The Tennessee baseball team faced the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Wednesday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, losing 8-7 despite a three-run rally in the bottom of the 10th inning.
UT has now lost three of the last four games. Errors and missed opportunities played a major role in the Volunteer loss, UT head coach Todd Raleigh said.
“This is the first game of the season that I don’t think we played well,” Raleigh said. “We made a season high in errors. We left 13 guys on and hit in seven. In a one-run game, those things come back to get you.”
Another main factor in the Vols’ loss was the lack of intensity from their offense, he said.
“I think our intensity wasn’t where it needs to be,” Raleigh said. “I know, offensively, it’s not clicking. I know we had some hits today, but it’s not enough. We’re a better team than that. We need some guys, especially in the middle of the order, to start doing something for us to be successful. That’s what middle-of-the-order guys do.”
The heart of the UT lineup struggled on Wednesday, as the 3-5 spots accounted for one hit, one run and one RBI amongst veterans Cody Hawn, Blake Forsythe and Matt Duffy. Still, senior Matt Hamaker had the best game of his career as a Volunteer. Hamaker had his first multi-home run game while hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning, as well as a solo shot in the 10th, which began the Vols rally that fell one run short.
“It felt good, but it didn’t mean as much because we lost the game,” Hamaker said of his two home runs. “We need to bounce back tomorrow, have a good practice and come out this weekend with some fire.”
The game was an opportunity for Hamaker to showcase his abilities and compete for more playing time.
“I haven’t been playing much,” Hamaker said. “I just wanted to go out and prove that I can do it.”
Raleigh saw the strides and improvement Hamaker has made.
“Matt wants to play,” Raleigh said. “He said that in the preseason. He’s hungry and wants to show what he can do, and he went out today and did it. He did a great job. He was focused and hungry to play.”
The Volunteers take the field this weekend in their first series at home in two weeks. UT will host both Kennesaw State and Binghamton in a three-team tournament at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols host Binghamton at 5 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, UT plays a doubleheader facing Kennesaw State at 1 p.m. and Binghamton at 5 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday at 4 p.m. when the Vols take on Kennesaw State.
