The Gators may have won their series against a top-10 team in Ole Miss last weekend, but their first outing against the No. 6 Volunteers this weekend didn’t go as planned. Playing on the road in Knoxville, Florida managed a good bit of offense in the form of three home runs, but it wasn’t enough to counter a formidable Tennessee lineup. UT secured a 6-4 win in Game 1 with a pair of late runs, and UF will look to avoid a series loss in Game 2 on Saturday.
Florida struggled to hit consistently off Vols pitcher Chad Dallas, who was very sharp in what was his fifth win of the season. He didn’t allow hits in the first two frames as he quickly moved through the Gators lineup.
UF ace Tommy Mace started the game after seeing a reliever role last weekend, and though he allowed a leadoff walk in the first, he recovered after that. He didn’t give up his first hit until the third when Logan Steenstra cracked a double to right field. Liam Spence followed with an RBI single to give the Volunteers the early lead.
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That wouldn’t last long, though. Nate Hickey led off the fourth with a home run and Kirby McMullen decided to follow suit. The Gators took a 2-1 lead, but they couldn’t do any more damage as Dallas strung together three-straight strikeouts. Tennessee answered at the bottom of the inning, though, with a two-RBI double from Evan Russell, and it retook the lead. Jud Fabian had the chance to make a play on the ball with two outs, but it popped out of his glove at the warning track. Drew Gilbert added to the lead the following inning with an RBI single.
After two scoreless innings, UF desperately needed some offense. Luckily, it got some from Fabian, who redeemed himself with a home run to lead off the seventh. Later in the inning, Colby Halter hit an RBI single to tie the game at four.
Again, though, that lead wouldn’t last long. Mace was pulled after the sixth, ending a six-inning night in which he allowed eight hits and four runs but struck out six. Christian Scott entered the game, and after two hits (including a near-perfect bunt) put Vols runners at the corners, Jake Rucker hit a sac-fly that snagged the league back in Tennessee’s direction.
Tennessee made a change after the seventh, as well, replacing Dallas with Sean Hunley. Hunley didn’t allow a hit in the final two frames, closing the game out and earning a save in the process.
With a frustrating Game 1 in the books, UF will hope to salvage the series on Saturday. First pitch for that game in Knoxville is set for 7 p.m. EDT.
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