KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State baseball handed No. 16 Tennessee its first loss of the 2021 campaign and the first in the month of February in three years with a 3-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. With the win, the Sycamores moved to 2-3 on the season while the Volunteers fell to 6-1.
 
Connor Cline (1-0) was lights out of the bullpen for the Sycamores as he allowed just two base hits – both of which came in the ninth inning – over five innings of work en route to earning his first win of the season. Cline struck out five Tennessee batters and issued just one walk in his outing.
 
Tyler Grauer entered in the ninth inning with two runners on and no outs as the Vols recorded back-to-back singles to open the frame. The Sycamores picked up a break as a UT baserunner ran past his teammate at second and was called out in what would have loaded the bases. Grauer went on to record a strikeout and a fly ball to secure his first save of the season.
 
Geremy Guerrero picked up the no decision after going three innings in the start. Guerrero battled heavy rain in the early portion of the game and allowed just wo hits and one run while facing 14 batters.
 
The Sycamores got just enough run support as Max Wright reached base all five times he stepped to the plate. The redshirt senior picked up three walks, a hit-by-pitch and a single in the win. Diego Gines shined once again for the Sycamores as the redshirt freshman was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
 
Gines singled in the first run of the day for the Trees in the second inning on a ball down the left field line. Two innings later he doubled in Mike Sears with a ball to the gap in left center.
 
With the bases loaded in the fifth, ISU added an insurance run on a bases loaded fielder's choice.
 
Jordan Beck drove in the lone run for the Vols with an RBI triple in the fourth inning of action.
 
The Vols were just 3-for-17 with runners on and 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. ISU outhit UT 8-5 on the afternoon. Blade Tidwell (0-1) was charged with the loss for Tennessee after pitching four innings and allowing four hits while striking out six.
 
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