University of Tennessee Athletics
Davis, Gomes lead Vols to 7-3 win
March 16, 2008 | Baseball
Box Score
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ??? Bryan Morgado recorded eight strikeouts during a seven-inning, complete-game win Sunday as the Tennessee baseball team defeated LSU 7-3 in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Volunteers (11-4, 2-0 SEC) scored five two-out runs while running their season-best win streak to seven games.
Morgado improved to 3-1 on the year by allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. The Miami, Fla., native???s season strikeout total now stands at 39, and he owns a 1.29 ERA through 28 full innings.
Centerfielder Kentrail Davis and catcher Yan Gomes each drove in three runs for the Vols. Davis also scored three runs and is now batting .465 this season.
LSU second baseman Ryan Schimpf drew a base on balls from Morgado to lead off the top of the first inning, and a subsequent throwing error by Morgado moved Schimpf all the way to third base. Two batters later, Tigers left fielder Blake Dean plated Schimpf with an RBI sacrifice fly to put LSU on top 1-0.
The Vols answered with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first. Gomes provided the big hit, belting a two-run double to the gap in left-center to score Davis and third baseman Cody Brown. It was Gomes??? fifth two-bagger of the season.
Tigers first baseman Matt Clark tied things up in the second with a solo home run. It was the first homer allowed by Morgado on the year and LSU???s first hit of the day.
Just as it had done in Friday???s series-opening win, Tennessee jumpstarted a big inning with a two-out rally Sunday. In the bottom of the secondwith UT designated hitter Jarred Frazier occupying third baseVols second baseman Andy Simunic reached base on a two-out infield error. Davis then crushed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right-center for his second homer of the year. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Week???s three-run bomb gave Tennessee a 5-2 lead.
LSU third baseman Michael Hollander doubled before scoring on an RBI single by Derek Helenihi in the third, cutting UT???s lead down to two runs.
Tigers starting pitcher Ryan Verdugo left the game after surrendering a one-out basehit in the bottom of the third, with right-hander Jordan Brown taking the mound in relief. In 2 2/3 innings, Verdugo gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts. He took the loss to fall to 3-1 on the year.
Tennessee right fielder Shawn Griffin provided another two-out RBI in the fifth, plating left fielder P.J. Polk with a basehit through the left side of the Tigers infield to make the score 6-3 in favor of the Vols.
Gomes delivered a final insurance run for UT in the sixth when he ripped an RBI single that ricocheted off Jordan Brown???s glove. Davis sprinted home all the way from second base on the play for Tennessee???s fifth two-out run of the game.
The second game of Sunday???s doubleheader also is set for seven innings.
