CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Connor Pavolony hit a grand slam as Tennessee eliminated UNC Wilmington with a 10-3 win Saturday on the second day of an NCAA baseball tournament regional hosted by the University of North Carolina.
Ricky Martinez drove in two runs and finished with three hits, and Pete Derkay added an RBI to help the second-seeded Volunteers (39-20) stay alive in the four-team, double-elimination event. The game started less than 12 hours after the end of Tennessee's rain-delayed 6-1 loss to third-seeded Liberty (43-20) that started late Friday and didn't finish until after midnight.
The Vols will take on Liberty - which lost 16-1 to top-seeded North Carolina (44-17) later Saturday - Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner will advance to face the Tar Heels, who will have two chances to win one game starting Sunday. If necessary, North Carolina and the Liberty-Tennessee winner would play again Monday.
Pavolony's drive off reliever Luke Gesell capped a five-run eighth inning that put Tennessee up 10-1.
Garrett Crochet (5-3) allowed two hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn the victory.
Landon Roupp (6-3) allowed two earned runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings for fourth-seeded UNC Wilmington (32-31).