Vols run-rule Hofstra for the third time in weekend sweep
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team completed a weekend sweep of Hofstra on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Pride 12-2 in a game that was called after seven innings due to the run rule.
The Vols (9-0) have now run-ruled Hofstra (0-9) in all three games of the series, outscoring the Pride 41-8 over the weekend.
“It was a great weekend for us,” said Tennessee head coach, Tony Vitello. “We played well in all phases of the game, and it was a total team effort. I’m proud of our guys for coming out and taking care of business.”
The Vols’ offense was led by senior outfielder, Seth Stephenson, who went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Stephenson’s home run was his second of the series, and it gave the Vols a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
“Seth had a great weekend,” said Vitello. “He’s a senior leader on our team, and he set the tone for us offensively. He’s a guy who can hit the ball out of the park, and he’s also a guy who can get on base and make things happen.”
The Vols’ pitching staff was also impressive, with junior right-hander, Blade Tidwell, earning the win after allowing just two runs on four hits in five innings of work. Tidwell struck out seven and walked just one, lowering his ERA to 1.50 on the young season.
“Blade was great today,” said Vitello. “He threw strikes and kept their hitters off balance. He’s a guy who can pitch deep into games, and he’s a guy who can shut down opposing lineups.”
The Vols’ sweep of Hofstra marked their second series sweep of the season, and it improved their record to 9-0 on the young season.
“We’re feeling good about where we are right now,” said Vitello. “We’ve played well in our first nine games, and we’re looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. We know we’ve got a tough schedule coming up, but we’re confident in our abilities and we’re excited to see what we can do.”
The Vols will be back in action on Tuesday, when they host Eastern Kentucky at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The game is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. ET.
“We’re looking forward to getting back out there on Tuesday,” said Vitello. “We know Eastern Kentucky is a good team, and we’re going to have to be ready to play. We’re excited for the challenge, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we can do.”
The Vols’ sweep of Hofstra was a dominant performance, and it marked the third time in the series that Tennessee had run-ruled the Pride.
“It was a great weekend for us,” said Vitello. “We played well in all phases of the game, and it was a total team effort. We’re proud of our guys for coming out and taking care of business.”
The Vols will look to carry their momentum into their next game against Eastern Kentucky, and they’ll be looking to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
“We’re feeling good about where we are right now,” said Vitello. “We’ve played well in our first nine games, and we’re looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. We know we’ve got a tough schedule coming up, but we’re confident in our abilities and we’re excited to see what we can do.”
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