Lipscomb brings Vols back to earth

David Lipscomb University didn't look like much of a challenge for a Tennessee baseball team suddenly ranked 30th by Collegiate Baseball this week.

Looks were deceiving Tuesday night in Nashville.

The Bisons rallied for a 6-4 victory to snap UT's eight-game winning streak and bring the Vols (12-5) back to earth after a weekend sweep of LSU.

Lipscomb (8-8) took control when it scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 6-2 lead. It was just enough breathing room as Tennessee mounted a rally with two runs and two men on base when the final out came in the ninth.

UT's Cody Brown, Yan Gomes, Shawn Griffin and Jeff Lockwood each collected two hits for a 10-hit Vols' attack, but it wasn't enough as reliever Aaron Everett (1-2) suffered the loss.

UT's Kentrail Davis had an RBI double in the first inning and a Griffin single scored Brown to give the Vols a 2-1 lead after three innings. Lipscomb added a run in the fifth off starter Joey Rosas, but it stayed 2-2 until the Bisons exploded in the eighth.

Lockwood relieved Everett in the eighth after a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt, but Lipscomb ended up rocking Lockwood for four hits and three runs in 2/3 of an inning.

Griffin and Lockwood had RBI singles in the ninth, but it was too little too late.

Tennessee tries to get back on track with a visit to Louisville at 3 p.m. today. The Vols travel to Georgia for a three-game series this weekend.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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