#6 Georgia Defeats #7 Tennessee, 9-1

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 7/10 Tennessee fell to No. 6/6 Georgia 9-1 on Sunday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

The Lady Vols (31-5, 4-4 SEC) were able to get a run on the board in the second inning as an Aubrey Leach single up the middle scored Amanda Ayala from second. The rest of the game, however, belonged to the Bulldogs (31-4, 8-3 SEC), who scored two runs in the first, two in the third, three in the fourth and two more in the sixth to put the game away in six innings. 

After being shut out on Saturday, the Bulldogs were aggressive from the get go. Cortni Emanuel led the game off with a single up the middle, and then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Justice Milz drove her in with a single of her own, before she was brought home two batters later on a double down the left field line from Alysen Febrey.

Caylan Arnold falls to 13-3 on the season with the loss. Arnold went 4.2 innings for the Lady Vols, recording two strikeouts while giving up eight runs. Kylie Bass earned the win for UGA, as she went six innings and allowed one run to improve to 11-1. 

Georgia went deep in both the third and fourth inning to pull away. In the third, Mahlena O'Neal stepped in with a runner on and took the first pitch over the center field fence. In the fourth, Milz made it 7-1 with a two-out, three-run shot to left field. Three Georgia players recorded two hits on the day.

Tennessee Edged by South Carolina, 6-3

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Tennessee was edged by South Carolina, 6-3, in the final game of the series at Founders Park on Saturday.

With the loss, the Volunteers are now 17-12 overall and hold a 4-5 record in conference play while the Gamecocks are 17-11 on the season and own a 4-5 SEC record.

South Carolina scored the first run of the game in the third inning, using two hits and a Carlos Cortes sacrifice fly to go up 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, Tennessee scored three runs to take its first lead of the series. Sophomores Justin Ammons and Jay Charleston led off the frame with back-to-back walks. Andre Lipcius then knocked a two-RBI double down the left field line. Two at-bats later, designated hitter Evan Russell drove in Lipcius with a single to center, giving UT a 3-1 advantage.

The Gamecocks trimmed Tennessee's lead in the sixth, plating one run on two hits, a sacrifice bunt and infield groundout.

Threatening in the seventh, UT loaded the bases on two hits and a walk with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning before the Big Orange could plate a run.

South Carolina scored the tying run in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk before right-handed reliever Zach Linginfelter caught Hunter Taylor looking for the final out of the frame.

In the eighth inning, South Carolina took a permanent 6-3 lead. The Gamecocks used two RBI doubles to add the final three runs of the game to the board.

On the mound, starter Will Neely worked 5.1 innings in the no-decision. The junior allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five batters before handing the ball over to the bullpen.

Linginfelter faced two batters to finish the sixth frame and went on to toss 2.0 complete innings. Charged with the loss, he gave up three runs on three hits and struck out three. Freshman Chase Wallace and sophomore Andrew Schultz each threw 0.1 innings to close the game. In the eighth, Wallace allowed one run on one hit before Schultz came in to strike out the final batter faced.

Ammons Stands Out vs. South Carolina
Sophomore Justin Ammons led the Volunteers at the plate during the South Carolina series, batting .333 (3-for-9) with three runs scored. The right fielder also drew four walks and advanced to first on two errors to reach base a total of nine times throughout the three games.

Up Next
The Vols welcome the Belmont Bruins to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday, April 3 for a 6:30 p.m. ET midweek contest that will be aired on SEC Network + (WatchESPN). John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara will have the call on Sports Radio WNML (FM 99.1/AM 990) and UTSports.com.

Vols Sweep Doubleheader to Complete Series Sweep over Alabama

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –  Tennessee took both games of its Sunday doubleheader against rival Alabama to complete its first SEC series sweep since 2013 against Mississippi State.

The Volunteers received two complete-game performances from Garrett Stallings and Will Neely to improve to 16-9 overall and 4-2 in SEC play this season, which is the team's best start to conference play since also going 4-2 over the first six league games in 2008.

