University of Tennessee Athletics
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Tennessee Clinches Series Win with 13-6 Victory
March 07, 2009 | Baseball
March 7, 2009
Tennessee clinched its first series win of the season with a 13-6 victory over Ohio University at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in the second game of doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Volunteers pounded out 19 hits, including four home runs, to improve their record to 5-5 on the season.
First baseman Cody Hawn and catcher Blake Forsythe both hit one home run while freshman designate hitter Charley Thurber hit two. Hawn's home run was his fifth of the season and fourth in two days, while Thurber's were his first and second of the season.
Forsythe, a sophomore from Memphis, Tenn., has now homered six times in 10 games after not hitting a home run during his entire freshman season.
Tennessee sophomore Bryan Morgado earned his first victory of the season after pitching four innings in relief of starter Steven Gruver. Morgado, in his first relief appearance of the season, allowed four runs on four hits while walking four and striking out seven.
In his first start, Gruver allowed two unearned runs on three hits through four innings. The Ohio native also struck out five batters and did not issue a walk. Gruver has appeared three previous times this season, all in relief.
The Volunteers got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. Right fielder Josh Liles led off the inning with a single to center field which second basemen Cody Brown followed by getting hit with a pitch. Forsythe then collected his 13th RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Liles. Hawn then continued his hot hitting, driving in Brown with a double to left-center field.
Ohio tied the game at 2-2 with two unearned runs in the top of the second. With two outs in the inning, catcher Kris McDonough was hit by a pitch. First basemen Jerod Yakubik followed that up with a base hit, but a two-base error on the play allowed McDonough to score and Yakubik to wind up on third. The junior then scored on a wild pitch.
Tennessee took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Hawn drove in his seven run of the weekend. The sophomore doubled to deep-center field to send home Forsythe who reached on a single.
UT added another run in the fourth inning to make the score 4-2 when Liles' fly ball to center field drove in second baseman Cody Grisham who tripled to right-center field.
The Volunteers broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning, taking an 8-2 lead. All four runs were scored with two outs. Hawn hit a solo home run to left field to get the scoring started. Then back-to-back doubles by left fielder P.J. Polk and shortstop Zach Osborne sent one more run to the plate. Designated hitter Charley Thurber then hit a two-run home run, his first, over the wall in center field.
In the sixth inning, Tennessee scored four more runs on one swing of the bat when Forsythe hit a grand slam over the wall in left field. Liles, Hornsby and Davis all scored on the play after reaching on three straight singles.
Ohio tallied four runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the Vols' lead to 12-6. Center fielder Adam Geceiwch hit a two-run double down the left field line which left fielder Matt Krauss followed with a two-run home run to left-center field.
The Vols added a final run when Thurber led off the seventh inning with his second home run of the game.
Right-handed pitcher Steve Crnkovich pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game.
Ohio starting pitcher Zach Fairbanks took the loss after he pitched three innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He also struck out one. Kevin Mementowski and Joe Stover pitched the final six innings out of the Ohio bullpen.
First pitch for Sunday's game is 2 p.m. The pitching matchup is undetermined.
Fans are advised that due to a home men's basketball game on Sunday, many of the parking lots near Lindsey Nelson Stadium will reserved for those who hold basketball parking permits.
Also on Sunday, all fans who show their ticket to the men's basketball game against Alabama (noon tipoff) will receive free admission to the baseball series finale against the Bobcats. All children age 17 and under also will receive free admission to Sunday's baseball game and can run the bases after the game as well as get autographs from Tennessee players and coaches.
