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Photo by Tiffany Esters/UTsports.com
Steven Gruver, junior left-handed pitcher out of Canfield, Ohio, pitches in the Vols' 4-0 season-opening win against Milwaukee Friday, Feb. 18, 2011.
Game stats
Khayyan Norfork didn't match his 4-for-5 performance in last season's opening-day performance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday. Still, he did pretty well.
Norfork blasted a three-run double in the bottom of the second inning to give the University of Tennessee all the runs it needed. The Vols shut out Wisconsin-Milwaukee 4-0 in front of 2,345 fans.
It's the first shutout for Tennessee coach Todd Raleigh and the first for the team since March 10, 2007, a 7-0 win over Siena. The Vols (1-0) will host the Panthers again today at 3 p.m.
"We've already done something we didn't do last year," Raleigh said. "We need to continue to build on it. We have some injuries in the bullpen so it's important to get guys going deep into the game like (starting pitcher Steven) Gruver did."
Gruver (1-0) was solid, if not spectacular in keeping Milwaukee (0-1) scoreless. The lefty pitched six innings, gave up eight hits, two walks and struck out eight.
Milwaukee could never do any serious damage to the ball, keeping Tennessee's outfielders' jerseys clean all game. The Panthers' first fly ball didn't come until the seventh inning.
Norfork's double came with two outs. Catcher Matt Ramsey stood on base after leading off the inning with a single. Shortstop Zach Osborne had drawn a walk and center fielder Andrew Toles was on first after being hit by a pitch when Norfork came to the plate.
"I was just trying to stay with my approach and go the other way the whole game," Norfork said. "On opening day a lot of guys come out anxious. Me, being an older guy, I've done it before."
The Vols added another run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Matt Duffy.
Last season Norfork, who transferred to Tennessee from Jackson State Community College, began his Division I career with four hits, an RBI and a stolen base in the opener.
Norfork tried to top the show he put on last year with an attempt to take home on a double steal in the seventh. Norfork was barely caught with a throw from Milwaukee second baseman Cole Craft to catcher Drew Pearson.
"I don't think we could have ran it any better than we did," Raleigh said. "I think Kay could have slid feet first instead of head first. It took a perfect throw. The toughest play in baseball is at the plate and they made it."
Former Farragut High School standout Nick Williams made his collegiate debut for the Vols in the ninth, retiring all three batters he faced and recording one strikeout.
Adam Greene is a freelance contributor.
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Comments » 6
Futurecoach16 writes:
Good win. Several things need to be worked out, but a very good outing for opening day. The Vols did not give the Panthers anything. I was mistaken when talking about the runs before: last year the Vols gave away 452 runs and were given 352 runs. 72% of the opponents' runs were given away. Gruver did a good job of buckling down and getting out of innings, with great defense behind him. The Vols were also very efficient with the 4 runs off 8 hits. Continue growing and get another win tomorrow. Go Vols!
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
1) That's not a bad crowd for a 4pm friday game. It being at 4 pm kept me from being able to go. 2) the last thing on my mind the day of the O/W game is baseball. Instead of packing the baseball stadium that day, we need to pack the football stadium and stop letting UGA, UF, and Bama make us look bad.
HOWEVER, I do get what you are saying OVERALL. I remember going to MANY games last year and the stadium was half full. Then listening to everyone gripe even though they wouldn't pony up $4 to go support the team. Some games the rivals S.E.C. crowds almost matched our crowd, shameful.
They really need to schedule better. Todays game is at 3pm. Sorry, but some won't interfere with the hoops game to go. They need to schedule the games better.
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
So if its a tie game with 5 minutes left you expect some folks to leave T.B.A. For the baseball stadium? I understand what you are saying about scheduling multiple events to draw interest to one another. But why not start the baseball game at 4-4:30 to ensure folks from the hoops game can make it. I'm not gonna pay for a hoops game only to miss the end to ensure I make it to the baseball field. But overall I'm in agreement with you that the scheduling could be better to help pack the house. The 4pm start yesterday was the ONLY reason I couldn't make it. Had it been 6, no problem. But 4.... Makes you think the person doing the scheduling had their head up their arss. Good post.
givehim6 writes:
Goog way too start the season. Hope this will be a great season.
TKO writes:
Can only imagine how good they could be with a real coach.
Futurecoach16 writes:
Vols get a series win today. 2-0 with mediocre relief pitching. Good closing pitching and efficient hitting won today's game. Excellent job Vols.
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