Skip to main content
tennessee logo

Tennessee is halfway to the grand slam record…in just 12 games

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•about 22 hours•

_Cainer

Andrew Fischer. Credit: UT Athletics
Andrew Fischer. Credit: UT Athletics

The reigning national champs have picked up right where they left off from a record-breaking 2024 campaign. Tennessee is winning games this season and crushing the ball over the fence in the process.   

Tuesday night’s late power surge in the 22-9, run-rule win over Radford witnessed five home runs by the Vols. Even better, three of the five came with a runner at each base.

The three grand slams was not only a Tennessee program record, but also tied an NCAA record with 13 other programs. Austin Peay was previously the last team to accomplish the feat, doing so in 2024 against Alabama A&M on April 30.

With the trio of grand slams on Tuesday, Tennessee now has an incredible seven grand slams on the season in the first 12 games. The Division I NCAA record is 14, slugged by Arizona State back in 2003 – accomplishing the feat in 68 games.

Tennessee hammered a Southeastern Conference record 12 grand slams in 2024, which is currently No. 2 in the NCAA record books. At this rate, the Vols will crush the record set by the Sun Devils 22 years ago.    

“You got to get on base, that’s for sure. On a case like tonight, there’s a guy that is eager to come off the bench and get in the game. If Dean [Curley] hits a ball fair, there’s a decent chance he doesn’t even get to hit,” Tony Vitello said of Blake Grimmer’s ninth inning grand slam on Tuesday. “So, sometimes it is that ‘want to’ taking place for some guys off the bench. There’s been guys off the bench who have done that.”

Grimmer’s 365-foot, 109 miles per hour grand slam won it for the Vols in the bottom of the seventh inning in walk off, run-rule fashion. The blast was one of the many highlights throughout the 11-run frame.   

Earlier in the seventh, Andrew Fischer connected on his second homer of the day and third in his past two games. The ball was crushed 427 feet to right with 108 miles per hour exit velocity leaving the yard. Back in the first inning, the corner infielder tallied a solo home run to cut the Tennessee deficit to only one at the time.

Tennessee’s first grand slam on Tuesday came in the bottom of the third inning and allowed the Vols to take a commanding 9-4 lead at the time. The blast was off the bat of right fielder Reese Chapman and sailed 357 feet (99 mph) has he went down to club a 1-2 changeup low in the zone.

The home run extended Chapman’s hit-streak to 12 games to begin the year.

“Again, I think you have to get on base,” Vitello continued. “You guys [media] rightfully so, brought up walks earlier in the year. Ironically, the next game we chased a bunch of pitches – I forget what happened. There’s no one strategy at the plate to get a walk or a homer. It’s just guys grinding out at-bats for each other.”

Tennessee entered Tuesday with 31 homers, one shy of ETSU for the national lead. The home run total now sits at 36 entering Wednesday’s midweek battle with Xavier.

You may also like