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April 2, 2012
Overall Record: 18-10Record Last Week: 5-0
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7 p.m.
Knoxville
7 p.m.
Columbia, SC
8 p.m.
Columbia, SC
1:30 p.m.
Columbia, SC
JUNIOR
RHP - 6-6 - 220
Loganville, Ga.
Weekly Stats:5 G, 5 SV, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.1 IP, 9 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Notes: Blount became the first pitcher in Tennessee history to record five saves in five consecutive games as he closed out all five Tennessee victories this week.
He has earned a save in each of the Vols' last six wins and has rocketed up both the UT single-season and career saves charts, already placing seventh and eighth, respectively. The Loganville, Ga., native did not allow a run in any of his five appearances this week, striking out five.
After picking up saves in UT's two midweek wins over Mississippi Valley State, Blount closed out each of the Orange and White's three wins against Alabama as the Vols swept the Tide for just the second time in school history, dating back to the start of the rivalry in 1897. It was Tennessee's first home SEC sweep since 2008 against LSU.
His final two saves came on the same day, as rain postponed the end of Saturday's contest, forcing the teams to play a modified doubleheader on Sunday. Blount recorded the final three outs of both games to preserve a pair of two-run wins and complete the sweep.
Including two wins in Tuscaloosa last season, one of which Blount tallied a win in, the Vols have now defeated Alabama a school record five consecutive times. The previous mark was three in UT's only other sweep of UA which took place in Tuscaloosa in 1994.
Tennessee was a perfect 5-0 against Mississippi Valley State and Alabama this week, as it improved to 18-10 overall and 5-4 in the SEC, marking the first time the Vols have been over .500 in league action since the beginning of the 2008 campaign.
UT's sweep over Alabama was just the second in school history, dating back to the start of the rivalry in 1897. The only other time the Vols accomplished that feat was in 1994 in Tuscaloosa. Including two wins last season, Tennessee has now defeated the Crimson Tide a school record five consecutive times.
Junior Nick Blount became the first Vol to ever record five saves in five consecutive games as he closed out each UT victory on the week, including two in one day on Sunday as he preserved a pair of two-run victories to finish off the sweep. He did not allow a run in any of his five appearances, striking out a total of five batters.
Sophomore Carter Watson was also stellar on the hill, picking up his first three wins of the year over the span of the five games. He twirled six scoreless frames of relief on the week, earning victories on Tuesday, Friday and the second game on Sunday.
At the plate, senior Zach Osborne hit a blistering .571 on the week, going 8-for-14, including 6-for-9 against the Tide. He drove in five runs, scored three more and stole two bases. In the series finale against Alabama, the Louisville, Ky., native ripped a clutch two-out, two-strike, two-run single to break open a 3-3 tie and hand the Vols a 5-3 win and the series sweep.
Drew Steckenrider and Will Maddox each launched home runs against Alabama. It was the team-leading fourth of the year for Steckenrider as he hit a two-run, opposite-field shot in the series finale. Maddox's came as part of a 3-for-4, four-RBI effort in the series opener and was the first of his collegiate career.
The Vols last swept an SEC opponent in 2010 at Georgia and had not swept a conference opponent at home since opening league play with three wins against LSU in 2008. That also marks the last time the Vols were over .500 in SEC play.
The Big Orange will close out its 10-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts Memphis at 7 p.m. That contest is set to air on FOX Sports South with Bob Kesling and Rusty Ensor on the call.
The Vols will then travel to the Palmetto State for a three-game set against two-time defending national champion South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., this weekend. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Saturday's contest will be televised on ESPNU.
For the most up-to-date information on Volunteer baseball, visit www.UTSports.com/baseball and follow @Vol_Baseball on Twitter.
Zach Osborne
SENIOR
SS - 5-8 - 180
Louisville, Ky.
Weekly Stats:.571, 14 AB, 3 R, 8 H, 2 2B, 5 RBIs, .714 SLG, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 0 K, .500 OBP, 2/2 SB/ATT
Notes: Osborne hit at a scalding .571 clip over Tennessee's five wins this week, going 8-for-14 with a pair of doubles, three runs scored, two stolen bases and five RBIs. He posted three multi-hit performances and drove in a pair of runs in two different games.
After opening the week with a 2-for-2 effort in which he drove in two runs with a pair of sac flies against Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, Osborne had a hit in all three games of UT's sweep over Alabama on the weekend.
On Friday night, he was 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles as he helped the Vols overcome a six-run deficit and claim the opener, 10-8. He was then 1-for-2 with an RBI on his third sac fly of the week in game two of the series, before breaking open a 3-3 deadlock in the series finale with a two-out, two-strike, two-run single that gave Tennessee a 5-3 win and the series sweep over the Tide, just the second in school history.
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