University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Eastern Kentucky
No. 24 Vols Pound Eastern Kentucky, 13-0
March 08, 2000 | Baseball
Tennessee now on a 10-game winning streak
KNOXVILLE (March 8) -- Justin Parker went 4-for-5 to help No. 24 Tennessee cruise past Eastern Kentucky 13-0 en route to their third shutout of the season. The Volunteers move to 17-4 on the season while extending their winning streak to 10 games. The Vols have yet to be beaten at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season and have given up just 19 runs at home through 10 games.
Tennessee was led by right fielder Justin Parker who had four consecutive hits and three RBI to give him his best performance of the season. Parker's previous best was a 3-for-3 performance against Appalachian Sate on Feb. 26.. Parker got things going early in the first when he hit a two-RBI double to score Kris Bennett and Chris Burke to give the Vols a 2-0 lead. Tennessee got another RBI single in the first to take a three run lead.
The Vol bats only heated up more in the second as the squad punched in four runs on three hits to take a 7-0 lead. Designated hitter Jeff Christensen sent a solo home run shot over the scoreboard that fueled another three-hit four-run inning as the Vols took a commanding 12 run lead in the bottom of the fifth. Christensen's home run was his fifth of the season.
The Volunteer pitching staff had another solid outing led by senior Jamie Bennett (4-1). The Vol pitchers struck out seven batters in the shutout. The staff now totals a 2.53 ERA on the season.
Tennessee will open SEC play against Arkansas this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Razorbacks took the 1999 SEC Regular Season championship and will face the Vols in a three-game series beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday. The series will continue with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday and will wrap up at noon on Sunday.
