KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 Tennessee baseball beat Indiana, 12-6, in their NCAA Tournament Regional game on Saturday inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols took a lead in the top of the second inning when Dean Curley hit a two-run home run. Hunter Ensley got on base after drawing a walk and Curley brought him home for a 2-0 lead.
Later in the inning, Christian Moore hit a two-run home run. Cal Stark drew a walk in the previous at bat. That put UT up 4-0.
The Vols loaded the bases later in the second inning, but could not score any more runs.
Tennessee loaded the bases again in the top of the third inning with one out. Kavares Tears was walked, Dean Curley hit a single and then Stark drew another walk to get the bases loaded.
Moore then drew a walk for a 5-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded with two outs, Billy Amick hit a grand slam to give UT a 9-0 lead. It was his third home run in three games.
In the bottom of the third inning, Devin Taylor hit a three-run home run for the Hoosiers to cut the lead to 9-3. Indians got a tuner on third base in the inning after that with two outs, but the Vols wouldn’t allow another run.
Tennessee built back some of the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Stark hit a solo home run to put UT up 10-3.
Indiana brought in another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Carter Mathison hit a double to trim the Vols’ lead to 10-4. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hoosiers loaded the bases. UT got out of the inning just letting up the one run.
Tennessee responded with runs of their own: With runners on second and third base with no outs, in the top of the fifth inning, Tears hit a single to bring both runs home and put UT up 12-4.
Tennessee locked the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. They were unable to score.
The Vols need just one more win in the Regional to advance to the Super Regionals. They will play the winner of Indiana and Southern Mississippi at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
If they lose that game they will play again Monday against the team they lost to for a spot in the Super Regionals.
