University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
18-13, 4-6
#1 Florida
27-5, 8-2
Vols Can't Slow Down Top-Ranked Gators in Series Opener
April 07, 2018 | Baseball
After falling behind 5-0 in the second inning, the Vols scored three unanswered runs to cut the deficit to two before a fatal seven-run fifth inning by the Gators blew the game open.
Jay Charleston and Brodie Leftridge each had two RBI to lead the Tennessee attack. Senior catcher Benito Santiago also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs and a solo home run, his fourth of the season. Nico Mascia doubled and scored a run as well. The redshirt sophomore has six hits and six runs in his last 11 at bats.
UT starter Garrett Crochet finished with seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work but was tagged for 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits and fell to 2-4 on the year.
Gators' starter Brady Singer earned the win to improve to 7-1 on the year. The junior right hander gave up three runs on four hits in five innings of work while striking out seven.
After going down in order to start the game, Florida's potent lineup used a pair of home runs to put up a five spot in the second inning. The first was a three-run homer off the bat of Nick Horvath to make it 3-0. A couple of batters later, Deacon Liput hit a line-drive shot to right center to make it 5-0.
Tennessee broke up Singer's shutout in the third with an RBI fielder's choice by Charleston that cut the deficit to 5-1. Mascia got things going with a double to straightaway center field before Justin Ammons singled to left to put runners on the corners with one out for Charleston.
The Vols cut into the Gators' lead once again by scoring two more runs in the fourth. Santiago singled and Evan Russell was hit by a pitch to put two on for Leftridge, who brought both runners home with a two-out double to the corner in right field to make it a two-run game.
Florida quickly erased UT's momentum by scoring seven runs in the top of the fifth to take a 12-3 lead. The Gators had four hits and were aided by four Tennessee errors in the inning.
Horvath had the best day for UF at the plate with two runs, four hits and four RBI. Florida's 6-7-8 hitters did the majority of the damage, combining to drive in eight runs for the game.
Next Up
The Vols and Gators wrap up their series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader starting at noon. Both games will be shortened seven-inning contests. The first game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network while the second will be streamed on SEC Network+ (WatchESPN). Tennessee head football coach Jeremy Pruitt will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the noon game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brady Singer (7-1)
L: Crochet, Garrett (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Shane Shifflett 1 ; JJ Schwarz 1 ; Keenan Bell 1
HR: Deacon Liput 1 ; Jonathan India 1 ; Nick Horvath 1
RBI: Deacon Liput 3 ; Nelson Maldonado 1 ; Shane Shifflett 3 ; Jonathan India 2 ; JJ Schwarz 2 ; Austin Langworthy 2 ; Nick Horvath 4 ; Blake Reese 2 ; Keenan Bell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Deacon Liput 3 ; Nelson Maldonado 1 ; Jonathan India 2 ; Wil Dalton 1 ; Andrew Baker 1 ; JJ Schwarz 3 ; Austin Langworthy 3 ; Nick Horvath 2 ; Blake Reese 3 ; Brady Smith 1 ; Keenan Bell 2
SB: Deacon Liput 1 ; JJ Schwarz 1 ; Austin Langworthy 1
Batting:
2B: Leftridge, Brodie 1 ; Mascia, Nico 1
HR: Santiago, Benito 1
RBI: Ammons, Justin 1 ; Charleston, Jay 2 ; Santiago, Benito 1 ; Leftridge, Brodie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Santiago, Benito 2 ; Russell, Evan 1 ; Lipcius, Luc 1 ; Leftridge, Brodie 1 ; Mascia, Nico 1
HBP: Russell, Evan 1
