University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Vols Rally To Defeat Commodores
May 19, 2002 | Baseball
May 19, 2002
Knoxville, Tenn. -- Nick Crowe's game-winning two-run triple with two out capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth as the Tennessee Volunteers came back to post a 10-9 season-ending victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The Vols jumped to a 4-0 lead after three innings, then fell behind 9-5 after seven innings before plating five runs in their last two at-bats to complete the rally.
Dennis Gomez, who went 3-for-3 with two walks in five plate appearances, led off the eighth with his sixth home run to pull Tennessee (27-28, 12-18 SEC) to within 9-6.
The Vols opened their half of the ninth with single by Ryan Moffett who advanced to third when Matt Sternberg reached on a throwing error. Sternberg took second when the ball reached the dugout. Hal Bibee Jr. then lined a single to center scoring both Moffett and Sternberg as the gap closed to 9-8.
Steven Faulkner who tossed five inning of relief for the Commodores (24-27, 7-21 SEC) was lifted after Bibee's hit and replaced by Chris Maultsby (0-4) who walked Gomez before retiring the next two hitters and giving up the hit to Crowe.
Jay Sadlowe (3-4) picked up the win in three innings of relief. Starter Joey Andrews allowed one earned run on five hits in 3 2/3 innings, while Beau Massey hurled 2 1/3 innings.
Tennessee jumped out a 4-0 lead after three innings, but saw it quickly evaporate as Vanderbilt plated five runs on five hits in the fourth in taking a 5-4 lead.
After a lead off home run by Jordan Czarniecki, who went 4-for-5, and a sacrifice fly in the first, the Vols plated single runs in the second and third on a fielders choice and a Bibee single, respectively.
Scott Shapiro then put Vanderbilt on the board in the fourth with his fifth home run, while an error led to four unearned runs, as Karl Nonemaker roped a RBI double to right and Chris Broadus added a two-run single.
After Brandon Hopkins' fifth home run leading off the fifth tied the game 5-5, the Commodores plated three more in the sixth in taking an 8-5 lead. Nonemaker doubled in a run, becoming Vanderbilt's all-time hits leader with 283, while Shapiro added a two-run single.
They added an unearned run in the seventh on the third Tennessee error in taking a 9-5 lead.
