A six-run first inning helped No. 5 Tennessee win its 12th consecutive game Tuesday.
The Volunteers (20-1, 3-0 SEC) defeated Butler (9-11, 0-0 Big East), 13-3, before 4,494 fans at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
In the first inning, Blake Burke hit a three-run home run after Seth Stephenson scored on a wild pitch. Trey Lipscomb drove in a run when he drew a walk with the bases loaded. Jorel Ortega also had an RBI when he reached on a fielder’s choice.
Tennessee, after being held scoreless in the second inning, tallied three runs in the third as Cortland Lawson hit a three-run home run.
Lipscomb had an RBI single in the fourth inning and Drew Gilbert had a scoring double in the fifth.
Ortega, who went 2-for-4, homered in the sixth inning. Christian Moore scored the Vols’ final run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs scored all of its runs on solo home runs.
Tennessee’s Camden Sewell (3-1) pitched one inning of scoreless relief and had one strikeout to earn the win.
He was one of nine pitchers to appear in the game for the Vols.
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