Vols Sweep Doubleheader, Series vs Tide

Tennessee won both games of Sunday’s doubleheader to complete its sweep of Alabama. The sweep was Tennessee’s first in SEC play since 2015. Both games were both shortened to seven innings after Saturday’s game was rescheduled due to rain.

Tennessee won the first game 2-1 behind a complete game effort from Garrett Stallings, his second of the season.

The Vols were held scoreless by Alabama starter Jake Walters until the sixth inning, when Brodie Leftridge dribbled a ground ball to third and Justin Ammons scored on a throwing error. Later in the inning, Evan Russell drew a walk to score what would be the winning run for the second consecutive game.

Tennessee got its bats started much earlier in Game 2, scoring two runs in the first inning on a single from Benito Santiago and a subsequent error by Alabama center fielder Joe Breaux. Justin Ammons added an RBI single in the sixth inning to give the Vols an insurance run en route to a 3-0 victory.

Will Neely followed up Stallings’s complete game in Game 1 with a complete game shutout of his own in Game 2, allowing five hits and striking out three batters.

Tennessee improved its record to 16-9 overall and 4-2 in the SEC this weekend, a great start for a team picked to finish last in the SEC East.

The Volunteers will play at Western Carolina on Tuesday and go on the road for a three-game series against South Carolina next weekend.