Burke’s five-RBI day powers UT past Charleston Southern

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Blake Burke’s career-high five RBIs led Tennessee to a 6-1 win over South Charleston Tuesday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Burke homered for the fifth time this season, scored two runs in the sixth inning, and finished 3-for-5 on the day. Tennessee recorded 11 hits as a team Tuesday, going a combined 11-for-34 (.324) at the plate with the home pair. Jared Dickey finished with a pair of hits and an RBI while Griffin Merritt also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4.

Left-hander Zander Sechrist got the start on the mound and went 4.1 innings of work with five strikeouts and only three hits allowed in the outing.

Seth Halvorsen stepped up in relief of Sechrist, striking out four of the 11 batters he faced in 2.2 innings of work to get his first win as a Vol. Kirby Connell was called up from the bullpen to pitch the eighth, pitching a 1-2-3 inning with one strikeout. Aaron Combs ended up striking out a pair of batters and retiring the side in the ninth.

The Vols opened the scoring on Burke’s two-run single through the right side in the bottom of the first, giving the Vols an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Burke’s third RBI of the day came on a single that scored Charlie Taylor and increased Tennessee’s advantage to 3-0.

Dickey’s solo shot to right center was his third homer of the year and Tennessee’s first three in the sixth inning. A short time later, a certified Burke Blast to left center left the yard, scoring Moore for his fourth RBI and Burke’s fifth of the game.

Junior infielder Maui Ahuna got the starting nod at Tennessee’s debut shortstop and logged the Orange and White’s first hit with a single up the middle in the sixth inning.

Charleston Southern’s Casey Asman drove in the only run of the day for the Buccaneers with a solo home run in the top of the seventh.

UT wraps up its midweek series with Charleston Southern on Wednesday evening with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. Fans can watch the game live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app or listen live on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App and the Varsity App.