KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - UNCG baseball played No. 14 Tennessee close for most of Sunday, but a big eighth inning for the home team clinched a 9-3 win for the Vols in the finale. Chipola transfers Corey Rosier and Daniel Cerda each had a pair of hits and an RBI, with the former going 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate over the entire series this weekend. 

The Spartans traded blows with the Vols in the early innings. Tennessee tallied the first run of the day in the bottom half of the second, before UNCG responded with one of their own in the third, only to see the Vols retake their lead in the home half of that inning.

Rosier led off the contest with his first single of the afternoon, while his second at bat would give the outfielder an RBI. Zack Budzik put the lead man on in the third with his seven-pitch walk, moving into scoring position on Cerda's sac bunt in the following at bat. He was brought in on a Rosier single up the middle as the Spartans tied things up 1-1.

The Vols tagged on three more runs on the ensuing two offensive frames to retake the lead on the night, with the Spartans moving back within two during the fifth. For the third time UNCG put the lead man on in the inning, this time with Spencer Smith wearing a pitch that deflected off his batting helmet.

Grant Jarman moved his catcher into scoring position on a single to center, while Cerda's ambush knock two ABs later put the Spartans' second run on the board.

Tennessee moved back into a three-run lead on a double in the home half of the fifth, with UNCG once again moving into striking range during the seventh. Budzik manufactured his own run in the inning, sending a two-out double to left field. The speedy infielder swiped third for his third stolen base of the weekend, but the Vols' arid throw attempting to get the third baseman caught stealing dribbled into the outfield, leaving Budzik free to take home plate. 

While the Spartans were in position to continue chipping away at their opponents' lead, the Vols hung four on the visitors in the bottom half of the eighth to move into a 9-3 advantage that would last until the final out.

On the mound, four Spartan arms combined for seven strikeouts on the afternoon, led by four from righty reliever Jacob Curry. Coming on in the fourth Curry gave up two runs to the No. 14 team in the country but was able to put away four Tennessee batters on strikes, despite tossing just 2.2 innings. 

>>> Cerda was a perfect 2-for-2 on the night, while Budzik went 1-for-2 with a walk, scoring two of his team's three runs on Sunday
>>> Rosier was 1-for-2 on the basepaths, stealing his fifth bag of the season during the first. He trails only Budzik for a team-high (8). Budzik stole a base in each of the Spartans' matchups with the Vols and has yet to be caught in 2021
>>> Cerda also made his second appearance on the mound this season, striking out both of the batters he faced. He's given up just one hit over his 1.1 innings thrown, getting a K in all four of the outs he's registered this year
>>> Jarman's knock was his second of the series, going 2-for-4 at the plate against Tennessee this weekend. He's reached first safely in each of his past three games

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