and a 12-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, as it led for 29:02 and trailed for just 7:18.

The Volunteers will take the Little Caesars Arena court Sunday at 2:20 p.m., live on CBS, against third-ranked, top-seeded Purdue.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.  

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes now owns 806 victories in his career, passing Rick Byrd and moving into a tie with Eddie Sutton for No. 13 on the all-time wins list (min. 10 years at a Division I school).
• Friday marked the second all-time meeting between Tennessee and Creighton, with the prior one in 1937, as the Volunteers improved to 2-0 in series history.
• Barnes has now coached in 57 NCAA Tournament games, tying Rick Pitino for fifth-most among active Division I head coaches.
• This is the fifth time Tennessee has won at least 27 games in a single season, including the third in the last six seasons under Barnes.
• Tennessee’s 27 victories this year match the fourth-highest single-season win total in program history, tying the mark in 2021-22, as this is the second time in three years it has hit that mark.
• The Volunteers are now 28-26 all-time in their 26 NCAA Tournament trips, including 3-5 in their third games, 2-8 in the Round of 16, 9-5 under Barnes, 8-3 as a No. 2 seed, 1-2 versus No. 3 seeds, 12-20 against single-digit seeds, 23-11 versus lower seeds, 24-24 in regulation and 1-0 in Michigan.
• Barnes’ 9-5 record at Tennessee moved him past Bruce Pearl (8-6) for the most NCAA Tournament wins in program history.
• This is the second Elite Eight berth in Tennessee history, joining the 2009-10 season when the sixth-seeded Volunteers beat second-seeded Ohio State, 76-73, in St. Louis, Mo., on March 26, 2010.
• The Volunteers now own a 79-24 (.767) record in 103 games as an AP top-10 team under Barnes’ direction.
• With Friday’s win, Tennessee is now 22-21 (.512) against AP top-15 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 15-4 (.789) over the last 19 such outings, dating back to Feb. 22, 2021, against Arizona.
• The Volunteers’ prior low for turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game was six, recorded on both March 23, 2023, versus Florida Atlantic and March 16, 2007, against Long Beach State.
• Prior to Friday, Tennessee’s lowest turnover tally this season was six, notched on both Jan. 30, 2024, against South Carolina and Nov. 22, 2023, versus Kansas in Honolulu.
• Tennessee played four of the other seven Elite Eight teams during the regular season, posting a 4-1 record across five outings.
• This is the fourth time the Volunteers have ever beat four AP top-15 teams in a single season, joining 2021-22 (six), 2022-23 (five) and 1976-77 (four).
• The Volunteers moved to 7-1 in their last eight games versus AP top-25 foes, dating back to Dec. 9, 2023, against Illinois.
• Tennessee’s seven AP top-25 victories this season match the 2021-22 season for the most in a campaign in program history.
• Friday marked the first time this season Tennessee allowed zero points off turnovers, as its prior low in 2023-24 was two against Tarleton State on Dec. 21, 2023.
• After going 3-of-25 from 3-point range Saturday in the Round of 32 win over Texas, the Volunteers opened 3-of-6 through the first seven minutes Friday.
• The two sides combined for just six first-half turnovers, with Tennessee committing just two and forcing four.
• As announced before tipoff, fifth-year guard Santiago Vescovi missed Friday’s contest—he entered with a 52-game start streak—due to the flu.
• Friday marked just the fourth time Vescovi, Tennessee’s career starts leader with 144, has missed a game in his five-year career.
• In addition, Friday marked the first time this season a Tennessee starter missed a game and only the second time an individual in the Volunteers’ top eight (in terms of minutes average) missed a game in 2023-24.
• Freshman guard Cameron Carr hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:39 left in the first half, his fifth make from long range this season, his third in the last four-plus months and first since making two Feb. 17 against Vanderbilt.
• Mashack’s lone prior performance with eight rebounds came on Feb. 18, 2023, at Kentucky, while his lone outing with five offensive boards was on Feb. 10, 2024, at Texas A&M.
• Zeigler’s six assists put him at 30 in his five career NCAA Tournament games, moving him past Bert Bertelkamp, now Tennessee’s radio analyst, for the program’s all-time record.
• The only other Volunteer to play 40-plus minutes in back-to-back games over the last 19 seasons (2005-24) is Lamonté Turner, who did so March 24, 2019, versus Iowa and March 28, 2019, against Purdue, also in the NCAA Tournament.
• James surpassed Wayne Chism (2006-10) for sole possession of third place on the program’s appearances list with his 143nd outing.
• With his first offensive rebound of the night, James became the 12th player to reach 200 in a Tennessee career.
• James is now one of only five individuals in program history to play 4,000 minutes, joining Allan Houston (4,606 from 1989-93), Santiago Vescovi (4,419 from 2019-24), C.J. Watson (4,058 from 2002-06) and Tony White (4,034 from 1983-87).
• In addition, James matched Jon Higgins (1999-2003) for the fifth-most starts in Tennessee history with 122.
• The only other SEC player to register at least 26 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in an NCAA Tournament affair was Arkansas’ Corliss Williamson on April 2, 1994, against Arizona in the Final Four.
• Knecht also became just the 12th player ever to record that line in an NCAA Tournament contest, including the second in the last 19 years (2005-06 to 2023-24), joining Xavier’s Jordan Crawford, who did so on March 19, 2010, against Minnesota in the Round of 64.
• Now possessing 743 points in 2023-24, Knecht moved past Allan Houston (1991-92) and Dale Ellis (1982-83) to rise from co-third to second place on Tennessee’s single-season scoring leaderboard.
• The only Volunteer with more points in a campaign than Knecht is Allan Houston, who amassed 806 in 1990-91.
• Knecht has now scored double-digit points in both halves of a game on 14 occasions during the 2023-24 season.
• Friday marked the 20th 25-point outing of Knecht’s three-year Division I career, including his 12th this season at Tennessee.
• Knecht now owns 37 20-point performances as a Division I player, 18 of which come this year as a Volunteer.
• Knecht’s 26 points Friday tied for the fourth-most ever by a Tennessee player in an NCAA Tournament affair and marked the seventh time a Volunteer recorded at least that many in such a contest.

