No. 14 Tennessee will play in a regional final for the sixth straight NCAA tournament after downing Cincinnati, 10-6, in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols (45-16) extended their NCAA regional winning streak to 14 games with Saturday's victory over the Bearcats (33-25).
UT got another solid performance on the mound from its starter, as
Marcus Phillips provided the Big Orange with a quality start to earn the win and improve to 4-4.
The junior righthander tied a career high with eight strikeouts and allowed just three runs on four hits over six-plus innings of work.
A four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference in the game as Tennessee extended its lead from two to six before adding two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth. A two-run double by
Andrew Fischer was the biggest hit of the inning while
Dean Curley and
Reese Chapman also drove in runs.
The Vols' infield foursome along with catcher
Cannon Peebles produced nearly all of UT's offense on Saturday night, combining for 11 hits, eight runs and nine RBIs.
Curley was the catalyst in the early going, driving in UT's first three runs with a two-run single in the top of the first and a solo blast off the batter's eye in the third. The sophomore second baseman finished with a game-high four RBIs.
Gavin Kilen led all players with four hits and three runs scored from the leadoff spot while Fischer had another productive night, as well, going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Peebles had a pair of doubles for the second straight game and also scored twice while
Manny Marin drove in the Vols' final two runs of the game with a single in the top of the ninth.
AJ Russell added another solid outing to his recent string of impressive pitching performances. The junior righthander struck out a season-high six batters and did not allow an earned run in 2.2 innings of relief.
Brandon Arvidson earned his first career save after coming on to record the game's final out with two Cincinnati runners in scoring position. The talented lefty struck out pinch hitter Kory Klingenbeck to end the hopes of any potential Bearcats' rally.
Tennessee will await the winner of Sunday's elimination game between Cincinnati and Wake Forest, who will square off at noon (ET).
Game two of the day is slated for a 6 p.m. (ET) first pitch. A win would send the Vols to their fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional.
Television networks for both games on Sunday have yet to be determined.