KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 9 Tennessee baseball avoided an upset on Tuesday night in its home opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium against UNC Asheville.
The Bulldogs took the first lead of the game and both teams entered the seventh inning tied at 2-2, but a Hunter Ensley sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame was the difference in the Vols' 3-2 victory.
Tennessee had to answer the call early in the night when UNCA took a 1-0 lead at the top of the first. Kavares Tears hit an opposite-field home run to knot the game up at 1-1 and then took the lead in the third courtesy of a Christian Moore RBI single.
UNC Asheville responded in the fifth inning when Ben Hemphill hit a clutch homer to make it a 2-2 game, but a timely sacrifice fly from Hunter Ensley with runners on the corners was the difference in a 3-2 Vols' win.
Tennessee used a trio of underclassmen on the mound in the victory. True freshman Derek Schaefer started the contest and threw three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out three. Sophomore Andrew Behnke entered in relief for 2.2 innings and allowed four hits with one earned run and five strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Austin Hunley earned his first collegiate win with one hit allowed and two strikeouts in a scoreless 3.1 innings of work.
The Vols keep the midweek schedule rolling at home when they host in-state ETSU on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
