How it Happened: Tennessee breaks record, Alabama A&M spirit with 23-1 beatdown in run-rule

For the second time in as many nights, Tennessee baseball handled Alabama A&M via the new run-rule, capping Wednesday’s play at Lindsey Nelson Stadium with the 23-1 score in favor of the Vols.

Tennessee (3-2) broke things wide open in the fifth inning, scoring a program-record 15 runs. Catcher Charlie Taylor, who totaled two hits in the frame, finished the outing a double shy of the cycle – but did launch a pair of long balls in the win.

In all, the Vols smashed their way to score 23 runs off 18 hits, taking advantage of six errors in the field by the Bulldogs. Aaron Combs picked up the win on the mound.

How did it exactly happen? Find out in the notes below.

Tennessee baseball will be back in action this Friday at 4:30 pm ET against Dayton

Scoring Summary

Bottom 1^st: Dylan Drieling struck out to begin the frame. Christian Moore walked behind him and then stole second three pitches later. Blake Burke popped out into shallow center field. Zane Denton roped an RBI single into center field, scoring Moore from second base. Jared Dickey struck out to end the inning.

1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB – Score: Tennessee 1-0

Bottom 2^nd: Griffin Merritt led off with a double to the gap in right-center field. Kyle Booker walked. Austen Jaslove laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up to second and third base. A balk issued by pitcher Brett Parker brought in Merritt from third base. An RBI single from Dylan Drieling plated Kyle Booker. Christian Moore walked. Blake Burke grounded into a force out for Drieling at second base.

2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB – Score: Tennessee 3-0

Bottom 3^rd: Zane Denton walked. Jared Dickey flew out to left-center field. Denton stole second base. Griffin Merritt singled to right and a throwing error allowed Denton to come around and score. Kyle Booker walked. The runners were safe on a double-steal of second and third, but a high throw to third allowed Merritt to score and Booker go to third. Austen Jaslove followed with an RBI groundout to second, that brought in Booker. Charlie Taylor tripled.

3 R, 2 H, 2 E, 1 LOB – Score: Tennessee 6-0

B3 | Charlie Three Bags!!!

After two runs score on an error and a RBI groundout, Charlie Taylor immediately creates another scoring chance with a triple to the base of the wall in left!

Vols 6, Alabama A&M 0#GBO // #OTH // #BeatAAMU pic.twitter.com/CZRnibH6ZW

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 22, 2023

Top 5^th: Miles Jackson tripled to straightaway center field to begin the inning. JJ Garcia then tallied back-to-back strikeouts of Christian Soto and Jalen Parker before Jalen Ford reached on an infield single, bringing in Jackson for the Bulldogs’ first run of the series.

1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB — Score: Tennessee 6-1

Bottom 5^th: Kyle Booker beats out an infield single. Austen Jaslove walked, putting two on with no outs. Charlie Taylor followed with a three-run home run to left-center field. Ryan Miller walked. Kavares Tears walked. Hunter Ensley grounded out to second while both runners moved up a base. Logan Chambers reached on a throwing error at short stop as the error allowed two runs to score. Reese Chapman followed with an RBI single to right. Christian Scott walked and stole second. Ethan Payne doubled to right-center, playing two. Jake Kendro scored Payne with a double to right-center. Charlie Taylor singled in Kendro on his second hit of the inning. Ryan Miller walked. Kavares Tears tallied an RBI single to center field. Hunter Ensley then reached on a throwing error at short that allowed two more runs to score. Logan Chambers triples in Ensley. Reese Chapman reached on a fielding error, Chambers scored.

15 R, 8 H, 3 E, 2 LOB – Score: Tennessee 21-1

A PROGRAM-RECORD 15 runs come across to score in the fifth inning pic.twitter.com/AoFyTrMDyY

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 22, 2023

Bottom 6^th: Charlie Taylor smacked a solo home run to left field. Ryan Miller doubled down the right field line. Kavares Tears drove in Miller with a sacrifice fly. Logan Chambers singled up the middle.

2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB

The Final Stats

Postgame Video

Tennessee in the polls this week

D1 Baseball – No. 3

Perfect Game – No. 5

Baseball America – No. 6

Collegiate Baseball – No. 11

NCBWA – No. 11

Tennessee’s game schedule this week

Tuesday: No. 3 Tennessee 10, Alabama A&M 0 | 8 innings

Wednesday: No. 3 Tennessee 23, Alabama A&M 1

Friday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Dayton | 4:30 pm ET | SEC Network+

Saturday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Dayton | 2 pm ET | SEC Network+

Sunday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Dayton | 1 pm ET | SEC Network+