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How it Happened: Gavin Kilen leads Tennessee to 13-3 win over Rice in Houston

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•03/01/25•

_Cainer

Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen. Credit: UT Athletics
Tennessee second baseman Gavin Kilen. Credit: UT Athletics

HOUSTON – Tennessee dominated Rice in all phases of the contest Saturday afternoon to earn the 13-3 victory and secure a winning weekend at Daikin Park in the Astros Foundation College Classic.

Gavin Kilen homered twice for the Vols (10-0), just as he did in Friday’s win over Oklahoma State. Freshman Levi Clark also homered for the Vols while Marcus Phillips allowed just one run in his start, but was just one out shy of qualifying for the win on the mound. The right-hander was brilliant with eight strikeouts. Reese Chapman extended his hit-streak to 10 games in the win.

Brayden Sharp (1-0) earned the win for Tennessee after stranding a runner in scoring position to escape the fifth and preserve Phillips’ line. He stayed on for another scoreless frame in the fifth and had two strikeouts in the appearance. Blaine Brown (0-1) is charged with the loss for Rice (2-7) after walking four of the first five batters of the game and allowing three runs off no hits in the abbreviate start.   

Next Up: Tennessee baseball seeks an undefeated weekend in Houston with the Astros Foundation College Classic finale set to be played for the Vols on Sunday morning at 11:05 ET against Arizona.

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Top 1: Dean Curley scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Vols 1-0
Top 1: Reese Chapman reached on an error, run scored from third. Vols 2-0
Top 1: Manny Marin sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field. Vols 3-0
Bot 1: Austin Eppley scored on a bases loaded wild pitch (Phillips). Vols 3-1
Top 2: Hunter Ensley singled to right field, Gavin Kilen scored from second. Vols 4-1
Top 2: Levi Clark sent a three-run home run to right. Vols 7-1

Top 4: Gavin Kilen sent a solo home run to right field. Vols 8-1

Top 6: Gavin Kilen solo home run to centerfield. Vols 9-1

Bot 7: RBI groundout off the bat of Austin Eppley. Vols 9-2
Bot 7: Graiden West doubled in a run. Vols 9-3
Top 8: Gavin Kilen tripled in two runs. Vols 11-3
Top 8: Hunter Ensley singled in a run to right. Vols 12-3
Top 9: Stone Lawless doubled in Colby Backus from second. Vols 13-3

Tennessee’s Weekly Schedule

Tuesday: No. 3 Tennessee 7, North Alabama 5 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes | Vitello
Friday: No. 3 Tennessee 5, Oklahoma State 2 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes | Vitello
Saturday: No. 3 Tennessee 13, Rice 3 | Box Score
Sunday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Arizona | 11:05 ET | Houston

Vols in the Weekly Polls

USA Today – No. 1
NCBWA – No. 2
Baseball America – No. 2
D1 Baseball – No. 3
Perfect Game – No. 4

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