KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tenth-ranked Tennessee pounded out 16 hits and overcame six errors Friday night to defeat No. 7 LSU, 8-6, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers improved to 31-9 overall, 10-6 in the SEC. Tennessee is in first place in the SEC Eastern Division, one game ahead of second-place Florida (9-7).
LSU dropped to 29-11 overall, 8-8 in league play. The Tigers are tied with Auburn for third place in the SEC Western Division.
LSU and Tennessee meet in Game 2 of the series at 7 p.m. EDT Saturday. Freshman left-hander Clay Dirks (7-0) will start for LSU, while the Vols will counter with freshman right-hander Sean Watson (4-1).
The Volunteers surrendered four unearned runs, but produced their season-high for hits in an SEC contest.
Tennessee grabbed a 3-0 lead in the third inning Friday as the Volunteers rapped four doubles against LSU starter Jason Determann. LSU narrowed the gap to 3-1 in the fourth when Ivan Naccarata walked, moved to third on a Clay Harris single and scored on a wild pitch by UT reliever Patrick Hicklen.
The Tigers added another run in the sixth as Will Harris delivered an RBI single to cut the Vols’ lead to 3-2.
The Vols led 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh when they struck for three runs against LSU reliever Jordan Faircloth. Nick Crowe provided an RBI single and Eric King ripped a two- run triple to give the Vols a four-run advantage.
LSU rebounded to score three unearned runs in the top of the eighth, as the Tigers were aided by two Tennessee errors in the outfield. J.C. Holt highlighted the inning with an RBI triple.
Tennessee added an insurance run in the eighth when Todd Martin lined an RBI single to give UT an 8-6 lead.
Scot Drucker issued a walk to Jon Zeringue to start the LSU ninth, but he retired the next three Tiger batters to preserve the victory.
Hicklen (3-2) earned the win, as he replaced UT starter Derek Tharpe in the fourth inning after Tharped suffered an elbow injury. Hicklen worked 3.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Determann (2-3) took the loss as he was charged with four runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
Tennessee 8, LSU 6 (Apr 23, 2004 at Knoxville, Tenn.)
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LSU…………….. 000 101 130 – 6 9 2 (29-11, 8-8 SEC)
Tennessee……….. 003 001 31X – 8 16 6 (31-9, 10-6 SEC)
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Pitchers: LSU – Determann; Faircloth(6); Smith, G.(8). Tennessee – Tharpe; Hicklen(4); Drucker(8).
Win-Hicklen(3-2) Loss-Determann(2-3) T-3:16 A-2908