Wednesday, March 29, 2006

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 29, 2006) - The Baseball Bucs scored six runs in the middle innings, and three relief pitchers combined for six innings of seven-hit ball as ETSU came from behind to post a 9-8 victory over the 21^st-ranked Tennessee Volunteers.  It is the Bucs first win over the Vols since 1999, snapping a 12 game losing streak to Tennessee.

The Bucs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on junior Stephen Douglas' (Kennesaw, Ga.) RBI double, scoring senior Shane Byrne from first base.  Byrne reached on an infield single that tied former Buccaneer Caleb Moore for the ETSU all-time hits record at 241.  Byrne finished the day 3-for-5, breaking Moore's record and now sits at 243 career hits.

The lead was short-lived however, as the Vols answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.  After loading the bases with one out, the Vols pushed shortstop Michael Rivera across on a wild pitch, and catcher J.P. Arencibia came around on first baseman Chris Kemp's groundout.

After the Vols tacked on two more runs in the third for a 4-1 lead, the Bucs began their rally. ETSU touched up UT starter Deunte Heath for two runs in the fourth, when senior Matt Traylor (Knoxville, Tenn.) delivered a one-out double, scoring junior Justin Aughey and senior Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.).  The Bucs added three runs in the fifth to take a lead they would never relinquish.  Byrne scored the equalizer on a fielder's choice, junior C.J. Lee (Bristol, Va.) scored on Aughey's RBI single, and senior Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) came home on Church's sacrifice fly.

The Bucs added runs in the sixth and seventh for an 8-4 advantage.  After the two clubs traded runs to move the score to 9-5, Tennessee finally got to the ETSU bullpen, touching up reliever Caleb Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.) for three eighth inning runs before the junior could record an out.  Senior closer Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.) came on to record the final six outs, including a perfect ninth inning to preserve the victory.

Sophomore Joey McCown (Alcoa, Tenn.) picked up the win in relief of starter Jeremy Hall (Gray, Tenn.).  McCown (5-0) pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings, surrendering just three hits and striking out one.  Calicutt gave up just one hit in his two innings of work, picking up his fifth save of 2006.  Heath took the loss for the Vols, falling to 2-2.

The Bucs return to action Friday evening in A-Sun action at home against Belmont.  First pitch of game one of the three game weekend series is scheduled for 7 p.m.