Tennessee baseball makes history, sweeps Florida to open SEC play

This is the best start for a defending champion in NCAA Division I history. It tops the mark set by the 1997 LSU squad of 19 wins to open the year.

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Tennessee (20-0, 3-0 SEC) now continues to build its case to be considered the top team in the country. It came in as the No. 2 squad on D1Baseball but has now swept the No. 7 Gators (16-5, 0-3) at home.

The Vols got their biggest swings from Reese Chapman and Gavin Kilen as the pair hit home runs. However, it was a crucial double by Cannon Peebles that gave Tennessee the lead.

Freshman Tegan Kuhns got the start and went 2.2 innings with no earned runs allowed. Earning the win was Dylan Loy who went three full innings without a run. Nate Snead earned the save.

WHAT HAPPENED

Tennessee struck first in the game with a Dean Curley ground out in the bottom of the third that pushed a run across.

However, the fourth inning swung in the direction of the Gators. Florida got all four of its runs in the frame via a double, fielder's choice and caught stealing with good timing.

These runs were all pinned on Brandon Arvidson with just one going down as earned.

In the bottom of the fourth, Tennessee got one back on a Chapman walk with the bases loaded. The next inning, Kilen homered to bring the score within one.

This made way for Peebles' big swing in the sixth. His double to right scored a pair and gave the Vols the lead. Chapman then got an insurance swing for a two-ruin shot in the bottom of the eighth.

Slamming the door late was the combination of Loy and Snead who didn't allow any runs to cross.

UP NEXT

Tennessee will stay at home for a midweek clash before hitting the road. On Tuesday, the Vols will host ETSU at 5 p.m. ET on SECN+.

Then, Tennessee heads to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama. The series is set for Thursday-Saturday with the first match on ESPNU and second pair on SECN+.

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