KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee put on an impressive display of power in Tuesday’s 11-2 midweek win over Lipscomb, tying the single-game program record with seven home runs.
Andre Lipcius and Alerick Soularie both went yard twice while Zach Daniels, Landon Gray and Pete Derkay also went deep as the Volunteers routed the Bisons at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols started the game with a bang – three to be exact – as Daniels, Lipcius and Soularie launched three straight solo home runs to give UT an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. It marked the first time that the Big Orange hit three consecutive homers since April 3, 1996 versus ETSU.
The Bisons scored two runs in the second without recording a hit to cut their deficit to one. Freshman Elijah Pleasants, making his first-career start, hit two batters and walked another to load the bases with two outs.
Fellow freshman Chase Silseth came on in relief, but a passed ball allowed the first run to score and an error by Silseth allowed a second to come home before he struck out Brian Moore to end the frame.
Silseth was lights out for the rest of his outing, retiring 10 consecutive batters to end his night. The Farmington, New Mexico native earned his first-career victory after tossing 3.1 shutout innings without allowing a hit while also setting a new career high with five strikeouts.
Tennessee scored multiple runs in the first, sixth, seventh and eighth innings and had six players drive in runs on the night. Soularie led the way with a double, three runs, two RBI and two home runs, marking his second two-homer game of the season. Lipcius also had a two-homer game, the second of his career, and led the team with three runs batted in.
UT’s bullpen was solid once again, tossing 7.1 shutout innings with nine strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
Josh Martinez and Chaz Bertolani had the only two hits of the game for the Bisons with a pair of singles. Palmer Steventon was charged with the loss after allowing four runs in three innings of work.
NOTABLE
HOME RUN DERBY: The Vols broke out the big sticks in Tuesday night’s slugfest against Lipscomb, tying the single-game program record with seven home runs. Five different players went deep for the Big Orange, include two homers each from Andre Lipcius and Alerick Soularie. Zach Daniels also homered for the second straight game, getting the Vols on the board with a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, which was the first in a string of three straight Tennessee long balls.
SILSETH EARNS CAREER WIN No. 1: True freshman pitcher Chase Silseth earned his first collegiate victory on Tuesday night while setting careers highs in innings pitched (3.1) and strikeouts (five). The New Mexico native did not allow a single hit and retired all 10 batters he faced on the night.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will take on a top-five opponent for the third straight weekend as No. 2 Georgia visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium for three games starting on Thursday night. First pitch for Thursday’s series opener is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.
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