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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The top-ranked Tennessee baseball team is undefeated no more after a shocking home defeat to ETSU on Tuesday.
After completing a weekend series sweep of Florida to open SEC play, the Volunteers entered the game with a perfect 20-0 record on the season with the chance to tie the program record for consecutive wins.
ETSU opened the scoring in the first inning on an RBI single by Cooper Torres but Tennessee responded immediately, bringing in two runs after a fielding error. The Bucs leveled the score in the second inning and added two more runs in the third.
Tennessee tied the game in the seventh inning when Jay Abernathy reached home on a Hunter Ensley double to left field.
Ensley gave Tennessee a two-run advantage in the very next inning when he sent another double to left field, brining home two runners in the process.
ETSU centerfielder Jamie Palmese’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning knotted the score at six apiece. Andrew Cotten took the mound for the Bucs and was able to stifle Tennessee’s red-hot offense and take the game into the 10th inning.
A solo shot by Grant Gallagher off of Tennessee reliever Tanner Franklin put ETSU up 7-6 before Cotten completed the upset with a strikeout of Chris Newstrom to end the game.
The Vols had won the past four series against ETSU and 70 of the 90 games all-time between the two schools. Tennessee is now 6-4 against ETSU under head coach Tony Vitello.