Tuesday, February 20
Knoxville
3:30 P.M. ET
University of Tennessee
2-2
8
vs
5
Lipscomb
2-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Lipscomb
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
5
7
1
Tennessee
2
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
X
8
7
1
Daniels' Grand Slam Powers Vols Past Lipscomb
February 20, 2018 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –  Freshman Zach Daniels made his first-career hit a memorable one, blasting a grand slam in the third inning of Tennessee's 8-5 victory over in-state foe Lipscomb on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Daniels' grand slam was part of a six-run third inning for the Vols that proved to be the difference in the game.
Fellow freshman Wyatt Stapp had another solid day at the plate as well, reaching base three times as well as driving in two runs with a single in UT's big third inning. Andre Lipcius and Pete Derkay also drove in runs for the Big Orange in the win.
Freshman right hander Sean Hunley made his first-career start and retired the side in order in the top of the first. The Mount Juliet, Tenn., native went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out two before giving way to freshman lefty Garrett Crochet, who earned his first-career win after striking out three in 3.2 innings of work.
The Vols jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back walks by Jay Charleston and Justin Ammons put two runners on for Derkay, who delivered with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to open the scoring. Lipcius drove in Ammons one batter later with an RBI groundout.
The Bisons answered with a run of their own in the top of the second when Josh Martinez hit an opposite field, solo home run to left to cut the deficit to one. Lipscomb added another run in the third to tie the game at two after a Tennessee error prolonged the inning.
A six-run outburst from the Vols in the bottom of the third blew the game open. Stapp drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single before Daniels hammered a 2-0 pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam to make it 8-2. All six runs in the inning came with two outs.
The grand slam was Daniels' first-career hit and the second in as many games for UT after Lipcius hit one in the second inning of Sunday's 13-6 win over Maryland. Daniels is the first Tennessee freshman to hit a grand slam since Nick Senzel hit one against UNLV on Feb. 21, 2014.
Lipscomb junior Zeke Dodson led the Bisons' attack with a pair of hits and three RBIs. He hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth and drove in another run with a two-out double to right field in the seventh to cut the deficit to three.
Junior Daniel Vasquez came in to shut the door for UT, tossing two perfect innings to close out the game and earn the second save of his career.
Lipscomb starter Dayton Tripp had a rough outing and was the losing pitcher after giving up all eight of UT's runs in just 2.2 innings pitched.
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Notables
Daniels' Historic Slam
Zach Daniels went 0-for-10 over his first three collegiate games last week and started Tuesday's game with a strikeout in his first at-bat. However, the freshman broke out of his slump in a big way with a monster grand slam in the third inning of Tuesday's win. Daniels is the first freshman to hit a grand slam since former All-American Nick Senzel hit one against UNLV on Feb. 21, 2014.
We're Going Back to Back
Tennessee has hit grand slams in consecutive games after Andre Lipcius hit one in Sunday's series finale against Maryland and Daniels blasted one in this afternoon's win over the Bisons. The Vols have already surpassed their grand slam total from last season when the only hit one. Â
Next Up
Tennessee continues its nine-game homestand to begin the season as UNC Greensboro comes to town for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network + (WatchESPN).
Quotables
Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello
On his message to the guys during the post-game talk:
"The first thing is, I do not know what kind of trademark I will leave on this place, but I do not want it to be one where we do not know where to go when the baseball is in play, and I think everybody in the stands saw the ball going to right field, and us not having guys in the right position, and that is the fundamental part.
"The second part is just playing baseball and finding a way to get an out. We had an out that they handed us because of bad base running or whatever it might have been, and we did not execute. That was part of it, but also just emphasizing some things we have been talking about. There is a lot of little things that winning programs do. I have seen it from the head coaches I have worked for. I have also seen it from teams beating teams that I have been a part of, and we got to implement those things, and the faster we do, the better off we will be, but there is a lot of them. So a little bit of progress each day is our goal."
