KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- UC Irvine started nicely, but were ran over from two big innings by Tennessee as they took the opener of the doubleheader, 14-4, in Lindsay Nelson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
UCI (9-6) got single runs in the first inning, from Keston Hiura double play, and third inning, off a Grant Palmer sac fly, to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Volunteers (10-4) responded promptly with a seven-run third inning started by 2-run hits from Nick Senzel and Jordan Rodgers to take the lead and chase Shaun Vetrovec. Leno Ramirez provided the big blow doubling home three more runs off reliever Mitchell Miller to complete the inning.
The Anteaters answered back the next inning as Keston Hiura lined his fifth home run of the season over the left-center wall to cut the deficit to 7-4.
UT added a run on a Senzel solo HR before the pitchers began to settle down as each offense was shut down for the next 3 ½ innings.
The Vols woke up once again touching up Miller for a few innings as he made way for Sean Sparling. Sparling struggled mightily getting just three of his 17 pitches in for strikes and bounced over half of them in the dirt. He would let in both of Miller's runners and three more capped off by a three-run home run from Jordan Rodgers completing his 5-RBI day and 6-run inning for the eventual 14-4 final.
Vetrovec took the brunt giving up seven earned runs over 2.1 innings. Miller muscled up in relief allowing just the two earned runs over five innings.
Rodgers was joined by Senzel and Ramirez who each had three-RBI days. Five different Vols had two-hit efforts, and Senzel scored three times to add to his afternoon.
John Brontsema paced the Anteater attack with four hits on the day, part of 11 hits the 'Eaters scattered. Hiura's homer along with a hit by pitch and intentional walk stretched his on-base streak to 31 games.
UCI dropped the series now sitting at 9-6 on the season, but looks to leave Knoxville with a win in the second part of the doubleheader in the evening behind sophomore Cameron Bishop on the mound.
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