Tennessee won its first six midweek baseball games this season by at least five runs.
Tuesday night was different.
Blake Grimmer’s two-run home run to right-center field with two out in the ninth inning propelled the No. 20 Volunteers to a 4-2 triumph over USC Upstate before 5,977 fans inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee improved to 18-7 and has won three straight, while the Spartans fell to 12-14.
“There were some things we did well and there were some things we did not do well at all tonight, but you never take for granted the chance to win a game on your home field,” Tennessee coach Josh Elander said in a press conference. “When we hit last in our home park, we’re going to feel good about it. It was good to see Grimm get that swing.”
USC Upstate pulled into a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth on Trey Bentley’s one-out double to right that scored Preston Lucas, who had opened the inning with a double to left. Both of those hits came off Vols relief pitcher Bo Rhudy, the former Gordon Lee and Kennesaw State standout.
Rhudy worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning but no longer has an earned run average under 1.00, with the ninth-inning run bumping it to 1.86. Brayden Krenzel replaced Rhudy and got the save.
“I thought Rhudy was good,” Elander said. “Obviously, he gave up a couple of doubles late, but he’s competing in the zone and not walking guys.”
Taylor Tracey started the game for Tennessee, but walked the bases loaded with one out before allowing a Spartans run on a fielder’s choice. That 1-0 USC Upstate lead held until the seventh, when a two-out single to right-center by Blaine Brown scored Jay Abernathy and Levi Clark.
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“I think it’s good for us to win these midweek games,” Krenzel said. “That was a good team that came in here and wanted to play some scrappy baseball.”
The Vols return to Southeastern Conference play this weekend at Vanderbilt, beginning with Friday night’s series opener (8 Eastern on ESPNU).
Nuwer no-hits Tech
Erin Nuwer pitched a no-hitter over six innings Tuesday night as the No. 4 Lady Vols blanked Tennessee Tech 8-0 in NCAA softball action.
Nuwer improved to 12-1 on the season while lowering her ERA to 0.74.
Sophia Knight and Emma Clarke had two hits apiece for Tennessee, while Maddi Rutan’s two-run home run in the second inning put the Lady Vols up 2-0 and would be all the offense Nuwer needed.
The Lady Vols (29-3) will remain at home this weekend when they host Ole Miss.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.