Both of Sunday's games will limited to seven innings. Recaps from each game can be found below.
 
Game 1: UT 2, Alabama 1
A complete-game performance from Garrett Stallings and another game-winning RBI walk for Evan Russell led Tennessee to a 2-1 comeback victory over Alabama in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

In a shortened seven-inning game, the Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead in the fifth before the Vols rallied to score twice in the bottom of the sixth and held on for the win to secure the series victory.

Stallings got his sixth start of the year for UT and went all seven innings to record his second complete game of the season. The sophomore right hander allowed just one unearned run on six hits and gave up just two hits after the second inning.

The Crimson Tide took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Vols to open the scoring in the top of the fifth to score its only run of the game.

With two outs and a runner on first, Alabama's Keith Holcombe hit a ground ball to the grass in right field that was fielded by Jay Charleston, who opted to throw to third to try and get the lead runner. Charleston's throw sailed high and went out of play, allowing pinch runner Connor Stutts to score and give the Tide a 1-0 lead.

After UT tied the game on a ground ball earlier in the inning, Russell was the hero yet again as he drove in the game-winning run with a bases-loaded walk for the second straight game. Stallings worked around a leadoff single in the seventh to secure the win and improve to 4-1 on the year.  
 
Game 2: UT 3, Alabama 0
Junior pitcher Will Neely threw a complete-game shutout in game two of Sunday's doubleheader to lead the Vols to a 3-0 win and a series sweep over the Crimson Tide.

The series sweep is the first in SEC play for Tennessee since May of 2015, when the Vols swept Mississippi State to wrap up the regular season.

For Neely, it was the second complete-game of the season and the first complete-game shutout of his career. The Knoxville native allowed just five hits and struck out four to improve to 3-1 on the year.

Andre Lipcius went 2-for-3 and scored a run while Benito Santiago and Justin Ammons both drove in runs with RBI singles to lead the offense.

The Big Orange jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first when Santiago drove in Jay Charleston with a single up the middle. Lipcius came all the way around from first to score on the play after the ball got under Joe Breaux's glove and rolled all the way to the wall in center field.

UT added an extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Ammons singled to right field to score Russell and put the Vols ahead 3-0 heading into the final inning.   

Neely retired the Tide in order in the seventh, striking out Keith Holcombe swinging to finish the game.

Notables
Walk It Out      
Vols' freshman Evan Russell drove in the game-winning runs in Friday's series opener and the first game of today's doubleheader, both via bases-loaded walks.

Going the Distance
With two more complete games today, Tennessee's starting pitchers have now thrown five already this year, which is the most in a single season since VFL Zack Godley threw all six for the Vols back in 2013.
Both Garrett Stallings and Will Neely have now thrown two complete games this season. Neither had ever thrown one entering this year.

Spring Cleaning
With today's two victories, the Vols recorded their first series sweep in SEC play since 2015, when they swept Mississippi State in the final series of the regular season. The Vols have now swept two opponents this year – Cincinnati being the other – marking the first time they have had a least two three-game series sweeps in a season since 2014.

Next Up
The Vols will play four games on the road next week starting with a midweek contest at Western Carolina on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, followed by three games at South Carolina on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

UT a Partner on $9.8M Hypersonics Development Project

A $9.8 million US Air Force Research Laboratory contract will team the University of Tennessee System; Purdue University; and the University of Dayton Research Institute on research and development of materials and structures for reusable hypersonic vehicles to travel at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound.

The University of Dayton Research Institute is the lead institution on the project.

At sea level, a speed five times the speed of sound translates to approximately 3,800 miles per hour— such extreme velocity that intense heat is generated by the vehicle. Understanding how that heat is transferred to the vehicle by the aerodynamic environment is critical to the vehicle design, according to H.H. Arnold Chair John Schmisseur, professor of mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical engineering at the UT Space Institute.

“Understanding the origin and transmission of the intense thermal loads generated on a hypersonic vehicle requires identification of regions of significant local heating that are often the greatest source of risk to the vehicle surface,” Schmisseur said. “Fortunately, within the UT System, we have outstanding capabilities for just such a complex analysis.”

