KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (April 23, 2008) - The ETSU baseball team put on a power display Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. as they defeated Tennessee to sweep the Vols on the season, 11-9.

ETSU (12-29, 8-16) was out hit by the Vols 12-11, but were able to hold on to an early 10-0 lead. The sweep marks the second time in three years that ETSU has swept Tennssee.

Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) got the Bucs on the board in the top of the first as he singled through the right side driving in Jacob Fabry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) to give ETSU a 1-0 lead. In the next at bat freshman Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) crushed a ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run to give the Bucs an early 3-0 lead.

Troy Mendez (Roswell, Ga.) added to the Bucs lead in the top of the third as he crushed a ball over the fence in right center to make the score 4-0. Later in the inning Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.) hit a three-run home run over the right field fence to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead. Bart Roark (Mountain City, Tenn.) hit the Bucs fourth home run of the game as he crushed a two-run home run over the fence in center field. Mendez added another run as he doubled in Fabry to make the score 10-0.

Shawn Griffin put the Vols on the board in the bottom of the third as he hit a solo home run to center to make the score 10-1.

P.J. Polk hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the ETSU lead to 10-3. Later in the inning Griffin hit a two-run shot to center to make the score 10-5.

Mendez drove in another run in the top of the fifth as Nick Belcher (Abingdon, Va.) came in to score on a grounder to short to make the Buc lead 11-5.

The Vols would cut into the Buc lead again in the bottom of the sixth as Griffin score from first on a Yan Gomes single up the middle that was misplayed by Fabry to make the score 11-6.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cody Brown hit a two-run home run to left field as the Vols cut the ETSU lead to 11-8 after seven innings. The Vols added another run in the bottom of the eighth on a grounder to short by Jeff Lockwood to make the score 11-9.

Brandon Langston (Ringgold, Ga.) came in and closed the door on the Vols in the ninth pitching a scoreless inning giving up one hit and striking out two as he picked up his third save of the season.

Josh Means (Kennesaw, Ga.) earned his second win of the season as he went three innings in relief giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits and stuck out one while walking three.

Mendez, Fabry and Hoilman each had two hits for the Bucs, while Mendez and Trent each had three RBI in the game. Russell walked three times and scored two runs while driving in one.

The Bucs are back in action this weekend as they head to Nashville for a three game set with Lipscomb. Game one is 7 p.m. Friday night at Lee Marsh Stadium.

ETSU 11, Tennessee 9 (April 23, 2008 at Knoxville, Tenn.)
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ETSU..............307  010  000   -  11  11  2  (12-29, 8-16 A-Sun)

UT...................001  401  210   -  9    12  1  (24-17, 10-8 SEC)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Ty Sarchet; Josh Means (4); Drew Story (7); Matt McGahey (7); Brandon Langston (9)

UT - Steve Crnkovich, Joey Rosas (3); Ryne Simpson (3); Ty'Relle Harris (5); Danny Wiltz (8); Nick Hernandez (9)

Win - Josh Means (2-8) Loss - Steve Crnkovich (5-5) Save - Brandon Langston (3)

HR - ETSU - Paul Hoilman (7); Troy Mendez (7); Derek Trent (10); Bart Roark (5)

UT - Shawn Griffin 2(10); P.J. Polk (2); Cody Brown (6)