No. 1/2 Tennessee claimed its first SEC series of the year, run-ruling No. 6/7 Florida, 10-0, in thrilling fashion Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Nine of UT's 10 runs were scored in the seventh inning by eight different players. The chaos began when the Vols (19-0, 2-0 SEC) loaded the bases thanks to back-to-back singles and stolen bases by Reese Chapman and Manny Marin, followed by a walk from Jay Abernathy.
Dean Curley answered the call with a bases-clearing double down the left-field line, extending the Vols' lead to 4-0.
Curley,
Hunter Ensley and
Gavin Kilen tacked on another three runs for the Big Orange to increase their lead to seven before Chapman called game with a three-run homer to right field. Chapman's long ball was the only homer of the game and his fifth of the year.
The only other run of the game came in the bottom of the second when Marin singled to score fellow freshman
Levi Clark after he reached base with a double earlier in the inning.
Both teams struggled to string hits together against each other's starting pitcher, as both starters combined for 13 strikeouts and allowed just eight total hits entering the seventh inning. Florida's freshman righthander Aidan King held UT to just one run on four hits while striking out six batters over six innings before being relieved to start the seventh.
Marcus Phillips earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the year after tossing his first-career complete game. The junior righthander set a career-high with seven innings pitched, striking out seven batters to hold the Gators (16-4, 0-2 SEC) scoreless for the first time this season. Phillips did not allow a walk until the sixth inning and scattered five hits on the day.
To go along with Phillips' masterful pitching performance, Tennessee's fielders provided him with plenty of help, making a number of impressive defensive plays.
Abernathy made two big plays in left field early in the game to keep UF off the scoreboard. The freshman threw out Colby Shelton at home plate to end the first inning before crashing into the wall to make a highlight-reel catch to end the top of the second.
Stone Lawless got the start behind the plate and threw out two base stealers while also making an incredible play to throw out Blake Cyr on a slow roller down the third-base line to record the first out of the seventh inning.
One batter later, Kilen made a great play at second base to retire Brendan Lawson for the second out. Lawless ended the inning with a dart down to second base to catch Brody Donay stealing to end the frame, setting the stage for the Vols' walk-off win.Tennessee will look to sweep Florida on Sunday afternoon as they cap off the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.