Tennessee Tops Lipscomb 8-5

Tennessee (2-2) defeated Lipscomb (2-2) 8-5 on Tuesday in its first midweek game of the 2018 season.

Tennessee struck for two runs in the first inning with an RBI single from Pete Derkay and an RBI groundout from Andre Lipcius.

Lipscomb answered in the top of the second with a solo home run from Josh Martinez. The Bisons added another run in the third to tie the game at two.

The Vols regained control in the bottom half of the inning, though, with a two-run single from freshman third baseman Wyatt Stapp. Fellow freshman Zach Daniels then added a grand slam - also the first hit of his career - in the third to make it 8-2, a lead Tennessee would not relinquish.

“It felt really good. I came a long way, so it felt really good for it to be a grand slam,” Daniels said of his first career hit. “My teammates and coaches told me to relax and stay within myself and let the work ethic make the results happen.”

“It’s fun to see them get out there and experience it for the first time,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said of the freshmen in the Vols’ lineup. “But also come to the understanding that after a little time passes, it’s just baseball.”

Tennessee will take on UNC Greensboro in a three-game series beginning Friday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.