No. 1 Tennessee opened its final Southeastern Conference series of the 2022 regular season with a record setting offensive performance against the defending national champions.
The Volunteers (47-7, 23-5 SEC) hit seven home runs en route to a 27-2 victory against Mississippi State (26-28, 9-19 SEC) at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.
Tennessee finished the contest with 25 hits, including 21 for extra bases.
Luc Lipcius and Jorel Ortega each hit two home runs. Ortega added two doubles for the Vols, who led 3-0 lead in the first inning as Lipcius, Jordan Beck and Drew Gilbert hit solo home runs.
Tennessee scored five times in the third inning. Blake Burke hit a three-run home run and Ortega recorded a two-run double.
Evan Russell had three doubles in the game.
The Bulldogs scored one run in the seventh inning and and another in the ninth.
Chase Dollander (8-0) started and pitched six innings for the Vols, allowing one walk. He had six strikeouts.
Mark McLaughlin, Wyatt Evans and Zander Sechrist appeared in relief for Tennessee.
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