Andre Lipcius brings home Tennessee’s winning run in the 10th vs. the Tigers; Vols even the series with Auburn at 1-1 on Rocky Top
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Coming home on a sacrifice fly to right field delivered by Andre Lipcius, freshman Justin Ammons scored the game-winning run for Tennessee on Friday, as the Vols took a 5-4 win in 10 innings against No. 10-ranked Auburn at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the win on Friday, Tennessee has three extra-inning victories over its previous two weekends. Additionally, the Vols improve to 4-1 on the season in extra inning games, with their lone loss coming to South Carolina on March 18.
The Volunteers move to 18-14 and 4-10 in SEC play, while the Tigers stand at 26-11 with a 9-5 record in league play this year. Tennessee’s series vs. Auburn is now tied at 1-1 entering the rubber match on Saturday, set for 2 p.m. ET on Rocky Top.
UT consistently threatened Auburn pitchers on Friday, putting at least one runner on base in every inning. The leadoff batter for Tennessee also reached base in each of the final eight innings (five hits, two walks and an error).
Three Vols had multi-hit performances in the win, with Jordan Rogers finishing the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Ammons went 2-for-5 while Benito Santiago was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Tennessee’s rally began in the seventh inning after pinch hitter Luc Lipcius doubled to left-center field and scored Dom Thornton. Lipcius then advanced to third on a sacrifice from Brodie Leftridge before senior Jeff Moberg brought the Virginia native home on a groundout to third, closing the gap on Auburn’s lead, 4-3.
The Vols tied the game at 4-4 in the eighth when pinch hitter Matt Waldren knocked a sac fly to right field to score Rogers.
After trading scoreless ninth innings with Auburn, the UT broke through in the 10th. Ammons led off the inning with a single up the middle before back-to-back walks loaded the bases with no outs. On an 0-1 count in the next at-bat, Andre Lipciusdelivered a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Ammons to win the game.
Freshman Garrett Stallings went 3.2 innings with the start for UT, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts to receive no decision. The Vols later went to Zach Linginfelter (3.0) and Kyle Serrano (1.0) before senior Jon Lipinski was called upon to close.
Lipinski (4-0) got the win for UT with his 2.1 innings of work in relief. Of his eight batters faced, Lipinksi allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out five.
TENNESSEE QUICK HITS
- With the win, Tennessee moves to 39-90 all-time vs. Auburn, including a 20-39 mark in games played in Knoxville.
- Tennessee’s bullpen did not allow an earned run through 6.1 relief innings vs. Auburn on Friday.
- With a single up the middle in the first inning, Jordan Rodgers increased his current streak of reaching base safely to 31 consecutive ballgames. Rodgers is also leading all Volunteers with 13 multiple hit games on the season.
- With a double down the left field line in the fourth inning, catcher Benito Santiago extended his longest career hitting streak to six games and has now reached base in his last 11 starts.
- Tennessee pitchers combined for a season-high 15 strikeouts against Auburn on Friday. The Vols have delivered double-digit strikeouts on eight other occasions this season.
- On Deck for the Vols: Game Three of Tennessee’s series vs. No. 10 Auburn is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 15, with lefty Zach Warren (2-3, 5.94) facing off against Tigers’ Davis Daniel (2-2, 4.86).
- Friday night’s attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium: 2,418