University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Vols Win Halted Game, 5-4
May 18, 2002 | Baseball
May 18, 2002
Knoxville, Tenn. -- Walter Sevilla went 3-for-3 with two RBI, including the game-winner in the 12th inning, as the Tennessee Volunteers rallied to defeat the Vanderbilt Commodores, 5-4, in the completion of Friday's halted game.
Tennessee (26-27, 11-17 SEC) pieced together two singles while advancing on a wild pitch to set the table for Sevilla's game-winning hit with two out.
Trailing 4-1, the Vols rallied to tie the game with three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Matt Sternberg's one-out two-run single, coupled with a Commodore error with two out helped send the game into extra innings. Karl Nonemaker, who collected a team-high three-hits, singled home Scott Vanderhoff in top of the frame to give Vanderbilt (23-26, 6-20 SEC) a three-run cushion.
The inning started with a walk and a one-out double by Brandon Hopkins that set the table for Sternberg's salvo which extended his hitting streak to 16 games. After a strikeout, Hal Bibee Jr. hit a shallow fly ball to center that saw Nonemaker drop the ball while trying to make a sliding catch. That allowed pinch runner Hunter Rigsby to race around from first and plate the tying run.
The game was then halted by rain with one out in the top of the 10th. Both starting pitchers, Jeff Little of Vanderbilt and Tennessee's Ben Riley, each went the distance before the rains came. Little allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in nine innings with seven strikeouts and three walks. Riley worked 9 1/3, allowing four runs on 10 hits with 10 strikeouts against three walks.
Beau Massey (1-1) picked up the win in relief of Riley, striking out four over 2 2/3 no-hit innings as the Vols struckout a season-high 14 batters.
Dean Bennett (2-3) took the loss in relief of Little, allowing one run on three hits.
After Tennessee got on the board in the third when Sevilla singled home Jordan Czarniecki, who went 3-for-5, Vanderbilt took a 3-1 lead on six hits in the fourth.
The Commodores started the frame by rapping out five straight safeties including a two-run home run by Sean Luellwitz, his 12th, following a lead off single. Scott Shapiro then doubled and took third on a Cesar Nicolas' base hit before Tony Mansolino capped the rally with a knock up the middle that plated Shapiro.
