Vols Edge #7 Gators in Extras, 7-6

Friday, April 7

Gainesville, FL

5:00 PM

University of Tennessee

16-11, 2-8

Florida

20-10, 5-5

Tennessee

Florida

April 07, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

April 7, 2017

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A bases-loaded sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Will Heflin in the 10th inning lifted Tennessee past No. 7-ranked Florida on Friday night, 7-6, as the Vols held off the Gators to claim the series opener at McKethan Stadium.

With the win, the Volunteers move to 16-11 (2-8 SEC) on the season while the Gators are now 20-10 (5-5 SEC) in 2017.

UT's offense scattered 13 hits against the Gators, led by Andre Lipcius (3-for-5, 2 R, RBI). Reggie Southall (2-for-3, RBI), Pete Derkay (2-for-4, RBI) and Jordan Rodgers (2-for-5, 2 R) also recorded multi-hit games to help propel UT past Florida.

On the mound, senior Hunter Martin threw a career-long 7.1 innings vs. the Gators, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits for the no-decision.

After a scoreless first inning, back-to-back walks and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for the Gators in the second as UF went on to take an early 1-0 lead.

Tennessee answered in the fourth with three runs on five hits, kickstarted by a leadoff triple from Rodgers. A stretch of four consecutive base hits helped UT move to their first lead of the night at 3-1.

The Gators tied things up in the bottom of the fourth, but UT fought back to gain another edge. Rodgers led off with a single, stolen second and scored his second run of the night on an RBI double by Lipcius.

Trading scores through the middle innings, Tennessee pulled ahead to a 6-4 lead in the sixth with help from a Southall double and RBI-triple from Brodie Leftridge.

Florida continued to chip away at the deficit until a solo home run from Gators' left fielder Ryan Larson tied things up at 6-6 in the eighth.

Gridlocked entering the 10th, Tennessee then loaded the bases for pinch hitter Heflin, who lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Lipcius and give UT its ultimate one-run advantage, 7-6.

Zach Linginfelter entered the game in the eighth, his first relief appearance since March 18 vs. South Carolina, and went 1.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts for the win.

Senior Jon Lipinski finished the game for UT, shutting down the Gators in the 10th to earn his second save of the year.

TENNESSEE QUICK HITS

With the win, Tennessee moves to 85-149 all-time vs. Florida, including a 38-81 mark in games played in Gainesville, Fla.
Tennessee is now 2-1 in their three extra-innings contests this season.
MILESTONE MARTIN: This season, senior Hunter Martin has re-established career highs in innings pitched (7.1 at UF) and strikeouts (9 vs. Seton Hall).
FREE PASS LIST: Entering the weekend series vs. Florida, freshman Pete Derkay ranked third in the SEC for most walks this season. His total now stands at 25 walks through UT's 27 games.
RODGER(S) THAT: With a triple to begin the fourth inning on Friday night vs. Florida, Jordan Rodgers has now reached base in each of his 26 games started this season.
On Deck for the Vols: Tennessee's weekend in Gainesville continues with Game Two on Saturday, April 8 at 6 p.m. ET, with live game coverage on SEC Network television. Freshman Garrett Stallings (2-0, 3.03) faces off against Gators right-hander Brady Singer (4-1, 1.47).
Friday's attendance at McKethan Stadium: 3,894