Volunteers Battle, Fall to Maryland, 10-9

Friday, March 4

Greenville, NC

12:00 PM

University of Tennessee

6-2

Maryland

4-4

Tennessee

Maryland

March 04, 2016 | Baseball

Box Score

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Tennessee battled back from an early deficit against Maryland in their Friday debut at the Keith LeClair Classic, but the Vols comeback came up short as the Terps took a 10-9 final at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Maryland took advantage of a two-run double and a bases loaded walk to move ahead 3-0 in the first frame. The Volunteers chipped away at the lead in the second, as Vincent Jackson (1-for-3, 2 RBI) led off with a hit-by-pitch and worked his way home on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Leno Ramirez (1-for-2, 2 RBI).

Tennessee came back to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth, as Jordan Rodgers (2-for-3, 1 RBI) drilled an RBI-single up the middle to score Nick Senzel (1-for-4) from second. Ramirez later singled down the right field line to bring Rodgers home, marking his first career multi-RBI game with the Orange and White.

In their next turn at bat, the Terps used a series of free passes granted by UT's pitching staff and a three-run double by third baseman Andrew Bechtold to make it an 8-3 ballgame for UM.

An RBI-single by Chris Hall (2-for-5, 1 RBI) and a double by Senzel put runners in scoring position for Jackson in the fifth, who knocked a two-run double into the right-center gap. Jackson stole third and scored on an RBI-single by Benito Santiago (1-for-3, 1 RBI) and helped trim the Terps' lead to 8-7.

Over the next four frames, Tennessee fought hit-fot-hit against Maryland but a two-spot in the sixth lifted Maryland to 10 runs and helped secure their lead.

Senior Andy Cox (4 K) worked 3.1 innings in third start of the year, allowing seven runs on six hits against Maryland.

Knoxville native Eric Freeman entered the game in the fourth and threw 2.2 innings in relief before the Vols went to lefty Zach Reid (2.0 IP) to finish the game on the bump.

"How could I not be proud of the team effort that we gave today," Head Coach Dave Serrano said. "We were down 3-0 to one of the best pitchers in the country and we come back to tie the game. Unfortunately, we go out and walk two guys the next inning, give up a five spot and we come back from that. We put ourselves with the tying run 90 feet away.

"It's all about pitching. You can't walk eight guys and you can't hit two guys and be successful. We have to find guys who are going to compete in the strike zone and we're not doing that right now.

"But from a team effort, they fought tooth and nail with [Maryland] in a very tough atmosphere," Serrano added. "Again, kudos to our guys. They're not quitters and they're going to fight to the end."

Vol Baseball Quick Hits

Following the loss today, Tennessee is now 0-1 all-time vs. Maryland and 6-2 on the season.
With singles in today's matchup vs. Maryland, Chris Hall and Jeff Moberg have now recorded a hit in each game for Tennessee this season (eight games).
First baseman Jordan Rodgers went 2-for-3, marking his third multi-hit game in 2016.
With two RBI against the Terps, designated hitter Leno Ramirez recorded his first multi-RBI game for the Volunteers.
Up Next for the Vols: On Saturday, Tennessee sophomore Zach Warren (2-0, 0.90) will toe the rubber against tournament host and No. 16-ranked East Carolina's (6-2) Jacob Wolfe (2-0, 0.00) at 4:30 p.m. ET,

For more information on Tennessee Baseball, follow @Vol_Baseball on Twitter or visit UTSports.com/Baseball. You can also 'Like' the Vols at Facebook at www.facebook.com/volbaseball.