Tennessee evens series at Alabama

Recapping Tennessee’s victory over Alabama Saturday.

Tennessee has now played in six extra inning games this season.

The Volunteers are 6-0 in extra inning contests in 2021 following an 8-4 victory at Alabama on Saturday.

The No. 6 Vols used a four-run 11th inning to down Alabama. Tennessee will now go for the series win on Sunday.

In the deciding frame, UT (23-5, 6-2 SEC) was opportunistic as Evan Russell drew a walk with the bases loaded. He later scored the game’s final run when Pete Derkay was caught stealing.

Logan Steenstra has an RBI with a sacrifice fly and Derkay drove in a run with a bunt single.

In the bottom of the 11th, Tennessee pitcher Camden Sewell slammed the door on Alabama (16-10, 2-6) to pick up his first win of the 2021 season.

Sewell (1-0) went 3.2 innings, surrendering one hit and one walk. He struck out three for the Vols, who fell behind 1-0 in th bottom of the fourth when William Hamiter clubbed a solo home run.

The Vols answered with four runs in the top of the seventh as Steenstra came home on an errant pickoff throw. Connor Pavalony had a two-run single and Jordan Beck picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly.

Alabama scored a run in the seventh before adding two in the eighth to tie the game, 4-4.

For the Big Orange, Jake Rucker had two hits and Drew Gilbert went 1-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base.

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