ARLINGTON, Texas — No. 9 Tennessee baseball opened the season with a victory against No. 21 Texas Tech at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tx. as part of the Shriners Children's College Showdown on Friday night.
Tennessee newcomer Billy Amick hammered his first home run as a Vol to give his new team a 2-0 lead and UT led the rest of the way in a 6-2 decision over the Red Raiders.
Amick proved to be the most productive hitter for the Vols in the opener. He went 2-for-4 with two hits including that two-run home run in the win. Amick was the Vols' only multi-hit performer, as well as the only player with multiple RBIs for Tennessee. Hunter Ensley and Bradke Lohry each picked up an RBI in the victory.
Tennessee pitcher AJ Russell started the game on a heater with eight strikeouts through three innings of work and was in total control through four innings, and he finished with ten strikeouts, two hits allowed and two earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
AJ Causey entered in relief and let up an two-RBI triple that resulted in two earned runs for Russell, but the Jacksonville State transfer shut the door from there and allowed just one more hit the rest of his outing while striking out six and accounting for no earned runs of his own in 4.3 innings.
Tennessee continues the Shriners Children's College Showdown on Saturday night when the Vols take on Oklahoma at Globe Life Field at 8 p.m.
