Brown Shines as #3/14 Vols Win Both Games of Saturday Doubleheader to Sweep Nicholls

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/14 Tennessee capped a formidable opening weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Nicholls on Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers (3-0) completed off a collection sweep with a 5-1 victory in Game 1 and a 12-2 run-rule win in Game 2.

UT has now recorded 5 consecutive collection sweeps when enjoying at house on opening weekend (2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025).

Sophomore outfielder Blaine Brown was the standout of the day, going a mixed 6-for-11 with six runs scored, a double, three house runs and 5 RBIs over the 2 video games, together with a multi-homer, four-RBI efficiency in Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Individual recaps of every sport might be discovered under.

GAME 1: Tennessee 5, Nicholls 1

Blaine Brown was the star of the present within the opening sport of Saturday’s twin invoice, going 3-for-5 on the plate with a pair of lengthy balls and three runs scored whereas driving in 4 of Tennessee’s 5 runs within the 5-1 victory over the Colonels.

The Houston native left the yard for the primary time as a Vol within the fourth inning, blasting a 1-1 pitch by the wind over the right-center discipline wall for a three-run homer that broke a 1-1 tie.

Brown added one other insurance coverage run with one other rocket to right-center within the backside of the sixth to account for the ultimate run of the sport.

That run help was lots for sophomore right-hander Landon Mack, who struck out 9 and allowed only one run on 4 hits and one stroll over six innings of labor to choose up the win in his UT debut.

True freshman Trent Grindlinger additionally had a pair of hits in his first collegiate sport, ending 2-for-4 with a double.

Fellow highly-touted freshman Cam Appenzeller was dominant in his debut, as nicely, tossing two shutout innings of reduction with out permitting a success whereas racking up 4 strikeouts.

Bo Rhudy completed the sport off with a 1-2-3 ninth inning that together with a pair of strikeouts in his first look with the Big Orange.

GAME 2: Tennessee 12, Nicholls 2 (7 Inn.)

The Vols wasted no time getting the bats going within the second sport of Saturday’s doubleheader, leaping on Nicholls starter Haden Luke for 4 runs on three hits within the first inning earlier than including three extra runs within the second to take an early 7-0 lead.

Blaine Brown and Levi Clark hit back-to-back solo homers to begin the scoring earlier than Tyler Myatt drove in one other run with a double off the wall two batters later. Myatt got here round to attain on a wild pitch a number of moments later to offer UT a 4-0 lead after one inning.

A two-run single by Clark and an RBI groundout from Myatt plated three extra runs within the second inning because the Big Orange continued their early offensive surge.

Meanwhile, on the mound, senior left-hander Evan Blanco cruised by 5 innings of shutout baseball in his Tennessee debut, scattering 5 hits whereas putting out 9 to earn his first win within the orange and white.

The prime three batters in Tennessee’s order mixed to go 7-for-11 with eight runs and 4 RBIs within the win whereas Myatt led the workforce with 4 RBIs.

Finley Bates made essentially the most of his alternatives, as nicely, homering on the primary pitch he noticed as a pinch hitter within the fifth inning earlier than including a single within the sixth inning to complete the sport 2-for-2 off the bench.

 

UP NEXT: The Vols host UNC Asheville on Tuesday at 4 p.m. of their first midweek contest of the yr earlier than welcoming Kent State to Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a three-game collection subsequent weekend.