On putting up big numbers offensively, and the expectations of the lineup going forward:
"I think we are capable. You saw early on that the wind was really blowing out to left. I think if (Justin) Ammons' ball, as well as their center fielder's ball was hit earlier in the day, those were home runs. The park was playing live, we want our hitters to be aggressive, and I think we got a chance one through nine hitters to do some damage. I mean our nine-hole hitter today hit a grand slam, and I do not think we have a guy like (Nick) Dunn, like Maryland as, that you got to be like 'holy cow no way we let this guy beat us', but I do think we have strength and quantity of some guys that can get you a little bit. I think Brandon Trammell is one of those guys, and I think he is healthy enough to make his debut this weekend. Either way we just want to come to the park and be aggressive and the numbers show some good things for us."
Freshman LHP Garrett Crochet
On his performance early on this season:
"I think I have done a pretty good job. My mindset is to kind of just let my defense work behind me and make good pitches when I need too, and be competitive."
On how it felt to get the win:
"It felt pretty good to get my first college win. I mean I got nothing more to ask for then my defense to play behind me and make some plays."
Freshman OF Zach Daniels
On his first college hit being a grand slam:
"It felt really good. Came a long way, been working and stuff, but it felt really good for it to be a grand slam."
On being frustrated after opening weekend:
"I was frustrated before, but I had my teammates and my coaches tell me to relax and stay myself, and let the work ethic make the results happen."
Â
Daniels' grand slam was part of a six-run third inning for the Vols that proved to be the difference in the game.
Fellow freshman Wyatt Stapp had another solid day at the plate as well, reaching base three times as well as driving in two runs with a single in UT's big third inning. Andre Lipcius and Pete Derkay also drove in runs for the Big Orange in the win.
Freshman right hander Sean Hunley made his first-career start and retired the side in order in the top of the first. The Mount Juliet, Tenn., native went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out two before giving way to freshman lefty Garrett Crochet, who earned his first-career win after striking out three in 3.2 innings of work.
The Vols jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back walks by Jay Charleston and Justin Ammons put two runners on for Derkay, who delivered with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to open the scoring. Lipcius drove in Ammons one batter later with an RBI groundout.
The Bisons answered with a run of their own in the top of the second when Josh Martinez hit an opposite field, solo home run to left to cut the deficit to one. Lipscomb added another run in the third to tie the game at two after a Tennessee error prolonged the inning.
A six-run outburst from the Vols in the bottom of the third blew the game open. Stapp drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single before Daniels hammered a 2-0 pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam to make it 8-2. All six runs in the inning came with two outs.
The grand slam was Daniels' first-career hit and the second in as many games for UT after Lipcius hit one in the second inning of Sunday's 13-6 win over Maryland. Daniels is the first Tennessee freshman to hit a grand slam since Nick Senzel hit one against UNLV on Feb. 21, 2014.
Lipscomb junior Zeke Dodson led the Bisons' attack with a pair of hits and three RBIs. He hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth and drove in another run with a two-out double to right field in the seventh to cut the deficit to three.
Junior Daniel Vasquez came in to shut the door for UT, tossing two perfect innings to close out the game and earn the second save of his career.
Lipscomb starter Dayton Tripp had a rough outing and was the losing pitcher after giving up all eight of UT's runs in just 2.2 innings pitched.
Â
Notables
Daniels' Historic Slam
Zach Daniels went 0-for-10 over his first three collegiate games last week and started Tuesday's game with a strikeout in his first at-bat. However, the freshman broke out of his slump in a big way with a monster grand slam in the third inning of Tuesday's win. Daniels is the first freshman to hit a grand slam since former All-American Nick Senzel hit one against UNLV on Feb. 21, 2014.
