KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee baseball team opened its 2020 season on a winning note Friday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Jake Rucker and Connor Pavalony both clubbed home runs to lead the Volunteers to a 3-0 victory over Western Illinois on a chilly afternoon.
Pavalony, Tennessee’s catcher, clubbed a two-run blast in the bottom of the second inning to open the scoring in the game against the Leathernecks and the campaign. Evan Russell scored ahead of Pavalony with the contest’s first run.
Rucker added a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth for Tennessee, which managed only four hits on the day.
Tennessee received singles from Russell and Max Ferguson.
Chad Dallas started on the mound for the Big Orange. He and reliever Sean Hunley combined on a two-hit shutout. Dallas hurled five innings, surrendering just one hit and two walks while striking out four. He also nabbed the win.
Hunley gave up a hit and fanned two in four innings en route to recording his first save of the season.