University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Ole Miss
Vols Top #8 Rebels on Lance's Walk-Off Hit
March 18, 2016 | Baseball
March 18, 2016
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Derek Lance delivered a two-out, walk-off base hit to lift Tennessee past No. 8 Ole Miss, 3-2, in Friday night's SEC opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the score knotted at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Max Bartlett and Lance combined to provide the heroics the Vols (12-5, 1-0 SEC) needed to grab a series-opening win. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, extra innings seemed an inevitability before Bartlett, a junior shortstop, got himself into scoring position with a double off the left field wall. That clutch hit set the stage for Lance, who lined a 1-1 pitch into center field to plate Bartlett and seal the victory.
It was Lance's only hit on the night -- and just his sixth RBI of the season -- but in a game in which runs came a premium, it proved decisive in handing the Rebels (17-2, 0-1 SEC) just their second loss of the season.
Tennessee got another impressive outing from lefty Zach Warren, who allowed just one run while striking out a career-best eight batters in 6.1 innings of work. The sophomore took a no-decision on Friday night, but kept Ole Miss off balance to offset a similarly strong pitching performance from his Rebel counterpart in Brady Bramlett.
Bramlett, who had entered the game with 4-0 record and a 2.14 ERA, recorded nine strikeouts on Friday night and limited the Vols to just one hit over his first five innings on the hill.
Tennessee broke through in the bottom of the sixth, though, and captured the lead with a two-out rally. With two out and nobody on, Vincent Jackson and Jordan Rodgers notched back-to-back base hits to put the Vols in business. On the ensuing at-bat, Leno Ramirez's sharp line drive into right field got away from Rebels outfielder Cameron Dishon. As the ball bounded toward the warning track, both Jackson and Rodgers came around to score, giving Tennessee a 2-1 lead.
The advantage would hold only until the eighth inning as Ole Miss center fielder J.B. Woodman tied the ballgame with a lead-off home run in the top of the eighth. But that was all Ole Miss would get off of reliever Jon Lipinski, who picked up his first win as a Vol after going 2.2 solid innings. Lipinski allowed just three hits while striking out three and inducing a pivotal double-play in the top of the ninth.
Vol Baseball Quick Hits
- With the win, Tennessee improves to 31-42 in SEC openers with a 7-8 record in SEC openers in Knoxville.
- Friday's game marked the first time Tennessee had opened SEC play at home since 2009. That year, the Vols went 1-2 against Auburn in a three-game series.
- Starting pitcher Zach Warren established a new career-high with eight strikeouts on Friday night. His previous high was seven, which he recorded this season in Tennessee's 5-2 win over East Carolina on March 5.
- The Vols' victory snapped Ole Miss' 12-game winning streak, which was tied for its third-longest streak in program history entering Friday night.
- The Rebels' only other loss this season came at the hands of No. 2 Louisville back on Feb. 27.
- Up Next For the Vols: Game Two between Tennessee and Ole Miss is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Eric Freeman (1-0, 2.66 ERA) gets the start for the Vols while Chad Smith (2-1, 4.35 ERA) is slated to go for the Rebels. Saturday's game will be streamed live online on SEC Network +.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee baseball, visit UTSports.com/Baseball and follow @Vol_Baseball on Twitter.
