How it Happened: Tennessee unphased despite horrendous weather in 24-1 beatdown of Illinois
The weather was a factor Saturday afternoon with constant downpours resulting in one 48-minute delay, but Tennessee didn’t seem to mind as the Vols destroyed Illinois 24-1 to clinch the series-victory.
The win marks the 14th-straight for Tennessee who has now won all 13 games played at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols (15-1) erupted offensively for six runs in the second inning and four apiece in innings five, six and seven. Tennessee finished the ballgame plating the 24 runs off 20 hits while Illinois (5-8) managed just the one run off five hits.
Drew Beam (3-0) earned the victory – the 20th of his career – after allowing only one run over five innings of work. Logan Tabeling (0-2) I the losing pitcher in the game after giving up seven runs on four hits in just 1.2 innings of work.
Tennessee and Illinois will conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock eastern time. But first, here’s how it all went down for the Vols on Saturday.
Scoring Summary
Bot 1st: Blake Burke scored on a passed ball. Vols 1-0
Bot 1st: Kavares Tears doubled to the wall in centerfield. Billy Amick scored. Vols 2-0
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Jackson Arnold
OU QB to enter transfer portal
- 2
Alabama flips LSU commit
Tide moves up the rankings
- 3New
Ben Herbstreit
POTUS sends heartfelt note
- 4
Lincoln Riley
USC coach talks job rumors
- 5Hot
Jahkeem Stewart
USC lands five-star DL
KT delivers and extends his hitting streak 14 games in the process!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
📺https://t.co/PrSwU6HZiT#GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/GUgPG7FmDU
Bot 2nd: Blake Burke doubled to left field. Dalton Bargo scored. Vols 3-0
Bot 2nd: Christian Moore scored on a wild pitch. Vols 4-0
Bot 2nd: Blake Burke scored on a wild pitch. Vols 5-0
Bot 2nd: Dylan Dreiling’s three-run home run traveled over the centerfield wall. Vols 8-0
Absolute TANK!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
Six-run second inning for the Big Orange!
📺https://t.co/PrSwU6HZiT#GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/LNpg5vkI2f
Bot 3rd: Christian Moore tallied a two-run home run to right field. Vols 10-0
CMo Missile.
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
📺https://t.co/PrSwU6Hrtl#GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/p1eHFxDrDw
Top 5th: Asher Bradd RBI groundout to shortstop. Vols 10-1
Bot 5th: Dalton Bargo registered a solo home run to right field. Vols 11-1
Bot 5th: Blake Burke drilled a three-run home run to right field. Vols 14-1
You know Blake had to join the party!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
📺https://t.co/PrSwU6HZiT#GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/cb46X1F3VN
Bot 6th: Reese Chapman blasted a grand slam to left field. Vols 18-1
GRAND SLAM!
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 9, 2024
Reese Chapman's first HR of the year drives in four runs!
📺https://t.co/PrSwU6HZiT#GBO // #OTH // #BeatIllinois pic.twitter.com/BZzprE0V27
Bot 7th: Colby Backus scored on a wild pitch. Vols 19-1
Bot 7th: Hunter High doubled in a run down the left field line. Vols 20-1
Bot 7th: Bradke Lohry singled in a pair of runners on a base-hit to centerfield. Vols 22-1
Bot 8th: Reese Chapman doubled in a pair. Vols 24-1
Postgame Video
The Final Stats
Tennessee Baseball Weekly Schedule
Tuesday: Tennessee 15, Kansas State 5 | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Tony Vitello Transcript
Wednesday: Tennessee 2, Southern Indiana 1 | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Tony Vitello Transcript
Friday: Tennessee 6, Illinois 3 | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Tony Vitello Transcript
Saturday: Tennessee 24, Illinois 1 | Final Stats
Sunday: No. 8 Tennessee vs. Illinois | 1 pm ET
Tennessee in the National Polls this week
NCBWA – No. 7
Baseball America – No. 7
Perfect Game – No. 7
D1 Baseball – No. 8
USA Today – No. 8