Griffin Merritt hits walk-off home run in Mississippi State series opener

Griffin Merritt hits walk-off home run for Tennessee in Mississippi State series opener.

No. 16 Tennessee (28-14, 9-10 SEC) defeated Mississippi State, 8-7, Thursday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Vols, who won the game on a walk-off home run by Griffin Merritt in the ninth inning.

Tennessee led the Bulldogs, 7-1, as Maui Ahuna hit an RBI double in the fifth inning that scored Christian Scott.

Mississippi State rallied to tie the game as Slate Alford hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to make it, 7-3. Colton Ledbetter hit a solo home run in the seventh inning before Luke Hancock had a two run double to pull the Bulldogs to within, 7-6.

Hunter Hines tied the game, 7-7, in the ninth inning before Merritt, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, ended the game.

Ahuna was 2-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored, while Jared Dickey had three hits, one RBI and one run scored.

Chase Burns (4-3) pitched 1.2 innings of relief and gave up one run and one hit. He recorded four strikeouts.

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