Vols Drop Finale of Tri-Star Classic to Middle Tennessee in Extras

Sunday, March 4

Knoxville

4 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

7-5

Middle Tennessee

6-5

Middle Tennessee

Tennessee

Photo by: Alison P. McNabb\Tennessee Athletics

Vols Drop Finale of Tri-Star Classic to Middle Tennessee in Extras

March 04, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score PDF Box Score Postgame Quotes Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee fought back from a four-run deficit but was unable to deliver the knockout blow in the final game of the Tri-Star Classic, falling to Middle Tennessee 7-5 in 12 innings on Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Andre Lipcius went 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI to lead the Vols offensively while Benito Santiago and Brandon Trammell also recorded multi-hit games.

Blake Benefield hit two big home runs for Middle Tennessee, including the game-winner in the top of the 12^th inning, to lead the Blue Raiders' attack.

UT found themselves in an early hole after Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Drew Huff singled to left to open the scoring before LA Woodard drew a bases-loaded walk and Kevin Sullivan drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. Aaron Antonini hit a solo homer to right-center field in the fourth to add to Middle Tennessee's lead.

After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the fifth, the Vols cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the inning when Brodie Leftridge brought in two runs with a bases-loaded single to left field to make it 4-2.

Tennessee evened things up at four with two more runs in the sixth inning after RBI singles from Lipcius and Trammell, but the Blue Raiders regained their lead on Benefield's first home run of the game, a solo shot in the top of the eighth.

The Vols battled back to tie the game again in the bottom of the eighth. Lipcius led off the inning with a double to left center and Santiago followed with a double of his own to nearly the same spot to drive in Lipcius.

The Vols had a chance to walk off with a win in the ninth after getting runners on first and second, but Huff was able to retire Lipcius and Santiago to get out of the jam and send the game to extra innings.

After two scoreless frames in extras, the Blue Raiders took a 7-5 lead in the 12^th on Benefield's second homer of the game, a two-run shot off the video board in right center. That proved to be the game winner as UT was unable to mount another rally in the bottom of the inning.

Notables
Lipcius' Bat Stays Hot
Andre Lipcius had another strong day at the plate for UT, going 3-for-6 with a pair of runs and an RBI. For the week, the sophomore from Williamsburg, Va., batted .450 and led the team in hits (nine), runs (seven), home runs (two), doubles (two), RBI (seven) and slugging percentage (.850).

Next Up
The Vols will wrap up their 14-game homestand with a pair of midweek games against James Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both games are slated to start at 3:30 p.m. and will be streamed live on SEC Network + (WatchESPN) with a live audio broadcast also available on UTSports.com.