The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Ole Miss Routs Tennessee In SEC Tournament Opener
5/16/2001 | Baseball
May 16, 2001
HOOVER, Ala. -
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Ole Miss scored in each of the first three innings, including eight in the third, to defeat Tennessee, 17-6, in the opening game of the 2001 Southeastern Conference Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala. The game was called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.
All nine starters recorded a hit in the win as the Rebels (37-19-1) out-hit the Volunteers 18-8. Sophomore shortstop Chad Sterbens paced the offense going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Senior designated hitter Carl Lafferty was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and second baseman Clint Farrar also drove in three runs.
Senior third baseman Lance Jones got the Rebels going with a two-run triple to highlight a three-run first inning.
Tennessee (41-16) scored a run in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Chris Burke singled and second baseman Stevie Daniel was hit by a pitch to start the inning. After a throwing error by catcher Charlie Waite on a failed pickoff attempt of Burke at second, advanced runners to second and third, Jeff Christensen scored Burke on a grounder to second.
The Volunteers attempted to add another run on a suicide squeeze. However, pitcher Pete Montrenes cleanly fielded Brandon Hopkins' bunt, that was placed between the mound and the third base line, and his throw was in time for catcher Charlie Waite to tag Daniel out at the plate.
Ole Miss scored another run in the second before breaking the game open with the eight-run third. All eight of the Rebels' runs in the inning came with two outs as nine straight hitters reached base safely. Kris Cox started the scoring spree with a RBI double to make it 5-1, and Farrar followed with a single to score Craig Nugen and Cox, extending the Rebels' lead to 7-1. Sophomore catcher Charlie Waite capped the inning with a two-run single to make it 12-1.
Montrenes (10-4) pitched five innings to earn the win. He was charged with four runs, three earned, on six hits and walked none.
Justin Parker (4-3) was charged with the loss, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks.
The victory snapped a streak of four straight losses in the SEC Tournament opener for Ole Miss. The 17 runs were the most scored by a Rebel team in postseason history, including the NCAA Regionals or College World Series.
Ole Miss will next play LSU in a winner's bracket game Thursday evening at 5 p.m. The Tigers defeated No. 7 seed Florida 10-0 on Wednesday.
Ole Miss 17, Tennessee 6 (May 16, 2001 at Birmingham, Alabama)----------------------------------------------------------------------Ole Miss...........318 030 2 - 17 18 1 (37-19-1)Tennessee..........101 022 0 - 6 8 4 (41-16)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Ole Miss - P. Montrenes, N. Lyons(6). Tennessee - Parker, Gates(3), Bertolino(3),Filsinger(5).Win-P. Montrenes(10-4) Loss-Parker(4-3) T-2:35 A-0HR UT - Hopkins (3).Game notes:Game 1 of the Tournament.Ole Miss will play No. 7 Florida/No. 2 LSU winner Thursday at 5 p.m.17 runs is most by the Rebels in any postseason game (SEC Tourney, NCAARegional, CWS).Parker faced 2 batters in the 3rd.
