University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Alabama
Vols Overcome Deficit To Defeat Alabama 12-7
April 09, 2000 | Baseball
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Tennessee used five hits with a sacrifice fly sandwiched in the middle as they overcame a 7-3 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning and post a 12-7 win over Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium to win the series two games to one.
Tennessee reeled off four straight hits to start the frame, including getting run scoring doubles from John Massey and Ryan Case before Jeff Baumtrog's sacrifice fly pulled UT to within 7-6. A base hit by Chris Burke plated Case with the tying run, and Justin Parker drew a bases loaded walk to score Burke with the go-ahead run at 8-7. Tennessee added a single run in the eighth and three in the ninth, keyed by Chris Burke's two-run single, for the final margin.
Tennessee improved to 30-11 overall and 6-7 in the SEC, while Alabama fell to 22-16 and 5-10 in the league.
Marlyn Tisdale (3-0) picked up the win 2/3 innings of relief and Jamie Bennett pitched three shutout innings for his first save. Lance Cormier (3-3) took the loss in relief as he allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits over the final three innings.
Crimson Tide starter Jeremy Vaughn, allowed three runs on three hits in the first inning, but shutout the Vols over the next five holding them to one hit and retiring 13 straight at one point. Tennessee starter Brian Gates left after 2 1/3 innings due to injury.
A Tide error and two RBIs from Kris Bennett and Stevie Daniel helped the Vols jump out a quick 3-0 lead in the top half of the first. The lead was short lived, however, as the Crimson Tide got one back in the bottom of the frame when Ben King singled home Brent Boyd with two out, and then tied the game in the second on Darren Wood's two-run single to right.
Rock Mills gave Alabama a 4-3 lead in the third on a sacrifice fly that plated Jeremy Brown who got hit by a pitch and reached third an fielding error by Case at first base. Two throwing errors by the catcher Massey on stolen base attempts allowed the Crimson Tide to extend their lead to 6-3 in the fourth.
Boyd drove in his third run of the game on his second home run of the series and eighth of the year with a blast to left in the sixth as Alabama extended its lead to 7-3.
Tennessee's next game will be at Tennessee Tech, Tuesday at 6 p.m. CDT.
Tennessee 300 000 513 - 12 14 4Alabama 121 201 000 - 7 9 1
Gates, Curtiss (3), Tisdale (6), Bennett (7) and Massey. Vaughn, Cormier (7) and Gulledge. W-Tisdale (3-0). L-Cormier. HR-UA-Boyd (8). T-2:48. Att-6152.