Schmisseur, lead investigator for UT’s role in the project, will head a team of 15 faculty researchers from UTSI; UT Knoxville’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering; and UT Chattanooga. The team will be performing both numerical simulations and experiments to guide materials and structure design performed by the University of Dayton Research Institute. UT researchers will conduct aerodynamic and thermal analysis of the vehicle and environment.

“When we consider the integrated technical capabilities of the three UT campuses involved in this project, we have a lot of intellectual firepower to bring to bear on this challenging problem,” Schmisseur said.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has recognized aerospace and defense as a significant contributor to Tennessee’s economy, and this hypersonics project is intended to foster development of UT system-wide partnerships to enhance research and innovation in support of the sector, according to Schmisseur.

“We are grateful for the critical support of Sen. Lamar Alexander and Reps. Chuck Fleischmann and Scott DesJarlais in enabling this hypersonics partnership …. that facilitates collaboration across our UT campuses for the benefit of Tennessee and its aerospace and defense industries,” Schmisseur said. “The federal funding making resources available for this project is a strategic investment in national security and the advancement of research in Tennessee.”

Hypersonics is among multiple areas of emphasis in the UTSI research portfolio and long-range strategy, according to UTSI Executive Director Mark Whorton: “Through leadership in research in hypersonics, advanced propulsion, advanced materials, and system evaluation and testing, UTSI will be the gateway for aerospace and defense in Tennessee.”

Alexander voiced his support for the project and what it will mean for aerospace research in the United States.

“Congratulations to the University of Tennessee for being one of three universities selected to receive federal funding to research and develop hypersonic technology,” Alexander said. “This project, spearheaded by the UT Space Institute, will increase our nation’s defense capabilities by developing reusable hypersonic vehicles that can travel at five times the speed of sound. Tennessee has played a key role in scientific research for many decades, and with UT’s brainpower, our state will continue to play a key role in the development of our nation’s defense capabilities.”

Tennessee Topped by #4 Commodores, 6-0

Recap, photo courtesy of University of Tennessee

Aaron Soto throws career-high 7.2 innings vs. VU; Vandy takes series opener on Rocky Top

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Sophomore Aaron Soto and the Volunteers battled against No. 4-ranked Vanderbilt on Friday night, but the Commodores's Jordan Sheffield held off Tennessee for a 6-0 final in the series opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

With the loss, Tennessee moves to 21-17 on the season and 4-12 in conference play, while Vanderbilt now stands at 30-8 and 10-6 in SEC competition.

Sophomore lefty Aaron Soto worked 7.2 innings in his fifth start of the year, the longest outing for

Vols Rally Past MTSU, 4-2

Recap, photo courtesy of University of Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Following a ninth inning rally, the Tennessee Volunteers pushed past the MTSU Blue Raiders, 4-2, in Tuesday night's matchup at Reese Smith Jr. Field. Seniors Derek Lance, Chris Hall and Vincent Jackson led the Big Orange in the effort, combining for seven hits, three RBI and two runs scored.

With the win, Tennessee moves to 21-16 (4-11 SEC) on the year while the Blue Raiders are now 16-21 (4-11 C-USA).

Middle Tennessee State grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI-double hit down the

Tennessee Takes 2-0 Loss In Game Two vs. Auburn

Photo is courtesy of University of Tennessee

AUBURN, Ala. -- In Game Two of a three-game set against Auburn, Tennessee fell behind early and couldn't recover as the Vols took a 2-0 loss on Friday night at Plainsman Park.

With the loss, Tennessee moves to 38-89 in their all-time series against the Tigers including a 19-51 mark in games played in Auburn, Ala.

Just one game after outhitting Auburn 17-11 en route to a 13-4 series opener win, the Volunteers recorded two base knocks against Auburn starter Justin Camp, contributed by senior Chris Hall (1-for-4) and junior Max Bartlett (1-for-3).

The top of Auburn's order jumped out in the first inning and plated two runs on three hits against