College baseball update: Tennessee’s impressive display of home run hitting showcased against Auburn.
It’s halfway through the season, and Tennessee’s offense is firing on all cylinders.
The Volunteers smashed 14 home runs in a series victory against Auburn over the weekend, including six each in the second and third games.
Cal Stark, who hit two homers on Sunday, emphasized the contagious nature of hitting: “We showed it these past two games. Whenever everybody starts clicking on all cylinders… it makes it extra fun in the dugout.”
Coach Tony Vitello has emphasized the long ball in their offensive strategy. Tennessee leads the nation with 500 homers since 2020, and along with Georgia, they are joint leaders this season with 87 homers. Their average of 10.4 runs per game is second only to Wofford’s 11.4.
Christian Moore led the charge with homers in all three games against Auburn, bringing his tally to a team-leading 13 homers, with four teammates also hitting double-digit homers.
Despite losing the series opener, Tennessee bounced back to win the next two games convincingly, clinching them by the 10-run rule after seven innings.
Vitello remarked on the team’s resilience: “To win a series on the road is huge in the SEC.”
Tennessee, with a record of 26-6 (7-5 SEC), sits third in the SEC East, trailing Kentucky by four games and Vanderbilt by one.
Stark emerged as a standout performer over the weekend, despite starting in just 13 games at catcher this season. His timely hits, including a grand slam against Eastern Kentucky and key hits against Georgia, have been crucial. Stark drove in seven runs on Sunday alone, and his recent performances have been stellar.
Reflecting on the team’s offensive prowess, Stark expressed confidence: “Whenever all of us are swinging the bat like we did this week, it makes us a dangerous team.”
In the polls, Arkansas, Clemson, and Texas A&M maintain their positions as the top three teams, with Arkansas boasting a historic start to the season with a 27-3 record.
UC Irvine (24-4) is making a strong case for NCAA Tournament inclusion, currently ranked 18th in the RPI and seeking to build on their success against UC Santa Barbara.
Saint Peter’s ended a decade-long wait for a series sweep with three wins against Manhattan, marking a significant milestone for the program.
