Harris becomes eligible, gives Vols boost in debut

Harris

Ty'Relle Harris waited and waited and waited to become eligible to pitch for the University of Tennessee's baseball team.

Finally, Harris got his chance to throw Sunday afternoon, and he made the most of it.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander from Compton, Calif., entered in relief, pitched the Vols (7-4) out of a jam, and retired all seven batters he faced during UT's 8-7 victory in 10 innings over Eastern Michigan (0-13) in the first game of a doubleheader at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Nobody was happier to see Harris on the mound than UT coach Todd Raleigh, whose team beat Eastern Michigan, 5-1, in the second game for the series sweep.

"It's good to have him," Raleigh said. "We've been really counting on him, but to come out like that after not really getting to play, it was a big boost for us."

Harris, a transfer from University of the Pacific and Sacramento City College, was cleared to play by the NCAA on Friday during the Vols' first game against Eastern Michigan.

Raleigh said when UT received Harris' transcript it didn't include the fact that Harris had graduated from Sacramento City College.

The wait to be cleared was tough on Harris.

"I transferred in at the (Christmas) break," he said. "I was coming here to help these guys out. They worked hard over the fall. I was kind of expecting to come here and go right away. It was like two months for them to clear me to be eligible, so basically I told myself to let it all out on the field today, don't hold nothing back."

Harris entered in relief of UT starter Nick Hernandez in the fifth inning with the Vols' leading 6-5, runners on first and second, and one out.

Harris retired Zack Leonard on a 5-4-3 double play.

"I came in before the inning and Coach Raleigh said my job was to get a ground ball and get the double play," Harris said.

Harris struck out the first two in the sixth and ended the inning with a popup. He retired the side in the seventh on a groundout, fly ball, and popup.

"Today my breaking ball was kind of flat a little bit," Harris said. "I was kind of revved up and wanting to throw my fastball. I like throwing my fastball a lot."

Danny Wiltz (1-0) got the win in relief of Jeff Lockwood, who blew a save opportunity in the ninth by giving up two runs on three hits.

The Vols' tied the game in the ninth on Shawn Griffin's pinch-hit, RBI double, and won it in the 10th on Alan Wright's bloop RBI single. It was the first UT career hit for Wright, a sophomore.

In the second game, the Vols rode the pitching of redshirt freshman Bryan Morgado (2-1), who gave up four hits and one earned run in five innings. He struck out nine.

"I didn't think today (Morgado) was as sharp as his first two (starts)," Raleigh said. "He was still good today."