Vols Take Down Creighton, 82-75, to Claim Second Elite Eight Berth
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Vols Take Down Creighton, 82-75, to Claim Second Elite Eight Berth

Posted on March 30, 2024

DETROIT – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team defeated No. 11-ranked, third-seeded Creighton, 82-75, Friday night at Little Caesars Arena to earn the second Elite Eight appearance in program history.

Fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht scored a game-high 26 points for sixth-ranked, second-seeded Tennessee (27-8, 14-4 SEC), which played without five-year starter Santiago Vescovi (flu) in the victory.

The entire first half stayed within an eight-point window, as neither team led by greater than four. After a 2-of-7 start from 3-point range, Creighton (25-10, 14-6 BE) made four of its next five attempts to go ahead, 33-29, with 2:21 on the timer. The Volunteers tallied the next five points to go back in front just 1:24 later, but the Bluejays scored the final basket of the frame to take a 35-34 edge at the break.

Tennessee notched an 8-0 edge in points off turnovers and a 7-0 tally in bench points, while also scoring the only three fast-break points of the opening 20 minutes, but shot 41.2 percent (14-of-34) from the field compared to the Bluejays’ 44.8 percent (13-of-29) ledger.

The Volunteers created separation early in the second half, blitzing Creighton with an 18-0 run in just 4:50 to claim a 16-point lead, 55-39, with 13:59 remaining. They held the Bluejays scoreless for a stretch of 5:25.

Creighton, however, responded with a 20-7 surge in 6:07 to get the margin down to three, 62-59, with 6:04 to play. Knecht answered with a 3-pointer at the other end, but Creighton then hit one of its own to again make it a three-point game with 4:45 to go, but Knecht drilled another one just 13 seconds later to double the margin.

