5/13/2023 baseball Edit

Tennessee claims third-straight SEC home series with win over Kentucky

Zane Denton heads to first after driving in an RBI in the second inning of Tennessee's series-clinching win over Kentucky on Saturday. (University of Tennessee Athletics)

Noah Taylor • VolReport

Managing Editor

Noah is a graduate of the UT College of Journalism & Electronic Media and has covered Tennessee football since 2019. He joined Rivals in 2022.

Tennessee continues to be at its best on its home turf.

The No. 23 Vols used multiple four-run innings and held off a seventh inning push to beat No. 17 Kentucky, 10-7 and claim a critical series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Saturday.

Tennessee (35-16, 14-12 SEC) has won three-straight home conference series.

Left fielder Jared Dickey paced the Vols at the plate, finishing 2-of-4 with four RBIs as part of a 12-hit performance from Tennessee batters.

Starting right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (6-5) earned the win, tossing six strikeouts while allowing five hits and three runs in 5.0 innings of work.

Blake Burke worked a lead-off walk to start the bottom second and Christian Moore followed with a single to left to put two runners on with no outs.

Griffin Merritt drove in a run with an RBI single to center then Zane Denton brought in another with his single to put Tennessee ahead 2-0.

Christian Scott loaded the bases on a bunt and Maui Ahuna paid it off with a single to left to plate two more runs in the frame.

Kentucky (34-15, 14-12) got one back in the third with Grant Smith's solo shot to get on the board at 4-1 but Dickey widened the gap even further with a two-out grand slam off the scoreboard to swell the Vols' lead to 8-1 in the fourth.

Emillien Pitre got to Dollander in the sixth with a two RBI double off the wall in right-center that cut the advantage to 8-3 with no outs. Kentucky inched closer with a James McCoy double off of Camden Sewell who came out of the bullpen to replace Dollander.

Kentucky plated three more runs in the seventh but a reliever Chase Burns' strikeout helped Tennessee escape from the inning with the lead still intact then Denton provided some much-needed insurance with a double into left that scored two in the bottom half.

Tennessee will for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network Plus.

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