Vols set school standard in rout of Alabama A&M

Tennessee’s baseball team repeatedly set program records last season in racking up a 57-9 record and becoming the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

The 2023 Volunteers attained their first school standard Wednesday, setting the mark for runs in an inning with 15 in the fifth during a 23-1 trampling of Alabama A&M before 4,382 inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee, which had 14-run innings against UTC in 1977 and N.C. State in 1998, improved to 3-2 on the season after winning what was shortened to a seven-inning runaway.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Charlie Taylor went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, collecting two home runs, a triple and a single.

“He’s a fan favorite here as much as anyone I’ve seen, and I like going to a lot of sporting events,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello told reporters afterward. “He’s kind of got that vibe.”

Asked the last time he had a two-homer game, Taylor said, “I don’t remember. It was a long time ago. I knew I was capable, and it’s pretty cool to have a night like that.”

Zander Sechrist, Aaron Combs, JJ Garcia, Bryce Jenkins and Zach Joyce combined on the win for the Vols, who host Dayton on Friday afternoon in the first of three games. Fifthyear senior pitcher Camden Sewell, the former Cleveland High standout, and sophomore Wyatt Evans have yet to pitch this season due to soreness and are going through a throwing program.

“Our fans would rather see us win the last series of the regular season than the first,” Vitello said. “Those are two guys we wanted to be conservative with.”