A layup by the Bluejays made it 68-64 with 4:17 on the clock, but they never got any closer than that. A three-point play by sophomore forward Tobe Awaka pushed the margin to seven, 71-64, with 1:39 remaining, with his free throw igniting a stretch during which Tennessee went 7-of-8 at the line to extend the lead all the way to 11, 77-66, with 30.6 ticks left.

Creighton hit three 3-pointers in 13 seconds, the first of which snapped a drought of 3:58 without a basket, to get within five, 80-75, but Knecht knocked down two free throws with 4.9 seconds on the clock to seal the seven-point decision.

In addition to scoring 26 points, his 12th time with 25-plus this season, Knecht pulled down six rebounds, dished out five assists, notched two steals and blocked one shot. The Thornton, Colo., native became the 12th Division I player, including only the second from the SEC, ever to post that line in an NCAA Tournament contest. He went 3-of-7 on 3-pointers and 7-of-8 at the line in the win.

Junior guard Zakai Zeigler scored 18 points and led all players with six assists, breaking the Tennessee record for career assists in NCAA Tournament play in the process. He played all 40 minutes for the second straight game and committed just one turnover, while shooting 3-of-6 from long range.

Fifth-year guard Josiah-Jordan James tallied 15 points, finishing 4-of-6 from the field, 3-of-5 beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. Junior guard Jahmai Mashack, who started in place of Vescovi, led all players with a co-career-best eight rebounds, snatching a career-high-tying five at the offensive end.

Baylor Scheierman scored 25 points to pace the Bluejays, shooting 8-of-19 from the floor, 4-of-9 on 3-pointers and an unblemished 5-of-5 on free throws. Fellow senior guard Steven Ashworth totaled 16 points, going 6-of-9 overall, including 4-of-6 from deep.

Senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner notched 14 points and a co-team-high seven rebounds for Creighton, matching junior guard Trey Alexander, who scored 13 points, in the latter category. The Volunteers held Alexander to 3-of-12 shooting from the field, including to five points on a 1-of-10 clip until the final minute.

The teams posted similar clips in all three shooting categories. Tennessee went 28-of-67 (41.8 percent) overall, 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from deep and 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) at the line, including 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) in the latter category over the final 99 seconds. Creighton shot 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) from the floor, 11-of-23 (47.8 percent) beyond the arc and 12-of-13 (92.3 percent) on free throws.

The Volunteers, though, forced nine turnovers and committed a season-low four, their fewest ever in NCAA Tournament play, leading to a 10-0 tally in points off giveaways. They went nearly 28 consecutive minutes—from 10:19 of the first half to 2:45 of the second half—without committing a turnover.

In addition, Tennessee finished with an 18-5 ledger in fast-break points, a 15-4 edge in bench points and a 12-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, as it led for 29:02 and trailed for just 7:18.

The Volunteers will take the Little Caesars Arena court Sunday at 2:20 p.m., live on CBS, against third-ranked, top-seeded Purdue.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.  

