Tennessee broke open a tight game with a six-run eighth inning to defeat Northern Kentucky 12-6 in a nonconference matchup Tuesday night.
The Volunteers used a late surge, capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely hitting, to turn a 6-6 game into a comfortable win and build momentum heading into SEC play.
Tennessee struck first in the opening inning when Blake Grimmer hit a two-out, two-run home run to right field. Manny Marin added a solo home run in the second to extend the lead to 3-0.
Northern Kentucky responded in the third. After two leadoff singles and a throwing error by starter Ethan Baiotto, the Norse tied the game on a three-run home run from the ninth spot in the lineup.
Reliever Brady Frederick stabilized the game for Tennessee, retiring 10 of the 11 batters he faced. Garrett Wright helped Tennessee regain the lead in the fourth with an RBI double, and Grimmer added another home run in the fifth to make it 5-3.
Northern Kentucky rallied again in the seventh. After Mark Hindy issued two walks, Sawyer Deering allowed a three-run home run to the first batter he faced, tying the game at 6-6.
Tennessee’s bullpen recovered from there. Taylor Tracey recorded key outs before Bo Rhudy entered and struck out two batters to escape a jam and keep the game tied entering the eighth.
In the decisive bottom of the eighth, Tennessee took advantage of a Northern Kentucky error with two outs and the bases loaded, allowing two runs to score. Grimmer followed with an RBI single, and Trent Grindlinger delivered a three-run, opposite-field home run to cap the six-run inning.
“It was kind of a relief a little bit, just to see our offense get the job done there,” Grimmer said.
Grimmer said execution remains the key for Tennessee moving forward.
“Baseball’s a hard game,” Grimmer said. “[You] can’t always get the job done, but I know every guy in the dugout is trying as hard as they can to get the team a win.”
Rhudy closed the game in the ninth, retiring the side to secure the victory.
“[I was just] attacking the strike zone, making them put the ball in play, especially after that last inning where we scored six,” Rhudy said.
Rhudy said improved confidence in his slider has made it an effective secondary pitch.
“I’ve gotten way more confident in [my slider] over this past offseason and this season,” Rhudy said. “It became a great secondary, and when I throw it, I’m starting to get some good takes on it and some good swing and miss.”
Tennessee will travel to Starkville, Mississippi, this weekend to face No. 9 Mississippi State, seeking its first SEC series win since hosting Missouri three weeks ago.
