Tennessee’s Nashville In the series opener against No. 25/NR Vanderbilt on Friday night at Hawkins Field in Nashville, top-ranked Tennessee overcame a late deficit to win 8–4 thanks to a go-ahead two-run home run from Kavares Tears that ignited a decisive five-run eighth inning.
The Vols led 3-1 after three innings and appeared to be in total control until the bottom of the sixth inning saw a comeback by the Commodores (33-17, 11-14 SEC) to take a 4-3 lead. Second baseman Camden Kozeal drew a walk to begin the rally after two quick outs to begin the inning, and Vandy scored three runs with three outs on consecutive hits.
Billy Amick led off with a single to spark UT’s recovery after the seventh inning ended without a run being scored. He later scored.
Tennessee (41-9, 18-7 SEC) continued to build on Tears’ season-high 15 home run, which put the Big Orange ahead 5-4 after one batter. Dylan Dreiling tripled to center field and scored on an RBI single by Hunter Ensley to extend the lead, and Cannon Peebles added the cherry on top with a two-run, pinch-hit home run into the right-field bleachers to make it 8-4. That proved to be enough for reliever AJ Causey, who wrapped up the victory with back-to-back scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth innings.
Dylan Dreiling tripled to center field and sprinted home on an RBI single by Hunter Ensley to extend Tennessee’s advantage (41-9, 18-7 SEC). The Big Orange led 8–4 after a pinch-hit, two-run home run by Cannon Peebles into the right-field bleachers. That proved to be enough for reliever AJ Causey, who wrapped up the victory with consecutive clean innings in the eighth and ninth innings.
After that disastrous sixth inning, Causey recovered remarkably, retiring the next nine batters and 10 of the final 11 he faced to secure his ninth victory of the season, which leads the team. The native of Alabama ended with seven strikeouts and just one walk.
After allowing Vandy’s first two batters to reach in the bottom of the first inning, Chris Stamos settled down and retired the Commodores’ three, four, and five hitters to escape the jam unscathed and preserve UT’s 2-0 lead. Stamos put up another strong performance in a starting role, setting a career high with five strikeouts while allowing just one run on two hits in 2.2 innings.
For the Vols, Dreiling drove the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with two hits that scored runs, both with two outs. Christian Moore got things going early in the game with a solo home run—his 22nd of the season—while Amick and Ensley also contributed multiple hits. Moore now has three long balls this season in the leadoff position.
Reliever Miller Green for Vanderbilt dropped to 1-4 on the season after giving up three runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning after replacing starter Bryce Cunningham, who overcame a rough beginning to pitch 6.2 strong innings and record 10 strikeouts.
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