How it Happened: Vols prove too much for Radford in 22-9 sloppy midweek affair  

Tennessee wasn’t at its sharpest Tuesday night but still managed to pick up the 22-9, run-rule seven-inning win over Radford from Lindsey Nelson’s Stadium in midweek baseball on a walk-off grand slam by Blake Grimmer. 

The Vols (12-0) fell behind early 3-0 in the first and 4-2 in the second but took control of the ballgame in the third inning on a grand slam by Reese Chapman. The grand slam was the fifth of the season by the Vols and extended Chaman’s hit-streak to 12 games to begin the year.

The Highlanders (6-6) charged right back to tie the game in the three-run fifth inning before Hunter Ensley’s catch into the wall in right-center ended the frame in exciting fashion. Ensley came through at the plate in the bottom of the frame as well with an RBI double to put the Vols back in front for good. Andrew Fischer later homered for the second time in the ballgame for insurance as the long ball was also the second grand slam of the contest for the home team. Grimmer’s grand slam won it in walk-off fashion in the seventh.

The three grand slams in a games is a Tennessee program record.

Dylan Loy (2-0), who pitched in his third game in seven days on Tuesday, earned the victory on the mound after tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless relief while allowing. Noah Arnett (0-1) took home the loss after allowing two runs and the go-ahead Ensley single in the fifth.  

Up Next: Tennessee is back in action for another midweek contest on Wednesday evening from Lindsey Nelson Stadium with Xavier at 6 o’clock ET.

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Top 1: James Ward grounded into a bases loaded 5-4-3 double play. Radford 1-0
Top 1: Levi Clark fumbled a groundball off the bat of Tyler Kehoe. Runner scored from third. Radford 2-0
Top 1: Bradley Whitacre reaches on a throwing error by Dean Curley at short. Runner scored. Radford 3-0
Bot 1: Dean Curley a solo home run to centerfield. Radford 3-1
Bot 1: Andrew Fischer sent a solo home run to right-centerfield. Radford 3-2
Top 2: Hunter Keen bunted down the first base line. Out at first. Runner scored. Radford 4-2
Bot 3: Reese Chapaman logged a grand slam to right field. Vols 6-4
Bot 3: Dean Curley walked with the bases loaded. Vols 7-4
Bot 3: Gavin Kilen roped a two-run single. Vols 9-4
Top 4: Jhonkeanu Perez grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Run scored. Vols 9-5
Top 4: Hunter Keen RBI double down the right field line. Vols 9-6
Top 5: Brady Whitacre drives in a run on a groundout to short. Vols 9-7
Top 5: Noah Toole RBI single up the middle. Vols 9-8
Top 5: Corbin Grantham RBI single to left. Tied 9-9
Bot 5: Hunter Ensley RBI double to the wall in left. Vols 10-9
Bot 6: Stone Lawless doubled in a run to right field. Vols 11-9
Bot 7: Hunter Ensley walked with the bases loaded. Vols 12-9
Bot 7: Andrew Fischer hit a grand slam to right field. Vols 16-9
Bot 7: Stone Lawless tripled in a run to centerfield. Vols 17-9
Bot 7: Colby Backus walked with the bases loaded. Vols 18-9
Bot 7: Blake Grimmer hit a grand slam. Vols 22-9

Tennessee Baseball Weekly Schedule

Tuesday: No. 2 Tennessee vs. Radford | 6 PM ET | SEC Network+
Wednesday: No. 2 Tennessee vs. Xavier | 6 PM ET | SEC Network+
Friday: No. 2 Tennessee vs. St. Bonaventure | 6:30 PM ET | SEC Network+
Saturday: No. 2 Tennessee vs. St. Bonaventure | 6 PM ET | SEC Network+
Sunday: No. 2 Tennessee vs. St. Bonaventure | 1 PM ET | SEC Network+

Vols in the National Polls this Week

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