Heflin & Santiago Lead Vols to Midweek Win Over ETSU

Tuesday, April 17

Johnson City

6:30 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

22-17

ETSU

18-15

Tennessee

ETSU

April 17, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Postgame Media PDF Box Score

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Tennessee got another strong performance on the mound from Will Heflin and three RBI from senior catcher Benito Santiago in Tuesday's 6-2 win over ETSU at Thomas Field in Johnson City.

Heflin, a sophomore from Morristown, Tenn., tossed a career-high six innings and allowed just four hits while holding the Buccaneers scoreless on the night to improve to 4-1 on the season.

Santiago was one of seven Vols to record a hit on the night and led the team with three RBI while finishing the game with two hits and a run scored as well. Justin Ammons also had a solid performance for UT, picking up two hits and scoring three runs to extend his on-base streak to 15 games.

Tennessee didn't waste any time getting on the board, plating a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Ammons doubled to left field and was driven in by Pete Derkay one batter later with a single back up the middle.

The Vols added to their lead with two more runs in the second inning to go ahead 3-0. Wyatt Stapp drove in a run with a single to left field before Brandon Trammell scored on a ground out to put UT up by three.

The Big Orange loaded the bases in the fourth and added another run to its lead with an RBI walk by Santiago to make it 4-0.

After the Bucs scored a run in the eighth to cut into the UT lead, Santiago came through again in the top of the ninth to put the Vols ahead by five. The senior found a hole on the right side of the infield with runners on second and third to drive in a pair of runs and make it 6-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

ETSU's Ben Jackson doubled in a run in the bottom of the ninth but Redmond Walsh was able to Aaron Maher to pop up to end the game.

The victory was the Vols' fifth straight in the midweek and improved their midweek record to 10-2 this season.

Notable
Heflin Sharp Again in Second-Career Start
Sophomore lefty Will Heflin made his second start in as many weeks and was solid once again. The Morristown, Tenn., native set a new career high with six innings pitched and did not allow a run while striking out five batters. In his two starts this season, Heflin has thrown 11.1 scoreless innings and has allowed just six hits.

Santiago Continues to Rake in Non-Conference Play
Benito Santiago continued his strong play in non-conference games with a two-hit, three-RBI performance on Tuesday night. The Florida native is now batting .407 with 35 hits and 23 RBI in non-conference play this season.

Next Up
Tennessee returns home to host No. 14 Texas A&M at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this weekend. Game one is Friday at 6:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed live online via SEC Network+ (WatchESPN) and feature a live radio broadcast as John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1 / AM 990) and UTSports.com.