How it Happened: Tennessee never backed down in 16-11 slugfest win over Georgia
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
Vols strike first courtesy of Dylan Dreiling!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 30, 2024
📺 https://t.co/5jnZNC3oiq #GBO // #OTH // #BeatUGA pic.twitter.com/mOavxdkG0y
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
Blake with a LOUD response to Georgia's big inning with a record-tying #BurkeBlast!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 30, 2024
📺 https://t.co/5jnZNC3oiq #GBO // #OTH // #BeatUGA pic.twitter.com/3euOY7rJvA
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
GRAND SLAM!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 30, 2024
DYLAN DREILING PUTS UP BACK ON TOP!
📺 https://t.co/5jnZNC3oiq #GBO // #OTH // #BeatUGA pic.twitter.com/IrxsxiDr03
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
Double for Dean and we've got the lead again!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 30, 2024
📺 https://t.co/5jnZNC3oiq #GBO // #OTH // #BeatUGA pic.twitter.com/PcG6Gixn7x
Bot 7: Dalton Bargo send an opposite field grand slam to left field. Vols 16-10
GRAND SLAM ✖️2⃣
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 30, 2024
Dalton Bargo sneaks it inside the foul pole and we have scored SIX again here in the seventh!
📺 https://t.co/5jnZNC3oiq #GBO // #OTH // #BeatUGA pic.twitter.com/S3XtzhbG2T
Top 9th: Charlie Condon solo home run to centerfield. Vols 16-11
The Final Stats
![](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/03/30194250/Screenshot-2024-03-30-204212-1024x370.png)
![](https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/03/30194258/Screenshot-2024-03-30-204227-1024x334.png)
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