CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 14 Tennessee had its five-game win streak snapped with a 9-0 loss to Charlotte on Tuesday at Hayes Field in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Clutch hitting was the story of the game for the 49ers, who drove in their first three runs with two-out singles. The Niners busted the game open with a four-spot in the seventh, hitting three straight home runs in the inning.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Vols (11-3) were unable to get hits when it mattered most, missing out on a couple early scoring opportunities, leaving runners in scoring position in the second and third innings.
Liam Spence continued his impressive run of form with two more hits to extend his hit streak to seven games.
Senior left hander Will Heflin started the game for UT but pitched just one inning, giving up one run on two hits and was stuck with the loss, dropping his record to 2-1 on the year.
Charlotte right hander Austin Marozas made his first start of the year and was fantastic in six shutout innings of work. The sophomore scattered five hits and struck out three to earn his first victory of the season.
The Niners (8-3) struck first with a run in the bottom of the first. Designated hitter Will Butcher singled to left center with two outs to drive in Austin Knight from second base and give Charlotte an early 1-0 lead.
Charlotte doubled it lead with another two-out base hit in the third inning. David McCabe lined an 0-1 pitch into left field to plate Craig Keuchel from second and make it 2-0.
It was more of the same in the fifth as the 49ers increased their lead to 3-0 with yet another two-out RBI single, this time off the bat of Gino Groover.
Back-to-back-to-back homers by Aaron McKeithan, Butcher and McCabe blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh. Butcher hit his second four bagger of the game with a two-run shot in the eighth to account for the final score. Charlotte finished the contest with four home runs after entering the game tied for second in the country with 22 long balls.
The Vols will look to rebound this weekend as they host another North Carolina school in UNC Greensboro for three games starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
NOTABLE
MIDWEEK WIN STREAK SNAPPED: Tuesday’s loss snapped a 14-game win streak in midweek games for the Big Orange. Prior to Tuesday’s defeat, Tennessee’s last midweek setback came on March 26, 2019 against ETSU.
HIT/ON-BASE STREAKS EXTENDED: A trio of Vols extended on-base and hit streaks in Tuesday’s contest against the Niners. Liam Spence extended his hit streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 17 games with a single to lead off the game. Drew Gilbert has now reached base safely in 21 consecutive contests dating back to last season after a single in the second inning. Luc Lipcius also singled in the second inning to run his hit streak to four games and his on-base streak to 11 games.
-UT Athletics
