Vols Take Down Top-Ranked Gators in Second Game of Sunday Doubleheader

Sunday, April 8

Knoxville

12 P.M. ET

University of Tennessee

18-14, 4-7

#1 Florida

28-5, 9-2

Florida

Tennessee

Photo by: John Golliher/Tennessee Athletics

Vols Take Down Top-Ranked Gators in Second Game of Sunday Doubleheader

April 08, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights Postgame Media Photo Gallery PDF Box Score (Game 1)PDF Box Score (Game 2)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee split Sunday's doubleheader against No. 1 Florida at Lindsey Nelson Stadium to improve to 19-14 (5-7 SEC) on the year. Recaps for both games can be found below.

Game 1: No. 1 Florida 6, Tennessee 4 (11 Inn.)
Tennessee couldn't hold on to a one-run lead in the seventh and went on to drop a heartbreaker in 11 innings to the top-ranked Florida Gators in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The game was originally scheduled to be just seven innings but wound up going 11 before the Gators were able to secure the series win.

The Vols were one out away from winning the game before Wil Dalton doubled in two runs in the top of the seventh to put Florida ahead for the first time, 4-3. UT was able to bounce back in the bottom of the seventh to score a run on star Gators' closer Michael Byrne to send the game to extras.

Freshman reliever Jordan Butler threw three scoreless innings of relief of Byrne to pick up the win for UF while Zach Linginfelter was stuck with the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings of relief.

Justin Ammons led the Big Orange at the plate, tying a career high with four hits while also driving in a pair of runs, including the game-tying run in the seventh.

After getting out of a jam in the top of the first, UT jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Ammons. The Vols doubled their lead in the second on another RBI single, this time off the bat of Pete Derkay with two outs.

Another clutch, two-out hit put Tennessee ahead 3-0 in the fourth as Jay Charleston singled to center field to drive in Nico Mascia.

An RBI fielder's choice by Deacon Liput and a double by Jonathan India cut the Tennessee lead to one in the top of the fifth. However, Vols' starter Garrett Stallings was able to strike out Dalton for the third time to strand the tying run on second and preserve the lead.

With the Gators down to their final out and two runners on base, Dalton doubled over the head of Ammons in right field to score both runners and give UF its first lead of the afternoon at 4-3.

Despite giving up the lead, the Vols battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI single by Ammons to score Brandon Chinea from second base. Chinea led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a fly ball to right field before scoring on Ammons' clutch hit to tie the game at four.

The Vols had two chances to win the game in extras with the winning run reaching third base in the eighth and the ninth, but were unable to capitalize.

After three scoreless innings in extras, it was Florida who was able to break through with a pair of runs in the top of the 11^th. A sacrifice fly by JJ Schwarz proved to be the game-winning run and the Gators added another insurance run after an error by UT.

Chinea was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 11^th but Butler was able to retire the next three batters to close out the game and earn his third win of the season.

Game 2: Tennessee 6, No. 1 Florida 4 (7 Inn.)
Tennessee exploded for six runs in the third inning and held on for a 6-4 victory over No. 1 Florida in the series finale between the two teams at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Sunday evening.

With the win, the Vols snapped a five-game conference losing streak and posted their first win over a top-ranked team since defeating the Gators 5-2 at home on May 7, 2016.

Pete Derkay got the big hit for the Vols with a bases-clearing three-run double to put UT ahead 3-1. The Big Orange went on to score three more times in the inning – all with two outs – to take a 6-1 lead.

Junior starting pitcher Will Neely threw his third complete game of the season to improve to 4-1 on the year.

Neely put forth another solid outing on the mound despite giving up four runs on 10 hits. The right hander walked just one batter and struck out five. The Knoxville native gave up just three hits and did not allow a run in innings two through five after surrendering a leadoff home run in the first.

Florida starter Tyler Dyson struggled with his command, walking five batters and hitting two others in just 2.2 innings of work. Dyson was charged with all six runs and fell to 4-2 on the season.

Deacon Liput immediately gave the Gators a 1-0 advantage with a leadoff home run in the top of the first, lining a 2-2 pitch into the UT bullpen in right field.

After two scoreless trips to the plate for the Vols, the offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead. All six runs in the inning came with two outs.

Derkay cleared the bases with a double to right center before coming around to score on a passed ball. Jay Charleston brought in two more runs with a single through the left side to score Brodie Leftridge and Brandon Chinea.

Florida fought back to score two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to cut the UT lead to two, but Neely was able to get Blake Reese to ground out to third base to end the game and give the Vols their second win over a top 10 team this season.

Notables
Taking Down the Top Dog
Tennessee recorded its first win over a top-ranked team since 2016 with its win over the Gators in the second half of Sunday's doubleheader. That previous win also came against Florida, as the Vols earned a 5-2 victory at home on May 7, 2016.

Another Complete Game for UT Pitching Staff
For the sixth time this season, UT's starting pitcher threw a complete game as junior righty Will Neely went the distance in the 6-4 win over UF. Neely has now thrown three complete games this season, which equals the total for the rest of the SEC combined. Tennessee's six complete games this season are its most since also throwing six back in 2013.

Ammons Ties Career High in Hits
Sophomore Justin Ammons tied a career high with four hits in game one of Sunday's doubleheader. Ammons also drove in a pair of runs, including the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

Next Up
The Vols close out a six-game homestand with a pair of games against UT Martin on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch for Tuesday's game will be at 6:30 p.m. while Wednesday's game will begin at 4 p.m. and be broadcast on the SEC Network.