No. 12 Alabama baseball beats No. 6 Tennessee on Sunday, winning the series 2-1
No. 12 Alabama baseball beat No. 6 Tennessee 7-6 on Sunday, clinching its first conference series under coach Rob Vaughn.
The Crimson Tide (17-3, 2-1 SEC) was able to get off to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by left fielder Ian Petrutz before Tennessee responded with a four-run top of the third inning. Alabama came right back in the game against the Vols with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning.
More: WATCH: Alabama baseball gets home runs from back-to-back batters against Tennessee
ALABAMA LOSES GAME 1: No. 12 Alabama baseball falls to No. 6 Tennessee in SEC opening game
Tennessee (18-3, 1-2 SEC) began its scoring surge in the third inning, with a three-run double by left fielder Dylan Dreiling followed by a one-run double by designated hitter Robin Villenueve leading to a four run inning. However, the Crimson Tide answered Tennessee's top of the third with a big one of its own in the bottom half — scoring two runs on another RBI by Petrutz and a sacrifice fly by Evan Sleight to trim the lead to 4-3 through three full innings.
Alabama tied the game in the fourth inning with a solo home run by first baseman Will Hodo, his sixth home run of the season and second in the series. The game remained at 4-4 for the next two innings before the Volunteers took a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning on a ground out that led to a score.
After retaking the lead, the Volunteers held the Crimson Tide scoreless from the sixth and seventh inning before the Crimson Tide got back on the score board.
In comes Gage Miller, hitting a three-run go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning clinching the series for Alabama. That home run was Miller's team-high ninth of the season and now puts him at a .443 batting average on the season while also leading the team in RBIs with 27.
Alabama will return to action in Montgomery on Tuesday, facing Alabama State. The Crimson tide return to SEC play against Georgia in Athens from March 22-24.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama baseball won its first series of the season against Tennessee
