No. 7/8 Tennessee remained perfect at home and extended its winning streak to seven games with a 7-4 victory over High Point on Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols (8-1) started fast by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning and added another in the third to jump out to an early 3-0 lead.
Robin Villeneuve got the scoring started by roping a single to left field with the bases loaded to plate a pair of runs.
The junior added another big RBI hit in the sixth inning and finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs to continue his impressive hitting early on this year.
Kavares Tears also had another big day offensively, tying a career high with three hits and setting a new career best with three runs scored to go along with his fourth home run of the year, a low screamer over the right-field wall that pierced through a stiff wind.
Billy Amick and
Cannon Peebles also added two hits apiece and combined to drive in three runs. After High Point cut its deficit to two runs in the seventh, Amick hammered a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line over the porches for his fourth homer to bump the lead back up to three. Later in the inning, after a Tears single, Peebles made it 7-3 with an RBI double to score Tears and give UT some more breathing room.
Lefthander
Chris Stamos notched his second win of the year after striking out a pair in a scoreless inning of relief. Fellow veteran lefty
Kirby Connell was also effective out of the bullpen in his most extended outing of the season, holding the Panthers to one run while recording two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Flame thrower
Nate Snead pitched the final 2.1 innings to slam the door and earn his first save of the year. The sophomore righthander racked up five strikeouts and allowed just two hits while topping 100 mph on the radar gun multiple times.
Shortstop Adam Stuart led the offensive charge for the Panthers (2-7) with three hits and two RBIs. Starting pitcher Dalton Olsovsky fell to 0-2 on the year after giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work.
UP NEXT: Tennessee hosts Bowling Green for a three-game set this weekend in Knoxville, starting on Friday. All three games will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
STAT OF THE DAY: With a pair of long balls on Tuesday, UT continued its home run streak to start the season, having hit at least one in all nine games so far. Tears took the team lead with four homers after his solo shot in the third inning before Amick joined him with his fourth of the year, a 409-foot blast in the eighth inning.