Tennessee Tops Memphis in Series Finale, 5-2

Sunday, February 21

Chattanooga

1:00 PM

University of Tennessee

2-1

Memphis

1-2

Memphis

Tennessee

February 21, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2016

Final Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Tennessee used a strong start by sophomore Zach Warren and a towering two-run homer by senior Vincent Jackson to jump ahead of Memphis early on Sunday, holding on for a 5-2 win in the series finale at AT&T Field.

Southpaw Zach Warren went 4.0 in the rainy Sunday start, keeping Memphis to one run on two hits while striking out three in the outing. Warren took the win in the effort and by doing so, moved to a 3-0 career record for the Orange and White.

Hunter Martin went to the mound in the fifth, dealing 3.2 innings of one-run ball before Vols newcomer Jon Lipinski was called upon on the eighth. With a 1.1 scoreless innings effort, Lipinski was credited with the save in his UT debut.

Left fielder Vincent Jackson (2-for-4, 2 RBI) provided a spark for the Vols in the third, launching a two-run home run over the right field bleachers to extend UT's lead to 4-1. The home run marked the first of the year for the Volunteers, as well as the first for Jackson since April 26, 2014 vs. LSU.

Tennessee's offense continued to punch hits through the infield but were held at four runs until the eighth, when seniors Jeff Moberg (1-for-4) and Chris Hall (2-for-4) began the inning with back-to-back bunt singles. With two outs and runners on first and second, first baseman Jordan Rodgers (1-for-4, RBI) rocketed an RBI-single through the left side, scoring Moberg to make it a 5-3 Tennessee advantage and securing the lead for closer Lipinski.

"I told them this morning, today was going to be one of those days where we'd have some rain and having to pull tarp, but that we needed to stay mentally focused throughout the day," Head Coach Dave Serrano said. "I commend our guys that they did that. These were tougher conditions.

"Zach Warren set the tone. He went out, he established his fastball for a strike and he made two plays off of the mound that we haven't seen made all weekend long. He got off the mound on a few swinging bunts - as we call them - and made some plays.

"I'm very proud of the group. There was a calmness today," Serrano continued. "From innings one to nine, I thought our emotions were kept in check and we know what we came out here to do. We set out here to sweep and that was taken away from us yesterday, so all we could do is win the series. But if we can win series week in and week out, we'll be pretty happy with the results at the end of the year."

Vol Baseball Tidbits

With the win, Tennessee moves to 15-20 in their all-time series vs. Memphis.
Sunday's attendance at AT&T Field: 1,215
Vincent Jackson's two-run homer in today's contest was also the fifth of his career at Tennessee.
Up Next for the Vols: UT will continue playing on the road in the Grand Canyon Classic next weekend (Feb. 26-28) before returning home to take on Cincinnati on Wednesday, March 2 at 3 p.m. ET in their 2016 home opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

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