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES
• Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes now owns 806 victories in his career, passing Rick Byrd and moving into a tie with Eddie Sutton for No. 13 on the all-time wins list (min. 10 years at a Division I school).
• Friday marked the second all-time meeting between Tennessee and Creighton, with the prior one in 1937, as the Volunteers improved to 2-0 in series history.
• Barnes has now coached in 57 NCAA Tournament games, tying Rick Pitino for fifth-most among active Division I head coaches.
• This is the fifth time Tennessee has won at least 27 games in a single season, including the third in the last six seasons under Barnes.
• Tennessee’s 27 victories this year match the fourth-highest single-season win total in program history, tying the mark in 2021-22, as this is the second time in three years it has hit that mark.
• The Volunteers are now 28-26 all-time in their 26 NCAA Tournament trips, including 3-5 in their third games, 2-8 in the Round of 16, 9-5 under Barnes, 8-3 as a No. 2 seed, 1-2 versus No. 3 seeds, 12-20 against single-digit seeds, 23-11 versus lower seeds, 24-24 in regulation and 1-0 in Michigan.
• Barnes’ 9-5 record at Tennessee moved him past Bruce Pearl (8-6) for the most NCAA Tournament wins in program history.
• This is the second Elite Eight berth in Tennessee history, joining the 2009-10 season when the sixth-seeded Volunteers beat second-seeded Ohio State, 76-73, in St. Louis, Mo., on March 26, 2010.
• The Volunteers now own a 79-24 (.767) record in 103 games as an AP top-10 team under Barnes’ direction.
• With Friday’s win, Tennessee is now 22-21 (.512) against AP top-15 teams in Barnes’ tenure, including 15-4 (.789) over the last 19 such outings, dating back to Feb. 22, 2021, against Arizona.
• The Volunteers’ prior low for turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game was six, recorded on both March 23, 2023, versus Florida Atlantic and March 16, 2007, against Long Beach State.
• Prior to Friday, Tennessee’s lowest turnover tally this season was six, notched on both Jan. 30, 2024, against South Carolina and Nov. 22, 2023, versus Kansas in Honolulu.
• Tennessee played four of the other seven Elite Eight teams during the regular season, posting a 4-1 record across five outings.
• This is the fourth time the Volunteers have ever beat four AP top-15 teams in a single season, joining 2021-22 (six), 2022-23 (five) and 1976-77 (four).
• The Volunteers moved to 7-1 in their last eight games versus AP top-25 foes, dating back to Dec. 9, 2023, against Illinois.
• Tennessee’s seven AP top-25 victories this season match the 2021-22 season for the most in a campaign in program history.
• Friday marked the first time this season Tennessee allowed zero points off turnovers, as its prior low in 2023-24 was two against Tarleton State on Dec. 21, 2023.
• After going 3-of-25 from 3-point range Saturday in the Round of 32 win over Texas, the Volunteers opened 3-of-6 through the first seven minutes Friday.
• The two sides combined for just six first-half turnovers, with Tennessee committing just two and forcing four.
• As announced before tipoff, fifth-year guard Santiago Vescovi missed Friday’s contest—he entered with a 52-game start streak—due to the flu.
• Friday marked just the fourth time Vescovi, Tennessee’s career starts leader with 144, has missed a game in his five-year career.
• In addition, Friday marked the first time this season a Tennessee starter missed a game and only the second time an individual in the Volunteers’ top eight (in terms of minutes average) missed a game in 2023-24.
• Freshman guard Cameron Carr hit a corner 3-pointer with 1:39 left in the first half, his fifth make from long range this season, his third in the last four-plus months and first since making two Feb. 17 against Vanderbilt.
• Mashack’s lone prior performance with eight rebounds came on Feb. 18, 2023, at Kentucky, while his lone outing with five offensive boards was on Feb. 10, 2024, at Texas A&M.
• Zeigler’s six assists put him at 30 in his five career NCAA Tournament games, moving him past Bert Bertelkamp, now Tennessee’s radio analyst, for the program’s all-time record.
• James surpassed Wayne Chism (2006-10) for sole possession of third place on the program’s appearances list with his 143nd outing.
• With his first offensive rebound of the night, James became the 12th player to reach 200 in a Tennessee career.
• James is now one of only five individuals in program history to play 4,000 minutes, joining Allan Houston (4,606 from 1989-93), Santiago Vescovi (4,419 from 2019-24), C.J. Watson (4,058 from 2002-06) and Tony White (4,034 from 1983-87).
• In addition, James matched Jon Higgins (1999-2003) for the fifth-most starts in Tennessee history with 122.
• The only other SEC player to register at least 26 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in an NCAA Tournament affair was Arkansas’ Corliss Williamson on April 2, 1994, against Arizona in the Final Four.
• Knecht also became just the 12th player ever to record that line in an NCAA Tournament contest, including the second in the last 19 years (2005-06 to 2023-24), joining Xavier’s Jordan Crawford, who did so on March 19, 2010, against Minnesota in the Round of 64.
• Now possessing 743 points in 2023-24, Knecht moved past Allan Houston (1991-92) and Dale Ellis (1982-83) to rise from co-third to second place on Tennessee’s single-season scoring leaderboard.
• The only Volunteer with more points in a campaign than Knecht is Allan Houston, who amassed 806 in 1990-91.
• Knecht has now scored double-digit points in both halves of a game on 14 occasions during the 2023-24 season.
• Friday marked the 20th 25-point outing of Knecht’s three-year Division I career, including his 12th this season at Tennessee.
• Knecht now owns 37 20-point performances as a Division I player, 18 of which come this year as a Volunteer.
• Knecht’s 26 points Friday tied for the fourth-most ever by a Tennessee player in an NCAA Tournament affair and marked the seventh time a Volunteer recorded at least that many in such a contest.

