Blake Burke retakes career home run record for Tennessee
On a Tuesday midweek contest where Christian Moore got the night off, Blake Burke took advantage by blasting career home run No. 43. The blast retook the Tennessee program record as Burke and Moore entered the day tied at 42 career home runs.
The latest record-breaking home run came in the bottom of the second when Tennessee plated seven runs off four hits where three of them left the ballpark. The biggest blast of the inning was Burke’s grand slam to right-center that travelled 406 feet and was 113 miles per hour off the bat. It was the 13th home run of the season for Burke, which ties outfielder Dylan Dreiling for second on the team. They both trail Moore, who has 15 on the season.
A #BurkeBlast of the grandest variety!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) April 16, 2024
📺https://t.co/GcMMQMdzTu (SECN+)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatBellarmine pic.twitter.com/lnrD6WrkaW
The grand slam was also the 10th of the season for Tennessee, which extends a program record. Earlier in the ballgame, Burke extended his hit-streak to 27 games, which tied former Vol Condredge Hollaway for the longest in program history. Burke’s on-base streak also extended in the game to 35 games.
Moore’s record-tying home run on Sunday against LSU came in the bottom of the seventh and was a three-run shot to the porches in left field. The blast sailed 384 feet and was 99 miles per hour off the bat in exit velocity.
Blake Burke’s 40th career home run – that previously broke the all-time program record – came in the bottom of the third inning in solo fashion on Saturday, March 30 against Georgia. It was 117 miles per hour off the bat and travelled 411 feet. Burke homered twice since then, including once on Sunday prior to Moore’s two home runs.
Burke once again sits at the top of the all-time Tennessee home run marker at 43 while Christian Moore is one back at 42. Luc Lipsius is in third place at 40 and Evan Russell four back at 39. VFL and now Major League Baseball Hall of Famer – Todd Helton – finished with 38 career home runs and comes in fourth all-time.
The Brentwood, Calif. native, Burke belted 14 home runs in 2022 as a true freshman. He accomplished the feat in his first collegiate season in only 95 at-bats as a part-time player. As a sophomore in 2023, Burke launched 16 home runs and now sits at 10 home runs thus far into the 2024 campaign.
He has been named a Perfect Game Freshman All-American (2022), Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American (2022) and to the SEC All-Freshman Team (2022). The first baseman was also named a Preseason All-American (2nd Team) by Baseball America ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Moore has played with USA Baseball (2023 summer) and was a four-time preseason All-American entering the 2024 campaign. He was recently named to the Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
