KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A record-setting night from freshman shortstop Dean Curley led No. 7/8 Tennessee to an emphatic 15-5 win over Kansas State on Tuesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The California native tied UT’s single-game record with three home runs and finished with nine RBIs, a Tennessee freshman record and one shy of the program record of 10 set by Joe Randa against Louisville in 1991.
Curley nearly completed the home run cycle but flew out to the wall in right field in his final at-bat of the night. His first homer of the night was a grand slam in a six-run third inning for the Big Orange that busted open a 4-2 game. Curley followed that with a three-run blast in the fourth inning and capped his incredible night with a two-run shot in the sixth.
Despite the lopsided final score, the Vols (12-1) had to battle out of an early hole after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats’ lead was short-lived, as UT answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good.
Tuesday’s victory marked UT’s fourth straight contest scoring double-digit runs and the seventh time total this season through 13 games. Seven different Vols registered multi-hit efforts on the night as the team finished with 17 base hits for the second consecutive game, tying a season high.
Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Billy Amick, Cannon Peebles, Dylan Dreiling and Hunter Ensley all finished with two hits apiece while Moore, Amick and Dreiling all added home runs, as well.
On the mound, Nate Snead improved to 3-0 on the year after pitching four innings out of the bullpen while Andrew Behnke and Dylan Loy combined to strikeout out four batters across the final three innings.
Kansas State (7-4) was led by leadoff man Chuck Ingram, who finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Starting pitcher Owen Boerema was tagged for nine runs on nine hits and two walks in three innings of work to fall to 1-1 on the year.
UP NEXT: The Vols continue their midweek slate with a Wednesday night matchup against Southern Indiana at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
STAT OF THE GAME: Tennessee continued its power surge with a season-high six home runs on Tuesday night, giving them 32 on the year. UT has homered in all 13 games this season.
