Campbell, top-seed Tennessee trade big blows early in Knoxville Regional showdown

Chase Dollander was not his normally sharp self to open the game Saturday evening, and the Vols had to scrape back from an early hole as a result.

The bottom of the 3rd inning started with 9-hole hitter Tyler Halstead getting a clean single. That brought up lead-off man Jarrod Belbin and he responded with a bullet.

Belbin drilled a 2-run home run off the scoreboard to make it 2-0, Camels:

Welcome to KNOCKS-ville!

📺 SEC Network#RoadToOmaha x @GoCamelsBSB pic.twitter.com/WnTYMSPyQH

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 4, 2022

Campbell would tack on a pair of unearned runs in the inning to chase Dollander early. He departed after 2.2 innings pitched while surrendering 6 hits and a pair of walks.

Fortunately, the bats of the Vols would wake up in the top of the 4th inning. Drew Gilbert led off with a double into the right-field corner with Trey Lipscomb driving him in on the very next pitch with an RBI single.

Jorel Ortega followed that up with the big blow of the inning for the Vols. He drilled a no-doubter over the fence in left field to make it 4-3, Campbell.

Right back in it!!!! Jorel LAUNCHES one outta here and its 3-4 in the fourth!

📺 https://t.co/fwnJ2cxbr7#GBO // #OTH // #BeatCampbell pic.twitter.com/nzxygVusF0

— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) June 5, 2022

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.