#5 Vols Drop Series Opener to #22 Bulldogs
Credit / UT Athletics

#5 Vols Drop Series Opener to #22 Bulldogs

Posted on March 30, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5/5 Tennessee had a night to forget in Friday’s series opener against No. 22/NR Georgia, losing 16-2 in seven innings in front of a sellout crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Bulldogs, who entered the weekend leading the nation with 74 home runs, went deep four times in the game to power them to their fourth SEC win of the year.

Leadoff hitter Corey Collins homered twice, drone in six runs and scored three times to lead the attack while shortstop Kolby Branch also had a big night with three hits and three RBIs.

UT starter AJ Causey got off to a solid start, retiring the side in order in the top of the first to start the game, but was tagged for six runs (five earned) in the second and two more in the third before making way for the bullpen. The loss was the first of the season for Causey, who entered the series with an unblemished 5-0 record, including wins in both of his SEC starts.

Despite the loss, the Vols were able to record double-digit hits for the 16th time this season, finishing with 10 for the night. Blake Burke, Dean Curley and Reese Chapman led the way with two hits apiece while Kavares Tears had the only RBI of the game for the Big Orange with a two-out double in the third inning.

Charlie Goldstein started on the mound and got the win for Georgia (22-4, 4-3 SEC), striking out three and walking none in six innings to improve to 4-0 on the year. The lefthander scattered nine hits, and both runs he gave up were unearned.

UP NEXT: Tennessee (22-5, 3-4 SEC) will look to bounce back and even the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.

STAT OF THE GAME: With a single in the third inning, Burke extended his hitting streak to 17 games and his on-base streak to 25 games. The junior added a double in the bottom of the seventh, his SEC-leading 15th of the season.

Late-Inning Surge Pushes #4 Lady Vols Past Auburn
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Late-Inning Surge Pushes #4 Lady Vols Past Auburn

Posted on March 30, 2024

AUBURN, Ala. – The fourth-ranked Lady Vols used a late-inning scoring surge to extend their winning streak to 19 straight games, defeating Auburn Friday night at Jane B. Moore Stadium, 5-1.
 
Tennessee (27-4, 7-0 SEC) owns the nation’s longest active win streak, while also claiming the second-longest road winning streak in the country – having won 11 in a row away from home.
 
Junior Sophia Nugent led Tennessee at the plate Friday, blasting two home runs to finish 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs.
 
Nugent opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run shot – her fifth of the season – deep over the left field wall.
 
Auburn (15-10-1, 2-8 SEC) answered back in the third as it loaded the bases before a hit batter brought home the Tigers’ lone run of the game.
 
Senior Rylie West kick-started the late push for UT as she clubbed her ninth home run of the year to lead off the sixth inning. West’s blast set a single-season career-high for home runs, surpassing her 2021 season when she knocked eight out of the park.
 
With two away, Nugent hit her second long ball of the night with a solo home run to extend Tennessee’s lead 4-1.
 
Tennessee scratched across one final run on a Zaida Puni single in the seventh.
 
Sophomore Karlyn Pickens got the start for the Lady Vols in the circle, lasting three innings before giving way to graduate right-hander Payton Gottshall in the fourth.
 
