HOOVER, Ala — Tennessee Baseball advanced to the SEC Tournament semifinals with a win over Mississippi State on Friday in Hoover, Alabama.
The Vols took the lead in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Kavares Tears. Blake Burke scored.
In the top of the fourth, the Vols scored while Christian Moore was trying to steal second base. He didn't, but Reese Chapman scored while that was going on. UT went up 2-0.
Tennessee scored off a hit in the top of the fifth inning. Dean Curley hit a single. Hunter Ensley scored and UT went up 3-0.
Mississippi State loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting on base once and knocking their first base hit off Drew Beam. Beam would walk David Mershon, which made the score 3-1.
Connor Hujsak then hit a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3.
The two teams exchanged some words after Moore responded to something the Bulldogs said or did. The umpires broke it up before it escalated.
The Vols made a pitching change, bringing Aaron Combs in. Dakota Jordan then brought in more runs and Mississippi State led 5-3.
UT loaded the basses in the top of the seventh inning. They would tie it up as Cannon Peebles reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Hunter Ensley and Dean Curley scored on an error. That tied the game at 5-5.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Vols retook the lead. Burke hit a solo home run and UT went up 6-5.
The Vols wouldn't allow another run and went on to win.
Tennessee advances to the SEC Tournament semifinals where they will play Vanderbilt at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Commodores handed UT their loss in the SEC Tournament winning 13-4.
