Reed, State earn 2-1 extra innings victory over UT

It definitely wasn't pretty, but in the end Louis Pollorena tagged up from 3rd on a Sac Fly by Mitch Slauter to score the winning run as State pulled out a 2-1 victory over Tennessee in 11 innings.

Chris Stratton gained his first national audience of the year, and as usual, he didn't disappoint. Chris finished the night giving up just 4 hits and 1 earned run in 9 innings while striking out 10. At the end of regulation though State was locked in a 1-1 tie with the Vols, and Stratton left with yet another no decision.

Senior Caleb Reed (1-5), who gained the win in relief, took over from there on the mound for the dogs, shutting down UT in 2 innings of work only allowing 2 hits while striking out 2 as well.

After Tennessee scored a run in the 8th to tie it, the game went back and forth scoreless for several innings, until the bottom of the 11th. In the bottom of the 11th, State opened with a Trey Porter smash that many, including me, thought would be a walk-off HR. The ball hit the middle of the wall though, and Porter registered a leadoff double to start the inning. Wes Rea came up next and sac bunted, but the Tennessee pitcher hesitated in his throw to 3rd attempting to get Porter, and both runners were safe. After an intentional walk to C.T. Bradford to load the bases and get the double play back on, C Mitch Slauter hit a ball in shallow center field, but just deep enough to give pinch runner Louis Pollorena the opportunity to try to tag up. And Pollorena didn't disappoint, making it in behind the tag to clinch the Bulldog victory.

With the win, State moved to 22-16 overall, 6-10 in SEC play. Tennessee fell to 22-16, 7-9 in the SEC with the loss.

Here are your official stats from last night's W.

#HailState