Vols settle for 'some confidence' against Tennessee Tech, 7-5

Tennessee's baseball team may enjoy today's bus ride a little more thanks to their victory Wednesday night.

The Vols leave for their SEC weekend series at Florida after beating Tennessee Tech 7-5 in front of 1,466 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

"You don't want to get on the bus leaving as early as we're leaving (this morning) and playing a late game with a loss," UT coach Todd Raleigh said. "I think it gives us some confidence. I'd like to have swung the bats better and give our hitters a little confidence, but I think our pitchers are feeling pretty good and our defense is feeling pretty good."

UT (9-9) had seven hits to 11 hits for Tech (10-5). The Vols took advantage of nine walks.

Tech first baseman A.J. Kirby-Jones, a sophomore from Webb School, went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBI.

"It's always tough when you lose, no matter how good a game you have," said Kirby-Jones, who has seven homers and 28 RBIs this season. "When you lose a tough game like that, it doesn't make you feel too good."

Kirby-Jones gave Tech a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run home run off Steven Gruver.

The Vols scored a run in the third when Kentrail Davis hit a fly that left fielder Tate McMillan appeared to lose in the lights, and it fell in for a triple. Davis scored on Cody Brown's RBI single, and Blake Forsythe was thrown out at the plate.

Kirby-Jones' RBI single in the fifth gave the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead. UT starting third baseman Tyler Horne suffered an apparent shoulder injury in the fifth while taking a throw on a stolen base.

"I think it's his shoulder," Raleigh said. "Let's hope for the best."

In the fifth, Tech starter Chad Oberaker walked Josh Liles and Davis to start the inning. Blake Forst entered in relief and walked Forsythe and Cody Hawn, scoring a run. Cody Brown's sacrifice fly tied it at 3-all.

Mike Hornsby, who replaced Horne at third, hit an RBI fielder's choice and reached on an error for a 4-3 lead. Zach Osborne's infield single scored Hawn. It was 5-3.

Kirby-Jones led off the seventh with a homer to center field off Aaron Tullo, who entered at the start of the sixth.

Osborne's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Brown, who reached on an error, for a 6-4 lead. Forsythe tripled off the top of the wall in the eighth and scored on a balk.

Tech threatened in the ninth off Jeff Lockwood, who walked leadoff hitter Alex Henry and gave up a single to Oberaker. Ty'Relle Harris relieved and retired Kirby-Jones on a double play. Two batters later, Harris ended the game when Brandon Crossman popped up.

"After yesterday (a loss to Coastal Carolina), I think we came out and pressed," Raleigh said. "I think we were ready to play. We just pressed a little bit."