Pickens finished the night with two strikeouts, two walks and allowed one run on one hit. Gottshall tossed the final four frames, scattering three hits with three strikeouts en route to her 12th victory of the season.
 
Maddie Penta started for Auburn on Friday night, allowing four runs on six hits, with five strikeouts and three walks over six innings of work. She suffered the loss and is now 8-6 on the year.
 
Annabelle Widra relieved Penta to start the seventh and gave up a run on one hit and a walk.
 
STAT OF THE DAY
With Friday’s win, Tennessee tied the 2023 squad for the best start to conference play in program history.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols and Tigers are back in action Saturday for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. ET.

Greene County Sheriff’s Department Arrests Suspect after Deadly Shooting, Sheriff Says

Greene County Sheriff’s Department Arrests Suspect after Deadly Shooting, Sheriff Says

Posted on March 29, 2024

Greene County, TN (WOKI) The Greene County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a suspect in connection to a deadly shooting Thursday afternoon.

Greene County Sheriff’s Department officials say the shooting happened around 4:35 p.m. at a home on Old Stage Road.

When deputies arrived on scene, they reportedly found 73-year-old Clarence Devoti with a gunshot wound; GCSD says Devoti died at the scene.

Police arrested 36-year-old William Harrison. He is being charged with second-degree murder.

Knoxville Police Investigating Two Robberies on Merchant Drive, KPD Says

Knoxville Police Investigating Two Robberies on Merchant Drive, KPD Says

Posted on March 29, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating two robberies on Merchant Drive that it says could be connected.

KPD officials say they are searching for a white man about six-feet tall with blue eyes who they believe robbed the Subway at 314 Merchant Drive last Friday around 6:30 p.m. and then robbed the Casey’s gas station at 410 Merchant Drive around 2:00 a.m. Thursday, March 28.

Suspect in robbery of Subway on Merchant Drive (Courtesy: KPD)
Suspect in robbery of Subway on Merchant Drive (Courtesy: KPD)

The suspect is alleged to have robbed the Casey’s at knife point, and officials say he may also have had a weapon on him during the robbery at the Subway.

Suspect in robbery of Casey’s on Merchant Drive. (Courtesy: KPD)
Suspect in robbery of Casey’s on Merchant Drive (Courtesy: KPD)

Anyone with information is being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers 865-215-7165.

Knox County Mayor, Knoxville Realtor Association Respond after Growth Plan Fails in Farragut

Knox County Mayor, Knoxville Realtor Association Respond after Growth Plan Fails in Farragut

Posted on March 29, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs promises to “find a solution” in the wake of a vote Thursday night in Farragut against changing the county’s Growth Policy Plan.

Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Alderman voted against changing the plan, which hasn’t been updated since it was created in 2001. It’s a state law requirement that Farragut be involved in the vote, even though the plan would not involve the town. While the board did not pass the plan, it did see support from Farragut Mayor Ron Williams.

Mayor Jacobs released a statement Friday addressing the matter:

“First, I want to thank Farragut Mayor Williams and Farragut Vice-Mayor Povlin for their support of this crucial and vitally important growth plan. I’d also like to thank the Advance Knox team, who worked long hours during the past two years in collaborative effort with many stakeholders, to develop a proposal that addresses some of the most pressing issues facing our county.

I am greatly disappointed with the outcome of last night’s vote by the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Sometimes, when you are in a position of leadership, you must make tough, uncomfortable, decisions because it is the right thing to do.

Farragut was at the table throughout the discussions of this critical plan, and we incorporated the changes that they requested. Ultimately, the growth plan would change nothing for Farragut.

On the other hand, Knox County is in the midst of a major housing crisis, and also are trying to mitigate urban sprawl.

Last night’s decision by only three Farragut aldermen hurts our entire county. Housing prices will continue to skyrocket – a negative for the almost 500,000 people who call Knox County home.

Further, this decision will increase our homelessness problem.

In the end, we are talking about higher taxes and a lower quality of life.

This growth plan addresses all of these issues. And again, it would not change Farragut – something the Farragut leaders requested.