We're Going Back to Back
Tennessee has hit grand slams in consecutive games after Andre Lipcius hit one in Sunday's series finale against Maryland and Daniels blasted one in this afternoon's win over the Bisons. The Vols have already surpassed their grand slam total from last season when the only hit one. Â
Next Up
Tennessee continues its nine-game homestand to begin the season as UNC Greensboro comes to town for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network + (WatchESPN).
Quotables
Tennessee Head Coach Tony Vitello
On his message to the guys during the post-game talk:
"The first thing is, I do not know what kind of trademark I will leave on this place, but I do not want it to be one where we do not know where to go when the baseball is in play, and I think everybody in the stands saw the ball going to right field, and us not having guys in the right position, and that is the fundamental part.
"The second part is just playing baseball and finding a way to get an out. We had an out that they handed us because of bad base running or whatever it might have been, and we did not execute. That was part of it, but also just emphasizing some things we have been talking about. There is a lot of little things that winning programs do. I have seen it from the head coaches I have worked for. I have also seen it from teams beating teams that I have been a part of, and we got to implement those things, and the faster we do, the better off we will be, but there is a lot of them. So a little bit of progress each day is our goal."
On putting up big numbers offensively, and the expectations of the lineup going forward:
"I think we are capable. You saw early on that the wind was really blowing out to left. I think if (Justin) Ammons' ball, as well as their center fielder's ball was hit earlier in the day, those were home runs. The park was playing live, we want our hitters to be aggressive, and I think we got a chance one through nine hitters to do some damage. I mean our nine-hole hitter today hit a grand slam, and I do not think we have a guy like (Nick) Dunn, like Maryland as, that you got to be like 'holy cow no way we let this guy beat us', but I do think we have strength and quantity of some guys that can get you a little bit. I think Brandon Trammell is one of those guys, and I think he is healthy enough to make his debut this weekend. Either way we just want to come to the park and be aggressive and the numbers show some good things for us."
Freshman LHP Garrett Crochet
On his performance early on this season:
"I think I have done a pretty good job. My mindset is to kind of just let my defense work behind me and make good pitches when I need too, and be competitive."
On how it felt to get the win:
"It felt pretty good to get my first college win. I mean I got nothing more to ask for then my defense to play behind me and make some plays."
Freshman OF Zach Daniels
On his first college hit being a grand slam:
"It felt really good. Came a long way, been working and stuff, but it felt really good for it to be a grand slam."
On being frustrated after opening weekend:
"I was frustrated before, but I had my teammates and my coaches tell me to relax and stay myself, and let the work ethic make the results happen."
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Crochet, Garrett (1-0)
L: TRIPP, Dayton (0-1)
S: Vasquez, Daniel (1)
Batting:
2B: DODSON, Zeke 1 ; SYMONETTE, Tevin 1
3B: MARTINEZ, Josh 1
HR: DODSON, Zeke 1 ; MARTINEZ, Josh 1
RBI: DODSON, Zeke 3 ; MARTINEZ, Josh 1 ; SYMONETTE, Tevin 1
SH: SOLOMON, Lee 1 ; THOMAS, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SORRELLS, Cade 1 ; DODSON, Zeke 1 ; MARTINEZ, Josh 2 ; HOOKER, Allan 1
HBP: BASHLOR, Chris 1
PO: SYMONETTE, Tevin 1
Batting:
2B: Lipcius, Andre 1
HR: Daniels, Zach 1
RBI: Derkay, Pete 1 ; Lipcius, Andre 1 ; Stapp, Wyatt 2 ; Daniels, Zach 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Charleston, Jay 1 ; Ammons, Justin 1 ; Lipcius, Andre 1 ; Santiago, Benito 1 ; Mascia, Nico 1 ; Stapp, Wyatt 1 ; Chinea, Brandon 1 ; Daniels, Zach 1
SB: Charleston, Jay 2 ; Ammons, Justin 1
HBP: Chinea, Brandon 1
PO: Daniels, Zach 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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OF
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RHP
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INF/RHP
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RHP
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