University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Grand Canyon
Vol Baseball Tops Antelopes, 4-1
March 06, 2015 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Backed by a stellar outing from senior righthander Bret Marks, Tennessee topped the Grand Canyon Antelopes, 4-1, in their first Friday night contest of the 2015 season at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Starting pitcher Marks dealt 7.2 innings, allowing just one run and establishing a new career high with 12 strikeouts. His 12 strikeouts mark the first time for a Volunteer pitcher to reach 10-or-more strikeouts since Zack Godley did so with 13 against Texas A&M on May 16, 2013. Marks also threw a career-high 7.2 innings in the outing, surrendering five hits to the Lopes.
"This couldn't have been a better home opener," Head Coach Dave Serrano said. "It was all about Bret Marks and the defense and the pitching. It was cold out there tonight and throwing a hundred pitches...Bret Marks is Bret Marks. No sleeves on. I don't think he had an undershirt on. That's just what he is."
"This pitching staff has a blue collar mentality," Marks added. "We're getting out there, we're getting our jobs done, getting off the mound, letting our offense work. It was just nice to get a good home crowd going. Props to them. It's so nice to be home."
Grand Canyon got on the boards early thanks to a solo home run by first baseman Rouric Bridgewater in the second inning. It didn't take long for Tennessee to counter, as the Vols plated two runs in the third. Catcher David Houser started off the inning, reaching second base on a dropped strikeout and errant throw to first. Freshman outfielder Brodie Leftridge then dropped a bunt down the third base line for a base hit, advancing Houser to third. Center fielder Vincent Jackson walked to load the bases before A.J. Simcox ripped a two-RBI single up the middle, giving the Vols the go-ahead lead in the third.
In the seventh, Tennessee moved their lead to 3-1, kickstarted by Houser reaching base safely on an infield single to shortstop. In the next at-bat, Leftridge knocked a deep fly ball to center field, which was misplayed by Grand Canyon's Lerouge. Ruled a fielding error on the 'Lopes, Leftridge came around to third base and scored Houser.
Leftfielder Christin Stewart then delivered a booming solo home run off of the scoreboard in right field, giving the Vols a 4-1 lead in the eighth. The homer marked Stewart's second of the year.
Entering the game in the eighth in relief of Marks, lefty Andy Cox struck out four straight batters and shut down the 'Lopes to earn the save. In total, Tennessee's pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts against Grand Canyon.
"Any time you can chip away at a lead, take the lead with one swing it's huge," Simcox said following the game. "It was good to get out there and be able to get the win tonight."
The Volunteers take on the Antelopes for the second game of their three-game weekend series on Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m. ET, with lefty Drake Owenby slated to start for Tennessee.
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