Hunley Throws Complete-Game Shutout to Lead Vols to Fourth Straight Win

Wednesday, March 14

Knoxville

4 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

12-6

Western Carolina

1-15

Western Carolina

Tennessee

Photo by: Alison P. McNabb\Tennessee Athletics

Hunley Throws Complete-Game Shutout to Lead Vols to Fourth Straight Win

March 14, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Postgame Media Photo Gallery PDF Box Score Postgame Quotes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A dominant performance by Tennessee freshman pitcher Sean Hunley led the Volunteers to their fourth straight win as they shut out Western Carolina 5-0 on Wednesday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Mount Juliet, Tenn., native became the first UT true freshman pitcher to throw a complete game since Josh Lindblom went the distance for the Vols against Georgia on April 22, 2006 in a 3-0 loss.

Hunley scattered seven hits, struck out three and did not walk anyone en route to throwing the first complete-game shutout by a Tennessee pitcher since Zack Godley in 2013. The freshman right-hander has now thrown 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings for the Big Orange dating back to his start against Arkansas Pine Bluff on Feb. 28 and has won his last three starts.

Benito Santiago led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. The senior catcher is off to a scorching start to the season and leads the team with 26 hits and a .394 batting average.

Brodie Leftridge, Justin Ammons, Zach Daniels and Brandon Chinea also drove in runs for the Vols while Andre Lipcius had a pair of hits and scored two runs.

The Big Orange scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Santiago drove in the first run of the game with a single back up the middle. Ammons drew a bases-loaded walk and Leftridge hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the other two runs.

After four scoreless innings, the Vols added to their lead with a run in the sixth on an RBI infield single by Chinea and scored their final run of the game on an RBI groundout by Daniels in the seventh.

Western Carolina starter Caleb Bishop was stuck with the loss after allowing three runs and walking four batters in three innings pitched. Spencer Holcomb went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Catamounts.

Notables
Hunley Continues to Deal for Tennessee
True freshman Sean Hunley has been a pleasant surprise for the Vols this season. The Mount Juliet native is 3-0 with a team-leading 0.75 ERA after Wednesday's complete-game shutout performance. Hunley has now thrown 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings and is the first Tennessee true freshman to throw a complete game since Josh Lindblom in 2006.

Back-to-Back Complete Games by Vol Pitchers
With Hunley's complete game on Wednesday and Will Neely's complete game performance last Sunday at Cincinnati, UT has now thrown consecutive complete games for the first time since 2006 when Craig Cobb and James Adkins did it in back-to-back wins over Florida.

Next Up
UT travels to Oxford, Miss., this weekend to open SEC play against No. 8 Ole Miss. Friday's series opener between the Vols and Rebels is slated for an 8 p.m. ET first pitch and all three games of the series will be streamed live on SEC Network + (WatchESPN). Every game will also feature a radio broadcast on Sports Radio WNML and UTSports.com.

Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Tony Vitello

On Sean Hunley's 20.2 inning scoreless streak:
"It's massive, you put him out there and he gives you a sense of calm. That improves the quality of play and decision making of everyone. It certainly helps you when you can go into the weekend with a fresh bullpen."

On taking a four-game win streak into SEC play:
"It's the magic ingredient, winning. It makes everyone's breakfast taste better. The bus ride and our lift tomorrow will be better. It builds confidence for the younger players. It adds to the belief that these guys already have and are building on. "

Freshman RHP Sean Hunley

On what the team needs to keep their four-game win streak going:
"We've got to keep the bats hot, continue being aggressive at the plate and keep the same defense we've been playing with."

On his defense making big plays behind him:
"The play by Zach (Daniels) was a phenomenal play. Andre (Lipcius) made some great plays and that's huge for any pitcher. It makes the game go by a lot quicker."

Senior Catcher Benito Santiago

On catching every game this season and if he can keep that up:
"I was born to do that and I want the ball every play."

On being a senior and leading this team into SEC play:
"I tell them to stay focused and don't give into what other people are saying. The game doesn't change and that's one thing I let them know. It's roundball still, but with more fans. You're playing the game of baseball."