At this point, we will look at all possible options, and how to move forward.

Above all else, we cannot continue the path we have walked for the past two decades.

I promise we will find a solution.” – Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs

The Knoxville Realtor Association also provided a statement, as below:

“Tonight was a sad night for Knox County. The Town of Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Alderman has failed each and every resident of Knox County by choosing to reject a reasonable compromise in favor of maintaining an unsustainable and undesirable “no plan” approach to development that will perpetuate the status quo. Ultimately, those who will suffer the most as a result of tonight’s vote are essential workers — police officers, teachers, and nurses — who will no longer be able to afford to live in the county they serve.” – Knoxville Realtor Association

The development would’ve helped pave the way for an estimated 70,000 people who experts say are expected to move into Knox County over the next 20 years. With the vote failed, the plan will be put on pause or thrown out altogether.

New Details in the DUI Arrest of a Holston Middle School Bus Driver
Photo courtesy of WVLT

New Details in the DUI Arrest of a Holston Middle School Bus Driver

Posted on March 29, 2024

A bus driver contracted with Knox County Schools was arrested Thursday morning, charged with driving under the influence, Knoxville Police Department Communication Manager Scott Erland told WVLT News. We now know more about the arrest, thanks to an incident report obtained by WVLT News.

According to the report, Knox County Schools Security Lieutenant Dustin Tilly said that Holston Middle School had received calls about a bus driving erratically.

Lieutenant Tilly reportedly then called Officer James Manning at Holston Middle School to check on the bus driver, 63-year-old Matthew Leveque. Officer Manning said in court records that Leveque had missed several stops Thursday morning and was later than normal in dropping off 28 children at Rita Elementary at 19 kids at Holston.

The school security officer said in the report that Leveque’s eyes were pinpoint and were twitching, and when pulling the school bus camera video a KCS employee said he could smell alcohol coming from Leveque.

When school officers contacted Leveque he was still sitting in the driver’s seat of the school bus with the keys in the ignition, the report said.

Knoxville police officers responded to Holston Middle School, located at 600 Chilhowee Drive in East Knoxville, around 9 a.m. after being told about “potential issues” by a KCS security staff member.

Officers said that Leveque stated he had taken some medications for blood pressure, his heart and acid reflux. The officer said in the report that Leveque was delayed in his response to questions, had slurred and mumbled speech, had difficulty maintaining balance and smelled like alcohol.

Officers also said that when Leveque was asked what he had to drink he said that was unsure how much he had to drink because he was just pouring vodka into shot glasses and then mixing it with orange juice. Leveque told officers that he thought he might have drank approximately a quarter of a fifth of vodka.

The records also show that when officers searched the bus, they found several water bottles near the driver’s seat.

Even though there were students on Leveque’s bus, Erland told WVLT News that no one was hurt.

WVLT News reached out to KCS for a comment, and the school system sent the following:

KCS does not tolerate this type of behavior or any unsafe activity on buses that serve our students. The bus driver has been removed from the district’s roster of eligible drivers.

All families whose students were on the bus were made aware of the incident, and arrangements have been made to cover transportation going forward.

We appreciate KCS School Security and the Knoxville Police Department for their efforts in this matter. The safety of our students is and will remain our top priority.Knox County Schools

Leveque worked for Lynch Bus Lines, a third-party contractor for the school system.

WVLT News reached out for comment but had not heard back. Story courtesy of WVLT

A Raid on a Pawn Shop in Claiborne County Results in Three Arrests
Photo courtesy of WVLT

A Raid on a Pawn Shop in Claiborne County Results in Three Arrests

Posted on March 29, 2024

Police raid a pawn shop in Claiborne County for stolen property and arrest three people.

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office raided Middleton Pawn yesterday (Thursday) and arrested Kerry “Pete” Middleton Jr. and Brandie Fultaz who are charged with theft of property and criminal conspiracy and Wilma Middleton is charged with possession of a Schedule III controlled substance.

Officials say additional arrest and charges are possible as the investigation continues.

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