by James Stooksbury
It was a warm day in Knoxville as the Tennessee Volunteers (36-9, 13-8 SEC) won a hard-fought game against the Northern Kentucky Norse (24-19, 12-9 Horizon) by a score of 7-5.
Brayden Krenzel would start the game for the Vols, as in his return from sickness,s would pitch a clean first inning, allowing for the Vols’ bats to do some damage.
In the bottom of the 1st, Hunter Ensley would hit a double down the right field line, driving in Dean Curley and Andrew Fischer, giving the Vols an early lead.
It would then be the Norse turn to respond, and they would in a big way, scoring four runs in the 2nd courtesy of four walks by the Vols’ pitching staff.
Tennessee would shorten the lead in the 2nd after a Stone Lawless solo-homer would pull the Vols within one run.
When asked about his performance after the game, Lawless would say, “When I first started swinging today in the cages, I was struggling, and then coach Elander gave me a quick little tip, and a little swing thought, and it dialed me in for the rest of the day.
Michael Sharman would come into the game for the Vols in the 3rd, and his outstanding pitching quickly became the story of the day for the Vols.
The score wouldn’t change until the 5th when a Dean Curley double and a Hunter Ensley sac fly gave the Vols the lead over the Norse.
The Vols would add another insurance run in the 6th when Stone Lawless hit his second solo-homer of the day into the left field porches.
Sharman’s day on the mound would end in the 7th when Dylan Loy would come into the game to escape the bases loaded jam.
Sharman’s final stat line would be 4.1 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 1 earned run, and 6 strikeouts.
The Vols would score their final run of the game in the 7th when a Blake Grimmer single scored Dalton Bargo from 3rd.
Dylan Loy and Nate Snead would then team up to end the game for the Vols as Nate Snead would record the save in the 9th.
When asked about this team’s recent struggles, Tony Vitello would say, “I think for this team, I think you want them to respond with making adjustments and unwavering confidence.”
This would be the Volunteers’ final game in the weekend series with a top-10 team in the Auburn Tigers, which will be held in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.