Hunter Ensley’s grand slam caps another run-rule win over Hofstra……A 2-0 start for the Volunteers….
he Tennessee Volunteers baseball team is off to a scorching hot start, thanks in large part to the impressive play of Hunter Ensley. The sophomore outfielder capped off another dominant performance by the Vols with a grand slam, securing a 12-2 run-rule victory over Hofstra on Sunday afternoon.
The win marked the second consecutive day that the Vols have run-ruled the Pride, following a 15-5 victory on Saturday. With the two wins, Tennessee improves to 2-0 on the young season, while Hofstra falls to 0-2.
Ensley’s grand slam was the exclamation point on a day that saw the Vols pound out 12 hits and score 12 runs. The sophomore outfielder finished the day 2-for-4 with 5 RBIs, and is now hitting .571 with 7 RBIs on the season.
“Hunter is a special player,” said Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello. “He’s got a lot of power and a lot of confidence at the plate. He’s a guy who can change the game with one swing, and that’s exactly what he did today.”
The Vols’ offense was clicking on all cylinders from the very beginning, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the first inning. From there, they never looked back, adding 3 more runs in the second and 5 in the fifth to blow the game wide open.
Tennessee’s pitching staff was also impressive, with starter Camden Sewell tossing 5 innings of 2-run ball to earn the win. The Vols’ bullpen was equally effective, with relievers Mark McLaughlin and Kirby Connell combining to throw 2 scoreless innings to close out the game.
“Hofstra is a good team, and we knew we were going to have to play well to beat them,” said Vitello. “Our guys responded with a great effort, both offensively and defensively. It was a total team win, and we’re proud of the way our guys played.”
The Vols will look to keep their winning streak alive on Tuesday, when they host Northern Kentucky at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is set for 4:30pm ET.
Tennessee’s hot start has generated a lot of excitement among the team’s fans, who are eager to see the Vols make a deep run in the postseason. With a talented roster and a strong coaching staff, the Vols have all the ingredients necessary to make a serious push for a national championship.
“We’re excited about the way we’re playing, but we know we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Vitello. “We’re taking it one game at a time, and we’re focused on continuing to improve and get better every day. If we can do that, we’ll be in good shape come tournament time.”
The Vols’ win over Hofstra marked the 22nd time in program history that Tennessee has started the season 2-0. The team’s last 2-0 start came in 2019, when the Vols went on to win 40 games and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee’s offense has been led by Ensley, who is hitting .571 with 7 RBIs on the season. The Vols have also gotten strong performances from outfielder Drew Gilbert (.500, 3 RBIs) and infielder Jake Rucker (.429, 2 RBIs).
On the mound, the Vols have been led by Sewell, who tossed 5 innings of 2-run ball to earn the win over Hofstra. The team’s bullpen has also been impressive, with McLaughlin and Connell combining to throw 2 scoreless innings to close out the game.
Overall, the Vols are off to a strong start, and they’ll look to keep their winning streak alive on Tuesday against Northern Kentucky.
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