University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Belmont
Tennessee Powers Past Belmont, 16-4
April 14, 2009 | Baseball
April 14, 2009
Tennessee scored eight runs in the second inning and did not look back as it went on to a 16-4 victory over Belmont on Tuesday night at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols hit three home runs, three doubles and a triple on the night.
Tennessee (16-21) sent 11 batters to the plate in the second and scored the eight runs on six hits, including hitting for the cycle as a team. The inning was highlighted by a two-run home run by center fielder Kentrail Davis, his sixth of the year. Mike Hornsby also drove in two runs with a triple to center field. Zach Osborne and Cody Hawn each drove in runs with doubles.
"We had that big inning early and that set the tone for us," UT coach Todd Raleigh said. "We cruised a little bit after that but put the pressure back on. Dylan Hochevar again pitched well, and I couldn't be happier with that. Steven Gruver did a good job, too. Zach Osborne and Cody Brown had great games and Kentrail hit the big home run. We did some good things."
Belmont (19-16) pitchers allowed 11 hits but also hit four batters and issued six walks.
In his first career start, redshirt freshman Dylan Hochevar (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings. He retired nine of 11 batters he faced, allowing only two hits and striking out one.
Bruins starter Matt Hamann (3-1) pitched 1-2/3 innings surrendering eight runs on six hits. The freshman recorded one strikeout.
Belmont scored its first run in the top of the fifth on center fielder Dylan Craig's RBI single to make the score 8-1.
The Bruins added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning when first baseman Phillip Parsley drove a two-run double into center field to cut the Vols' lead to 8-3.
Tennessee tallied a run in the bottom of the sixth when Hawn drove in Osborne with a fielders' choice. Osborne reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Osborne's two-run single in the bottom of the seventh put Tennessee ahead 11-3. Charley Thurber and Jarred Frazier scored on the play.
The Vols added five more runs in the bottom of the eighth on home runs by pinch hitter P.J. Polk and third baseman Tyler Horne. Polk's three-run homer was his second of the year and while Horne's two-run shot was his fourth.
Steven Gruver, Aaron Tullo, Steve Crnkovich, Josh Allman and Ryne Simpson combined to thrown the final six innings out of the bullpen for UT.
Tennessee returns to the diamond on Wednesday for a matchup with Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m. Right-hander Stephen McCray (3-3, 6.34 ERA) will take the mound against Chad Edwards (5-0, 4.05 ERA) for the Blue Raiders.
