University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Belmont
Tennessee Baseball Tops Belmont, 4-1
February 25, 2015 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers used nine hits and took advantage of timely Belmont throwing errors en route to topping the Bruins, 4-1, on Wednesday evening at E.S. Rose Park. The win moves the Volunteers to 3-2 on the season.
Wednesday's contest at Belmont marked the first-ever matchup between the schools in Nashville, with each of the previous games having taken place in Knoxville, Tenn. With the victory, Tennessee now holds a 6-4 all-time record against the Bruins in their 10 games since 2000.
Righthander Hunter Martin made his first start of the season for the Vols, going 1.0 inning after earning the save in his first appearance of the year at Florida International on Feb. 14. Tennessee then put the relief corps to work against Belmont, calling in appearances from righthanders Kyle Serrano (1.0 IP), Steven Kane (2.0 IP), Peter Lenstrohm (2.0) and collegiate debuts by freshmen Zach Reid and Jacob Westphal (1.0 IP).
"We weren't as crisp as I would have liked, but that's expected when you've had so much time off between games," Head Coach Dave Serrano said. "I'm very proud that we won but we have a lot of work to do still. I just got done telling the team that I am excited for when we get some things fixed, seeing just how good this team has a chance to be."
Although the Vols had a slow start at the plate against the Bruins, rightfielder Chris Hall got things started for Tennessee in the fourth inning with a single to left field, marking his first career hit as a Volunteer. Derek Lance executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to put Hall on second, who later advanced to third on a wild pitch by Belmont's right-handed pitcher Tyler Vaughn. Second baseman Nick Senzel then drove a liner down the right field line for an RBI-triple, scoring Hall as the tying run to put the contest at 1-1.
In the next inning, designated hitter Andrew Plunkett took advantage of a free pass to first and multiple throwing errors by Belmont to come around and score the go-ahead run for Tennessee. Lance started the sixth frame with a single to right field. Left fielder Christin Stewart then drilled a double to left field, marking his second double of the season and moving Lance to third. Senzel and center fielder Vincent Jackson then put back-to-back hits into play, scoring Lance and giving the Vols a 3-1 lead entering the seventh inning stretch.
"If we can continue to scrap for some runs, like we did tonight, and continue pitching like we have been, we have a chance to be a good team," Serrano said.
Left-handed pitcher Andy Cox was called upon in the eighth to hold Belmont and Andrew Lee extended the Vols lead on offense, reaching base and coming around to score from the designated hitter spot in the ninth. Lee then entered the game as the Vols' closer and earned the save, retiring the side on three straight strikeouts.
"Andy [Cox] and I talk all the time about setting the table for each other," Lee said. "We love going back-to-back like that. For him to set the table and basically give me an easy ninth to work through, it was great."
The Volunteers prepare to travel to California on Thursday, taking on UC Irvine for a three-game weekend series (Feb. 27-March 1). Tennessee then returns home to face MTSU on Tuesday, March 3, and Morehead State on Wednesday, March 4.
Stay tuned for more information coming soon to UTSports.com.
