KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 4 Tennessee rallied late in the game to achieve a 3-1 series victory over defending national champion LSU. The Vols clinched the Game 2 win in front of a record 6,155 people inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Saturday night.
The game was marked by an intense pitching duel between UT's Drew Beam and LSU's Luke Holman. With both teams struggling to find early offense, the tension was palpable as they battled it out on the mound.
LSU scored first in the top of the second when Stephen Milam bunted the ball down the third base line to score Michael Braswell, giving the team a 1-0 lead.
That score remained the same until Tennessee rallied in the bottom of the sixth. The Vols hit an infield single and a double before Dylan Dreiling came in clutch with a blast to right center, scoring two and giving Tennessee a lead they wouldn't surrender.
In the eighth inning, Billy Amick took the plate and hit the solo homer of the night, helping Tennessee capture the series victory.
Although the hits came late, Tennessee's gritty defense was enough to grab a big series win against a top contender in the league.
Beam finished pitching 6.2 innings, striking out five and allowing eight hits but just one run. It was a gutty effort from him on the mound, and now the Vols have a chance to capture their first series sweep of the season, knowing they can pull out a win without a massive offensive showing.
Tennessee plays in Game 3 against LSU on Sunday, April 14. The matchup will start at 3 p.m. inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee basketball guard Dalton Knecht will throw out the first pitch before the game.
