March 25, 2008

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Four double plays and a five-run second inning helped Tennessee escape with a 9-4 win against the USC Upstate baseball team on Tuesday night at Lindsay Nelson Stadium in non-conference action. The Spartans posted a 12-8 advantage in hits, but nine runners left on base kept the team from making a threat late in the game.

Senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) and senior Kyle Bowley (Apopka, Fla./Apopka) each posted three hits to lead Upstate (10-13 overall) and both junior Kyle Simpson (Lyman, S.C./Byrnes) and junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) each added two hits.

Tennessee (15-7 overall) was able to overcome an early Upstate lead by scoring five runs in the second inning. The Vols used four hits, including three doubles and two walks to help the team score its runs, with Danny Lima and P.J. Polk hitting back-to-back two run doubles to cap the inning. The Vols added another two runs in the fifth inning, benefiting from two walks, a balk, a single and a wild pitch.

Upstate came within four in the sixth inning when it scored a run, as sophomore Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Stars Mill) led off with a walk. On a fielder's choice, freshman Blake Green (Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern) reached second on a throwing error. He took third on a single to right from Bowley and scored on a two-out single by Simpson that was lifted just over a leaping shortstop's glove.

However, the Vols came back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 9-3 game, putting two singles, a walk and a wild pitch to use. Upstate got a run back in the eighth inning, as Tanner led off with a single to left and took second on an error. He scored when Bowley poked a single up the middle past a diving second baseman with one out.

The Spartans drew first blood in the top of the first inning, as Runion hit a two-out single through the left side, setting up Morgan, who hit a towering homer over the left field bleachers to tie for the team lead with four.

With his first inning hit, Runion became the 12th player in school history to reach 150 career hits, joining Bowley, who joined the club earlier this season.

Cody Brown led the Vols by going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Danny Lima, who was 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs.

Ty'Relle Harris (2-0) earned the win by pitching three innings in a planned short start, as he allowed four hits, two walks and two runs. He struck out two. Four other Vols also saw action on the mound.

Junior Phillip Myers (Louisville, Ky./Seminole C.C.) (0-1) took the loss, pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, five walks and seven runs. He struck out four.

Upstate will head home after four games on the road, hosting Presbyterian in the first of a home-and-home midweek set on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Harley Park.