Tennessee Secures Series Win with 7-5 Victory over Cincinnati

Saturday, March 10

Cincinnati, OH

1 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

10-6

Cincinnati

7-7

Tennessee

Cincinnati

Photo by: John Golliher/Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee Secures Series Win with 7-5 Victory over Cincinnati

March 10, 2018 | Baseball

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By: Rachel Gunia

CINCINNATI, Ohio. – Tennessee combined for seven runs on nine hits, including two game-tying RBI singles by Brodie Leftridge, to take game two, 7-5, against Cincinnati on Saturday. With the victory, the Volunteers improved to 10-6 overall and secured their second series win of the season.

Right-hander Garrett Stallings tossed 8.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out four to improve to 3-0 as Tennessee's Saturday starter. In the ninth inning, the Vols turned to righty Zach Linginfelter to close the game. The Sevierville, Tenn., native gave up one run on one hit and struck out two of his five batters faced to earn his first save of the season.

Trading two scoreless innings to start the game, Cincinnati broke through in the third and plated two runs on four hits and an error to take a 2-0 lead.

Tennessee answered in the next frame as senior catcher Benito Santiago hit a solo home run over the left field wall, trimming the Bearcats' advantage to 2-1. Second baseman Jay Charleston then singled to left field and advanced to second and third on wild pitches. After Pete Derkay reached on a walk, Leftridge hit an RBI single to left, scoring Charleston to tie the game at two.

One inning later, Cincinnati's Joey Thomas hit a solo homer to left to put the Bearcats' back on top, 3-2. It was the first of three Cincinnati home runs on the day.

The Vols answered in the sixth, plating three runs on three hits and an error to take a permanent lead. Santiago got the bats started for Tennessee, hitting his ninth double of the season. After Derkay drew another walk, Leftridge hit his second game-tying RBI single of the day to score Santiago. A wild pitch by Cincinnati's Cam Alldred then sent Derkay home and Leftridge to second, giving Tennessee a 4-3 edge. With two outs and runners on first and second, freshman Wyatt Stapp hit an RBI single to right, plating one run to further UT's lead, 5-3.

The Bearcats cut their deficit to one with a solo shot to right by Treg Haberkorn in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 5-4 ballgame.

In the ninth, Stapp led off the frame with a single to center field before Zach Daniels walked to put runners on first and second. A well-placed bunt by Justin Ammons combined with a throwing error by Cincinnati's catcher allowed Stapp to score from second. An RBI groundout back to the pitcher by Andre Lipcius one at-bat later provided the Vols with some more insurance and a 7-4 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Cincinnati plated the final run of the game off the bat of AJ Bumpass, who homered to right field in the ninth, but the Bearcats were unable to get any closer as Linginfelter struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Notables
Derkay & Santiago Extend On-Base Streaks
Pete Derkay and Benito Santiago both reached base safely in Saturday's game to extend their lengthy on-base streaks. Derkay has now reached base in all 16 games this season and 17 straight dating back to last year, while Santiago has reached in 15 consecutive games.

Leftridge Comes Up Big
Senior outfielder Brodie Leftridge came up clutch for the Vols again in Saturday's win, hitting game-tying RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings. On Friday, the Baltimore, Md., native knocked in the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 12th inning. Leftridge finished game two of the series with a pair of singles to record his third multi-hit game of the season.

Next Up
Tennessee goes for the series sweep in the final game of the weekend at Cincinnati. The contest begins Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on Bearcats TV.