Tennessee’s pitching staff holds Gamecocks to four hits; Matt Waldren hits first home run in loss
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Vols pitchers limited No. 7 South Carolina to just four hits, but the Gamecocks scored two in the 10th to defeat No. 24 Tennessee, 6-4, on Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the game tied at 4-4 after nine frames, South Carolina’s Jonah Bride drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Danny Blair for the winning run. Jacob Olson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Matt Williams for an insurance run.
With the loss, the Volunteers (12-4, 0-2 SEC) move to 36-60 in their all-time series vs. South Carolina (13-5, 2-0 SEC) and 0-2 on this weekend’s series.
UT catcher Pete Derkay was 3-for-5 at the plate. Brodie Leftridge went 2-for-4 with one walk.
Tennessee junior Zach Warren tossed 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits to earn no decision.
Freshman reliever Zach Linginfelter (0-1) entered in relief of Warren in the sixth and retired five straight batters before the eighth inning. The Sevierville native dealt 4.0 innings, struck out two and surrendered just one hit, but gave up three runs.
Senior Jon Lipinski earned two outs in the 10th and had two strikeouts.
South Carolina relief pitcher Josh Reagan (2-0) earned the win after tossing 2.1 scoreless frames at the end. Starter Wil Crowe threw 5.2 innings with three runs allowed and five strikeouts.
Tennessee struck first in the third inning, as Andre Lipcius drove in Jay Charleston from second base on an RBI single to right field. Heads-up baserunning then allowed Jordan Rodgers to score on a fielder’s choice by South Carolina’s catcher to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Gamecocks used the longball to take the lead in the next inning, as leadoff man TJ Hopkins and third baseman Jonah Bride each homered to put SC up, 3-2.
The Vols immediately responded with one run in the bottom of the fourth to tie things up, taking advantage of back-to-back base hits by Max Bartlett and Brodie Leftridge before Jeff Moberg drove an RBI single through the five-hole.
The 3-3 gridlock moved to a 4-4 tie in the eighth. South Carolina used a walk, throwing error and sac fly by Williams to bring one run in. In the bottom of the eighth, Tennessee pinch-hitter Matt Waldren then cranked a one-out solo shot – the first of his career – over the left field wall to make it a 4-4 ballgame.
The Gamecocks loaded the bases with a single and two walks to set up Bride’s bases-loaded walk.
TENNESSEE QUICK HITS
- With the loss Tennessee moves to a 36-60 all-time record against the Gamecocks.
- Senior Matt Waldren’s solo home run in the eighth inning marked the first of his career at UT, as well as the first pinch-hit homer by a Volunteer since VFL Vincent Jackson did so at LSU on April 26, 2014.
- Andre Lipcius (1-for-4, one walk) has now reached base safely in each of his 16 games to start his collegiate career.
- With a single to right field in the first inning, Jordan Rodgers extended his current streak of reaching base safely to 15 straight games.
- Jeff Moberg (1-for-5) has now established a career-long hit streak at nine games, dating back to March 3 vs. Norfolk State.
- With his 4.0 relief innings vs. South Carolina, Zach Linginfelter tied the longest outing of his young Tennessee career, spanning seven appearances.
- Entering the game in the 10th frame, Jon Lipinski has now finished eight games for Tennessee in 2017.
- UT’s offense has produced double-digit hits in 11 of its 16 contests this season.
- Tennessee is now 8-3 in games facing right-handed starters.
- On Deck for the Vols: Knoxville native Will Neely (1-0, 4.91) faces off against the Gamecocks in the series finale on Rocky Top, set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ETon ESPNU.
- Saturday’s attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium: 2,427