University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Kentucky
Christensen Perfect As Vols Blast Kentucky, 12-3
March 26, 2000 | Baseball
Knoxville, Tenn. (March 26) -- Jeff Christensen went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI as the Tennessee Volunteers (24-8, 4-4 SEC) avoided a three-game sweep as they defeated the Kentucky Wildcats (21-5, 3-5 SEC), 12-3, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Joe Bertolino (3-1) picked up the win for the Vols as he worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. Brandon Crowe picked up his second save as he finished the game in fine fashion by tossing 3 1/3 no-hit innings, striking out two.
Wildcat starter Rob Corrado (2-1) took the loss as he was one of five pitchers used on the day. Third baseman Vince Harrison led the Wildcats with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
With two outs and a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning, the Volunteers took advantage of two Wildcat errors, while getting four hits in plating four runs to take a 9-3 lead.
Ryan Moffett started the frame with a double down the left field line and was driven home two batters later on Kris Bennett's single to right. Following a groundout by Chris Burke, Stevie Daniel singled home Bennett and advanced to second on a error by center fielder Beau Moore. Daniel promptly stole third and scored on wild pitch by Breck Price on the same play for UT's third run of the inning. Christensen then singled to left, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error by John Wilson, giving Tennessee its 9-3 lead. The Volunteers added three more in the seventh on Ryan Case's two-run double with the bases loaded and a wild pitch that plated Moffett who reached on a bunt single and moved to third on the double.
Tennessee began the game by scoring single runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back one-out doubles by Daniel and Christensen in the first inning gave the Vols a 1-0 lead. Sacrifice flies by Kris Bennett in the second and Brandon Hopkins in the third gave the Vols a 3-0 lead.
Wilson and Harrison opened the fourth with back-to-back singles and later scored on groundouts as Kentucky pulled to within 3-2.
Massey second double and Hopkins' second sacrifice fly gave Tennessee a 5-2 lead after five innings.
The Volunteers will travel to Johnson City, Tenn., to face East Tennessee State, Tuesday at 7 p.m. They return home to play host to Tennessee Tech, Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Kentucky 000 201 000 - 3 7 4Tennessee 111 024 30x -12 17 0
Corrado, Paxton (4), Price (6), Hooker (7), Wilson (7) and Wolfe, Wilson (6). Bertolino, Crowe (6) and Massey. W-Bertolino (3-1). L-Corrado (2-1). T-2:42. Att-1348.
