Tennessee Wins Series Finale Over Highlander Baseball

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Freshman pitcher James Adkins led the Tennessee baseball team to a 12-0 win over Radford at Lindsey Nelson Stadium Sunday afternoon. (Box Score)

Tennessee’s record improved to 14-3 this season, and the Volunteers’ 11-game winning streak is tied for the longest active streak in NCAA Division I-A. Radford fell to 2-11 with the loss.

Adkins' classmate freshman Julio Borbon has a good outing as well, going 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored.

In seven innings pitched, Adkins (3-1) faced 24 batters — just three over the minimum. He also established a new career-high with 12 strikeouts. He struck out the side in both the fifth and the seventh innings and allowed no runs on four hits with no walks.

With runners on first and third in the bottom of the first inning, Tennessee third baseman Chase Headley knocked an RBI single to center field, scoring Eli Iorg and giving the Vols an early 1-0 lead.

Then in the bottom of the third inning, Iorg hit a home run out of the park in left-center to put UT up 2-0.

The Vols added three runs to their total in the bottom of the fifth inning. As junior outfielder Josh Alley stole second base, a throwing error allowed Borbon to plate Tennessee’s third run of the day. Then a basehit by senior Eric King brought home Alley from third. Then after stealing second base, King was driven in on a single by freshman designated hitter J.P. Arencibia.

Borbon extended Tennessee’s lead to seven runs in the sixth inning with a mammoth two-run homer to right field. The home run knocked in second baseman Michael Rivera. With King on base later in the inning, Iorg came up and crushed his second home run of the game — and his fourth of the series — over the wall in left field. Iorg has six home runs this season and 10 for his career.

Tennessee tacked on three runs for good measure in the seventh. Junior catcher Kelly Edmundson crossed home plate on an RBI double by Borbon, who then scored on a basehit by Alley. The Vols’ 12th run came as Arencibia drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded, scoring Alley from third.

Junior reliever Jabe Beard made an appearance in the top of the eighth and allowed one hit with one strikeout and one walk before giving way to junior Mike Kerfeld, who made his first appearance of the season and worked the ninth inning for the Vols.

Radford starting pitcher Josh Deaver (0-1) took the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in four innings on the mound. Michael Clemens, Derek Creger, Brett Smith and Mark Beppler each also made appearances for the Highlanders.

Radford will face Yale Tuesday in Durham, N.C. at 1:00 pm. The Highs then face host Duke Wednesday at 1:00 pm The Vols return to action Tuesday as they host Belmont for the first night game of the season at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm.