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How it Happened: Tennessee never backed down in 16-11 slugfest win over Georgia

On3 imageby:Eric Cain•03/30/24•

_Cainer

Kirby Connell tossed career highs of total pitches and innings pitched for Tennessee in a Saturday win over Georgie. Credit: UT Athletics
Kirby Connell tossed career highs of total pitches and innings pitched for Tennessee in a Saturday win over Georgie. Credit: UT Athletics

It was not looking pretty for Tennessee after Georgia plated seven runs in the third, but the Vols battled back to outscore the Bulldogs 16-11 in the end to set up the third-straight rubber match for the Volunteers to begin Southeastern Conference play.  

The Vols (23-5, 4-4 SEC) and UGA (22-5, 4-4 SEC) will conclude the three-game series on Easter Sunday at 2 o’clock eastern time at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee plated three runs in the first and six runs in each of the fifth and seventh innings to pace an offense that plated 16 runs off 12 hits. Georgia exploded for seven runs in the third but managed just three the rest of the way, finishing with 11 runs off 17 hits.

Veteran Kirby Connell (3-0) earned the win for the Vols after tossing a career-high five innings of relief on 94 pitches (58 strikes). The lefty surrendered three runs off seven hits while striking out two and walking three batters. It was an impressive outing for the southpaw whose previous season-high was 35 pitches against Southern Indiana and previous career-high was 65 pitches in 2021 against Campbell. Kolten Smith (2-2) is the losing pitcher for the Bulldogs after allowing nine runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work.

Tennessee and Georgia will look to claim the series on Easter Sunday, but first, here’s how it all went down on a Saturday night.     

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Bot 1: Dylan Dreiling sent a three-run home run over the wall in left field. Vols 3-0

Top 3: Charlie Condon lifted a two-run home run over the left field wall. Vols 3-2
Top 3: Paul Toetz doubled in a runner on a line drive to right field. Tied 3-3
Top 3: Fernando Gonzalez ripped a single up the middle and off the glove of Cristian Moore at second. Runner scored from second. Georgia 4-3
Top 3: Sebastian Murrillo blasted a three-run home run to left field. Georgia 7-3
Bot 3: Blake Burke solo home run to right field. Georgia 7-4

Top 4: Paul Toetz doubled in a runner. Georgia 8-4
Bot 5: Blake Burke singled in a runner on a hit to right field. Georgia 8-5
Bot 5: Kavares Tears walked with the bases loaded. Georgia 8-6
Bot 5: Dylan Dreiling’s grand slam to right field gave Tennessee the lead. Vols 10-8

Top 7: Kolby Branch two-run homer tied the ballgame Tied 10-10
Bot 7: Dean Curley RBI double handed the Vols a lead. Vols 11-10

Bot 7: Dalton Bargo send an opposite field grand slam to left field. Vols 16-10

Top 9th: Charlie Condon solo home run to centerfield. Vols 16-11

The Final Stats

Tennessee Baseball Weekly Schedule

Tuesday: Tennessee 11, Tennessee Tech 1 (7 inn) | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Vitello Transcript
Friday: Georgia 16, Tennessee 2 (7 inn) | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Vitello Transcript
Saturday: Tennessee 16, Georgia 11 | Final Stats
Sunday: No. 5 Tennessee vs. Georgia | 2 pm ET

Vols in the National Polls this week

D1 Baseball – No. 5
NCBWA – No. 5
USA Today – No. 5
Baseball America – No. 6
Perfect Game – No. 6

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