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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University sophomore
Michael Garcia’s grand slam with two outs in the top of the 10th made the difference as the Colonel baseball team upset SEC foe Tennessee on the road, 8-7, Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the score tied 4-4, the bases packed and two outs in the top of the 10th, Garcia launched a 2-2 fastball over the wall in left field for his first home run of the season, clearing the bags and giving the Colonels a seemingly safe four-run advantage.
In the bottom of the 10th, however, junior
Ryne Purcell got two quick outs before allowing two runs on a solo home run by Matt Hamaker, three consecutive singles and a walk.
With the lead down to two, sophomore
Matt Harris came on in relief of Purcell and inherited the bases loaded. After walking the first batter he faced to make the score 8-7, Harris got Matt Duffy to ground out to second to end the game.
Purcell (1-0) received the win, going three innings and allowing three runs – all in the 10th inning - on five hits. In recording the final out of the game, Harris earned his first career save.
Sophomore southpaw
Greg Terry started on the hill for EKU and pitched admirably, working three innings and surrendering just one run on three hits. Junior
Macon Smith threw three innings after Terry and gave up three runs on three hits. Freshman
Austin Rexroat and sophomore
Eric Sanders retired a batter each in the sixth inning before giving way to Purcell.
Matt Ramsey (0-1) picked up the loss for Tennessee as he went three innings and allowed four runs on four hits.
Junior
Jayson Langfels led EKU offensively, batting 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. His double to lead off the bottom of the 10th galvanized the rally that would eventually win it for the Colonels.
Hamaker paced the UT offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Sophomore
Richie Rodriguez put the Colonels on the board first in the top of the second as he delivered a two out double with the bases loaded that scored senior
Joey Stevens and junior
Richie Allen.
After the Vols got one back in the bottom half of the inning, Langfels made it 3-1 in the top of the third with a solo shot to right center. The Colonels added another when Allen drove a sacrifice fly to center that plated senior
Anthony Ottrando.
Charley Thurber reduced the lead to two with an opposite field solo blast to left in the fourth, and then Hamaker tied it with a two-run homer in the sixth.
Tennessee threatened in the seventh as the Vols loaded the bases with just one out; however, Sanders struck out Duffy swinging before Purcell came on and got Thurber to fly out to center.
Neither team would score again until Garcia’s slam in the 10th.
It is the Colonels’ first win over an SEC team since 1999, when they defeated Kentucky, 9-8.
The EKU baseball team returns to action this weekend when they travel to play Presbyterian in a three game series.