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How it Happened: Vols clinch series-win over Gonzaga, 7-2 on Saturday

On3 imageby: Eric Cain03/05/23_Cainer
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Credit: UT Athletic Communications

Tennessee made it 10-straight wins Saturday night with a 7-2 victory over Gonzaga. Like yesterday’s affair, it took a while for the bats to come alive. But a Kyle Booker solo home run tied the ballgame in the sixth and a 5-run seventh put the game away.

Chase Burns picked up a no-decision on the night, though he was sharp in 6.1 innings of work. The righty tallied eight strikeouts on 86 pitches. Reliever Kirby Connell (1-0) was the winner, coming on to finish the last two outs of the seventh before the Vols took the lead in the home half of the frame. Payton Graham (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs in 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Tennessee (10-2) and Gonzaga (1-9) will be back at it again for game three of the series on Sunday (1 pm ET). But how did it all happen on a Saturday night? We find out below.

Scoring Summary

Top 2nd: Tommy Eisenstat singled and Grayson Sterling doubled behind him. With two outs, Sam Canton doubled to right-center field, scoring two.

2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB – Score: Gonzaga 2-0

Bottom 3rd: Christian Moore eld off the inning with a walk. Blake Burke doubled into the corner in right field to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Zane Denton popped out into foul territory. Griffin Merritt flew out to center field, plating Moore on the sacrifice fly. Maui Ahuna flied out to end the inning.

1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB – Score: Gonzaga 2-1

Bottom 6th: Kyle Booker launched a two out solo home run over the wall in right-center field to tie the ballgame at two runs apiece. It was Booker’s first home run of the season.

1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB – Score: Tennessee 2, Gonzaga 2

Bottom 7th: Jared Dickey andChristian Moore walked with one out. Blake Burke drove them both in on a three-run line drive home run to right field. Zane Denton walked and came around to score on a two-run blast to straightaway center field from Griffin Merritt. Maui Ahuna and Kyle Booker struck out to end the inning.

5 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB – Score: Tennessee 7-2  

The Final Stats

Postgame Video

How to watch, stream listen

Stream: SEC Network+ | ESPN App | WatchESPN

Listen: Vol Radio Network | UTSports.com | Tennessee Athletics Gameday App

Live Stats: SideArm

Tennessee’s weekly game schedule

Tuesday: No. 3 Tennessee 6, Charleston Southern 1 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes

Wednesday: No. 3 Tennessee 8, Charleston Southern 2 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes

Friday: No. 3 Tennessee 8, Gonzaga 2 | Box Score | How it Happened | Four Takes

Saturday: No. 3 Tennessee 7, Gonzaga 2 | Box Score

Sunday: No. 3 Tennessee vs. Gonzaga | 1 pm ET | SEC Network+

Tennessee in the polls this week

USA Today: No. 2

D1 Baseball – No. 3

Perfect Game – No. 5

Baseball America – No. 6

Collegiate Baseball – No. 6

NCBWA – No. 6

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