Tennessee comes back to beat Florida to complete weekend sweep

Any doubt who should be No. 1?

After taking the first two from No. 7 Florida this weekend, Tennessee came to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to finish off the sweep.

They were tested — but there was never a doubt.

Tegan Kuhns got the start on the mound for the Volunteers and would go 2.2 innings giving up just one hit. Tony Vitello turned to Brandon Arvidson in the middle of the 3rd inning, turning this into a typical Sunday bullpen game.

Jay Abernathy picked up Tennessee’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the 3rd. That single turned into runners at the corners following a Stone Lawless single. Dean Curley would get Abernathy home with a ground out for the game’s first run.

Tennessee carried a 1-0 lead into the 4th.

Florida’s first real threat came there. The Gators put two on against Arvidson, then drew a walk to load the bases. With one out, Vitello called on Tanner Franklin. Florida’s Ty Evans hit one right down the 3rd base line though, scoring two runs. Franklin would load the bases again, and once again the Gators would take advantage. A liner off the glove of Reese Chapman scored two more.

Florida quickly had a 4-1 lead, and Tennessee was facing its first real deficit of the season.

The Volunteers proceeded to load the bases for Reese Chapman, who drew a walk. Manny Marin was up next, but hit into a double play. Opportunity missed for Tennessee, but they did cut it down to a 4-2 Florida lead.

Gavin Kilen kept Tennessee chipping away in the 5th with a solo shot.

With two on in the bottom of the 6th, Cannon Peebles delivered. An absolute rope off the right field wall would score two, giving Tennessee the lead back.

The Volunteers took a 5-4 lead in to the top of the 7th. Reliever Dylan Loy began his third inning on the mound and held the Gators where they were. Vitello went to Nate Snead to close things down in the 8th.

Snead breezed through the 8th, then Reese Chapman drilled a two-run shot to center.

Ballgame.

Tennessee went on to win this one 7-4 to complete the weekend sweep.

The Volunteers will be back in action on Tuesday against ETSU.