It was all Tennessee early on but Evansville stormed back to plate 10 runs in the middle-third of the ballgame, forcing a decisive winner-take-all game three, following the 10-8 victory over the Vols on Saturday afternoon from Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Knoxville Super Regional will now be decided Sunday evening at 6 o’clock eastern time on ESPNU. Tennessee will serve as the home team.
The Vols (54-12) hammered three home runs in the first inning and led 4-0 through the first two frames, but the Purple Aces (39-25) stormed back to belt three home runs over three-straight innings for crooked numbers from the ‘home’ team. Tennessee made a push with three ninth inning runs, but ultimately wasn’t enough.
Drew Beam got the start and allowed five runs over 4.2 innings. He was one out away from escaping the onslaught that began the 10-run barrage for the Aces. It was Kirby Connell (4-1) who is charged with the loss while allowing one run over 0.0 innings pitched. Jakob Meyer (4-4) earned the victory after allowing only one run over 3.2 innings of relief with one strikeout and two walks.
With the season on the line, Tennessee will pivot to Zander Sechrist who will start Sunday’s contest. But first, here’s how it all happened for the Vols on Saturday in a game two super regional loss to Evansville.
Scoring Summary
Top 1: Blake Burke sent a solo home run to left-centerfield. Vols 1-0
Top 1: Dylan Dreiling homered to right-center. Vols 2-0Top 1: Hunter Ensley went back-to-back with a homer to left-center. Vols 3-0
Top 2: Blake Burke drove in Dean Curley on a sac fly to centerfield. Vols 4-0
Bot 4: Brent Widder drove in the fts run for the Purple Aces on a groundout to short. Vols 4-1Bot 4: Cal McGinnis belted a two-run home run to right. Vols 4-3
Top 5: Kavaes Tears doubled in Dylan Dreiling on a drive down the right field line. Vols 5-3
Bot 5: Kip Fougerousse singled in a run up the middle. Vols 5-4
Bot 5: Brent Widder singled up the middle to tie the ballgame. Tied 5-5
Bot 5: Cal McGinnis handed Evansville the lead with an RBI single to right. Aces 6-5
Bot 6: Brendan Hord sent a two-run home run out to left. Aces 8-5
Bot 6: Kip Fougerousse sent a two-run homer out to left-center. Aces 10-5
Top 9: Hunter Ensley singled off the wall in centerfield to drive in a run. Aces 10-6
Top 9: Kavares Tears waked with the bases loaded. Aces 10-7
Top 9: Dean Curley sacrifice fly to left field. Aces 10-8
The Final Stats
Knoxville Super Regional Schedule
Friday: Tennessee 11, Evansville 6 | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Tony Vitello
Saturday: Evansville 10, Tennessee 8 | Final Stats
Sunday (if necessary): Tennessee vs. Evansville | 6 pm ET | ESPNU
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