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How it Happened: AJ Causey shoves, Billy Amick homers and Vols cruise by NKU, 9-3

On3 imageby: Eric Cain06/01/24_Cainer

Tennessee witnessed great efforts from AJ Causey on the mound and benefited from a big Billy Amick blast at the plate to handle Northern Kentucky 9-3 on Friday night in the Knoxville Regional from Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

With the win, the No. 1 seed Vols (51-11) move on to play No. 3 seed Indiana on Saturday at 6 o’clock eastern time. No. 2 seed Southern Miss will now take on No. 4 seed Northern Kentucky (35-23) on Saturday at noon in an elimination contest.

Tennessee combined for five runs in innings three and four, highlighted by a three-run home run from Amick. Hunter Ensley homered later in the seventh inning and Dylan Dreiling drilled a two-run shot out of the ballpark in the eighth. Cleary Simpson led off the game with a solo home run for the Nose while Liam McFadden-Ackman added another solo homer later in the eighth.

AJ Causey (12-3) earned the victory in relief after tossing 6.2 innings of two-run baseball wit nine strikeouts to only one walk. Northern Kentucky starting pitcher Tanner Gillis (8-3) took home the loss after allowing five runs off seven hits in just 3.1 innings of work.  

Tennessee is back in action Saturday night against the Hoosiers in Knoxville Regional play, but first, here’s how it all went down with the Norse on Friday.

Postgame Video

Scoring Summary

Top 1: Cleary Simpson led off the game with a solo home run to right. Norse 1-0
Bot 2: Reese Chapman singled to left and a defensive error allowed Kavares Tears to score. Tied 1-1

Bot 3: Kavares Tears walked with the bases loaded. Blake Burke scored. Vols 2-1
Bot 3: Dean Curley launched a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Billy Amick from third. Vols 3-1
Bot 4: Billy Amick registered a three-run home run to centerfield. Vols 6-1

Top 6: Liam McFadden-Ackman tallied a solo home run to right field. Vols 6-2
Top 7: Jake Paulick grounded out to first but drove in a run from third. Vols 6-3
Bot 7: Hunter Ensley drilled a home run to right field. Vols 7-3
Bot 8: Dylan Dreiling sent a two-run homer to right. Vols 9-3

The Final Stats

NCAA Knoxville Regional Schedule

Friday, May 31
Game 1 – [3] Indiana 10, [2] Southern Miss 4 | Final Stats
Game 2 – [1] Tennessee 9, [4] Northern Kentucky 3 | Final Stats

Saturday, June 1
Game 3 – [2] Southern Miss vs. [4] Northern Kentucky, Noon ET (ESPN+)
Game 4 – [3] Indiana vs. [1] Tennessee, 6 p.m. ET (TBD)

Sunday, June 2
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, Noon ET (TBD)
Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4, 6 p.m. ET (TBD)

Monday, June 3
Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6, TBD (TBD)