As the weather heated up, so did Tennessee baseball’s bats.
The Vols got started at the plate early, downing Austin Peay 13-4 in midweek action at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee (19-10, 3-6 SEC) saw four hitters post multi-hit outings and held the Governors’ (14-15, 5-4 ASUN) in check at the plate.
Garrett Wright posted three hits and drove in just as many runs, tallying his third home run of the campaign in the sixth inning. Henry Ford and Tyler Myatt joined him in the longball club, each connecting on big swings of their own. Manny Marin and Levi Clark both enjoyed two-RBI games.
The Wright formula
When Wright fills the top spot of Tennessee’s lineup card, it usually bodes well for the Vols’ offense.
Tennessee entered Tuesday having scored 65 combined runs in the eight prior games that the Massillon, Ohio, native led off. Against the Governors, that trend didn’t show any signs of slowing.
Starting in his first game behind the plate after suffering a broken hamate bone in the offseason, Wright got the Vols’ evening at the plate started with extra bases. He roped the first pitch he saw into the left field corner for extra bases, sparking a Tennessee offense that slumped in two of its losses to Vanderbilt over the weekend.
One of the only Vols’ hitters not to go cold at the dish this season stayed hot for his team’s first big swing. Henry Ford connected with a 424-foot blast to get Tennessee on the board, good enough for his 10th longball on the campaign. The shot set the tone for the Vols’ bats.
Tennessee added one more run in the first inning, one in the second and busted out for a six-run third. Wright quickly picked up his third hit in tape-measure fashion, connecting on a three-run smash to put his guys up 10-1.
The rout was on.
Baiotto gets first nod
He can already boast a collegiate win, but Ethan Baiotto still had to check off another box.
The freshman earned his first career start against the Governors and got his feet wet with his longest career outing. Baiotto tossed three innings of one-run ball, boasting a fastball capable of touching the mid-90s.
The right-hander worked around a pair of hits in the first to post a zero before allowing his only blemish of the contest on a solo shot in the third. He struck out two batters during the proceedings.
Bouncing back
The Vols needed something to go their way after suffering a sweep to their rival Commodores, even if it was just a midweek win.
Tennessee let out its frustration on a different in-state foe in Austin Peay, and it did so by taking advantage of runners in scoring position. The Vols have struggled at the plate with men on base this season, but they racked up six knocks in 16 chances with ducks on the pond on this occasion.
Tennessee will welcome LSU for its second SEC home series of the season, a three-game tilt that gets going on April 3.
