For the first time this season, Tennessee has lost a Southeastern Conference series opener.
The Volunteers squandered an early lead en route to dropping a 7-4 decision to Alabama Friday night in Tuscaloosa.
Things started on a positive note for No. 6 Tennessee as Luc Lipcius clubbed a solo home run to give the Vols a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
After a scoreless second frame, the Vols (22-5, 5-2 SEC) tallied three more runs in the third to extend its advantage to 4-0 as Jake Rucker came up with an RBI double.
Drew Gilbert and Jordan Beck added scoring singles in the inning.
After that, the Crimson Tide (16-9, 2-5 SEC) kept Tennessee at bay and off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
Alabama scored seven unanswered runs, including three in the fourth, three more in the fifth and one in the eighth.
On the mound, reliever Sean Hunley, who sparkled last week against LSU, took the loss.
Hunley (4-1) gave up three runs and two hits in 1.1 innings. He had one walk and two strikeouts.
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