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'Thank you, Zane Denton!': Listen to The Vol Network's call of Tennessee's go-ahead HR in ninth at Clemson

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey06/04/23GrantRamey

John Wilkerson gave Zane Denton two options on The Vol Network broadcast Saturday night, as Tennessee trailed No. 4 Clemson 4-2 in the top of the ninth inning.

With two runners on and two outs, Denton could chip away at the two-run deficit the Vols were facing with the game on the line. Or he could turn the game upside down.

“Zane Denton hopes to pull Tennessee closer,” Wilkerson said on the radio play-by-play of the NCAA Tournament game at the Clemson Regional, “or give the Vols the lead.”

Denton ignored the first option.

After going down 0-2 in the count with runners on the corners and two outs, Denton watched the next two pitches, then cranked the go-ahead three-run home run over the left field fence and out of a stunned and silent Doug Kingsmore Stadium. 

Wilkerson reacted appropriately:

John Wilkerson: “Two balls, two strikes, two down. Kicks and delivers. Pitch hit high in the air towards left field! Going down the line, let’s see is it fair? IT IS! ZANE DENTON HAS GIVEN TENNESSEE THE LEAD! With two outs in the bottom of the ninth the Volunteers have life, and now they have the upper hand! His second blast for the Big Orange in tonight’s ballgame! He tees off on the 2-2 offering and Tennessee leads Clemson 5-4! Thank you Zane Denton!”

Clemson would tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, on a Cam Cannarella RBI double, and play continued. Eventually the Vols won 6-5 in 14 innings after Hunter Ensley doubled and Maui Ahuna scored from first in the top of the 14th.

The instant classic was much more than just Denton’s two-strike, two-out home run and Clemson’s instant response in the ninth, though. 

The Vols needed a double play to get out of the bottom of the 10th after Clemson loaded the bases with no outs. After Chase Burns recorded a strikeout, he got a ground ball for the inning-ending double play, which required a replay review and overturn after the call on the field was safe, which would’ve meant a walk-off win for Clemson.

The Tigers returned the favor in the 13th, when Christian Scott grounded into an inning ending double play after Tennessee loaded the bases with one out. 

Up Next: Tennessee vs. Clemson/Charlotte, Sunday, 6 p.m. ET

Tennessee (40-19) now finds itself in the driver’s seat of the Clemson Regional, needing one win Sunday to advance to the Super Regional round.

Clemson (44-18) and Charlotte (35-27) play the early game Sunday, with the winner advancing to face the Vols later Sunday in a. 6 p.m. ET game.

Should the Vols lose the evening game, the two teams would play again Monday in an elimination game with a Super Regional berth on the line.

There’s a chance Tennessee could host a Super Regional in Knoxville next weekend, with Auburn, the No. 13 overall seed in the 64-team field, already eliminated in the Auburn Regional. 

Penn, Samford and Southern Miss are still alive in the Auburn Regional, with Penn having the advantage with a 2-0 record through two days. Southern Miss and Samford play at 3 p.m. ET with the winner advancing to face Penn at 9 p.m. ET.