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Tennessee rides balanced effort to win over Northern Kentucky in Knoxville Regional
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Tennessee’s start to its first game of the Knoxville Regional did not get off on the right foot. Fortunately, it did not take long for the Vols to gain control against Northern Kentucky.
To open the postseason, Tennessee went with Chris Stamos on the mound. Unfortunately, he gave up a leadoff home run to Cleary Simps and a double immediately after to Treyvin Moss.
After getting a groundball out, Tony Vitello made a mid-count change to go to AJ Causey after just 16 pitches from Stamos. Whatever the reason for the quick hook, it paid off with Causey registering a strikeout and a ground out to get out of the inning without further damage.
Once settling in, Tennessee would go on to score 6 runs across the 2nd-4th innings. The big blow in that stretch belonged to Billy Amick, drilling a 3-run home run to put the Vols up 6-1 at the time.
They call him Billy Barrels for a reason!
https://t.co/LiObBW23PA (SECN)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatNKU pic.twitter.com/AUBTwo32Dk
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 1, 2024
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Amick’s home run was the 1st of 3 total for Tennessee on the night. Dylan Dreiling delivered the 3rd and final home run of the evening in the bottom of the 8th inning, providing some insurance with a 2-run line drive shot into the right field corner.
Some insurance courtesy of Dylan Dreiling!
https://t.co/LiObBW23PA (SECN)#GBO // #OTH // #BeatNKU pic.twitter.com/Fcn2n87ivY
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 1, 2024
Dreiling led the Vols with 3 hits, including a double to go with his home run. Amick led the way with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI from his HR while Blake Burke also scored 2 runs on the evening.
On the mound, the quick hook to go to Causey paid off. He completed 6.2 innings while scattering 2 earned runs on 4 hits and striking out 9. Causey was able to get Tennessee to the 8th inning where Kirby Connell took over and covered the final 2 innings without allowing a hit.
Tennessee will be back in action Saturday evening with a matchup against Indiana from the Big Ten. That game is set for 6 pm ET, and the winner will be on the doorstep of advancing to the Super Regionals.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
