HOUSTON — Tennessee’s baseball team faced its first true test of the season Friday night, taking on Big 12 power Texas on opening night of the Houston College Classic.

Right-hander Steve Crmkovich (2-0) delivered six solid innings and relievers Joey Rosas and Aaron Everett pitched the Vols out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings for a 5-4 victory before 7,479 at Minute Maid Park.

Leading by a run in the bottom of the seventh with Texas runners on second and third and one out, Rosas got No. 3 hitter Jordan Danks to hit a soft liner behind second that Andy Simunic ran down and relayed to shortstop Danny Lima for a double play to end the inning.

Everett took over for Rosas in the eighth, also with a one-run lead. and a runner on third and one out. He struck out pinch-hitter Kevin Keyes, walked a batter and then retired David Hernandez on a grounder to escape the jam.

Former Halls High School star Jeff Lockwood, who began the game as Tennessee’s designated hitter, finished it by pitching the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

“Our bullpen was phenomenal,” said UT coach Todd Raleigh. “Joey got the double play, Everett came in and gave up nothing and Lockwood gave up nothing.

“We were loose. We tried to keep it business as usual. It’s a great experience.”

The Vols (4-1) will play Texas Tech (2-4), which lost to Houston 5-4, today at 4:30 EST.

Crmkovich went 6 1⁄3 innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, striking out three and walking one, but it was the relievers that helped get him the win.

“I really wanted to get in the game, playing against Texas and having the game on the line,” said Rosas. “The nervousness goes out when you leave the bullpen. The only pitches I threw were split fingers.”

Everett went with his best, a slider, to record two big outs.

“I was not trying to be too picky, because I had bases open,” said the former Loudon standout. “The atmosphere was incredible. I always dreamed of playing a team like Texas. Hopefully, this is a glimpse of the future.”

The retractable roof at Minute Maid, home of the Houston Astros, was open with a game-time temperature of 65 degrees for the first meeting between the teams.

“It’s hard not to catch yourself looking around, thinking about all the great players who have played here,” UT third baseman Cody Brown said of the ballpark that opened in 2000.

Simunic and Kentrail Davis, the top two hitters in the Tennessee lineup, reached base three times apiece, each collecting two singles and a walk.

Texas, ranked No. 14 in Baseball America, scored a run in the first off Crmkovich with a hit batter, sacrifice and double down the left-field line.

The Longhorns (5-1) scored another run in the second and had runners on first and third with two outs. They attempted a double steal, but the Vols cut down the lead runner with Lima cutting off the throw from catcher Blake Forsythe and throwing back to Forsythe at the plate for the third out.

Tennessee, starting four freshmen for the second time this season, scored its first run in the third when Forsythe walked, P.J. Polk sacrificed him to second and Davis scored him with a single to center to cut the Longhorns’ lead to 2-1.

The Vols took the lead in the seventh by scoring three runs, two of them unearned, on one hit.

Lima opened the inning by reaching base on an error. Then Forsythe walked and Polk moved up both runners with a sacrifice. Simunic walked to load the bases and Davis walked to force in a run and tie the game. Brown singled to left to score one and an errant throw by Texas outfielder Russell Moldenhauer, the second error of the inning, allowed Simunic to score and give the Vols a 4-2 lead.

“I haven’t gotten up with runners in scoring position,” Brown said. “(Texas starter Austin Wood’s) best pitch is a curveball. That’s what he threw me and I was a little out front.”

Gomes then hit into a fielder’s- choice play, that resulted in a run down between third and home with Brown finally being tagged out, Davis allowed to stay at third and Texas coach Augie Garrido ejected after a lengthy argument.

Oklahoma, the Vols’ opponent Sunday, lost to Rice 7-2.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.