Sunday baseball recap: Vols sweep Rebels; Kentucky, Auburn and LSU mash, more

There was lots of offense in the Southeastern Conference on Sunday.

Photo courtesy of Ole Miss athletics. 

Vols hold on for sweep of Ole Miss

Unlike Tennessee's first two wins this weekend, there was actually some drama to the Vols' 4-3 victory over Ole Miss in Oxford. Volunteer closer Redmond Walsh pitched around a leadoff single and an error to strike out the side, preserving a series sweep and a 15th-straight win for Tennessee.

Freshman starter Drew Beam (7 1/3 innings, one earned run, six strikeouts) was terrific again in picking up the win. Jordan Beck and Seth Stephenson had three hits apiece for Tennessee (23-1, 6-0 SEC). 

Hayden Dunhurst hit a three-run homer in the eighth to pull Ole Miss (16-7, 2-4) within a run, but once again, the Rebels were un-done by unreliable starting pitching as Derek Diamond (4 2/3 innings, three earned runs). 

Tigers smack Florida, again

A day after a 16-4 win, LSU (17-7, 3-3) scored a series win with an 11-2 triumph at Florida on Sunday, with Brayden Jobert slamming two home runs and Hayden Travinski adding another after each hit one the day before. Starter Samuel Dutton pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings and Grant Taylor did the rest, striking out six to get the win. 

Florida (17-7, 3-3) managed just one extra-base hit, that being a Sterlin Thompson triple. The Gators have struggled to find consistent starting pitching after Hunter Barco and that happened again on Sunday, when Ryan Slater allowed four runs (all earned) in 3 1/3 innings, with just one strikeout. 

'Cats hammer Georgia

Georgia (18-6, 3-3) had its own pitching struggles this weekend, allowing 20 hits and eight walks to Kentucky (17-8, 2-4) in an 18-5 demolition on Sunday. Chase Estep, one of the league's best hitters so far, had three hits, three RBIs, two walks and five runs scored while smashing his eighth home run. Alfonzo Rupalcaba also counted a home run among his three hits while knocking in four. Second baseman Jase Felker, who's started to see more playing time lately, was 5-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Kentucky lefty Tyler Bosma made his third good start in five tries, and this one (six innings, no runs, five strikeouts) was his best of the season. 

The Bulldogs' pitching was a disaster from the beginning. Five of UGA's seven arms gave up at least a run and starter Bryce Melear allowed four runs in just two-thirds of an inning. Parks Harber homered and drove in two for Georgia (

Crimson Tide salvage finale behind stellar pitching

After two straight days of big hits by the State offense, the Bulldogs (15-10, 3-3) were stifled by Sunday man Grayson Hitt. The Tide (14-11, 2-4) starter threw 6 sharp innings while allowing just 1 run on 4 hits. Antoine Jean allowed 1 unearned run in 3 strong innings of relief, while Drew Williamson led the way at the dish with a 2-3, 2 RBI day highlighted by a mammoth 6th inning HR. The State bullpen once again struggled, allowing 3 runs in the 9th frame. 

Auburn takes the series in Aggieland 

Auburn (17-7, 3-3) and Texas A&M (14-9, 3-3) delivered once again Sunday, as they played a back and forth affair which saw the Tigers come out in top, clinching the series. Neither starter fared well as Auburn’s Tommy Sheehan allowed 5 ER over 1.0 inning, and the Aggies Ryan Prager allowed 6 ER over 2.1. 

Offensively, it was the Nate LaRue show as the Auburn catcher tallied 3 hits, including a double and HR, plus 5 RBI. Cole Foster added 3 hits as well, while two other Tigers had a multi-hit game. A&M was highlighted by Dylan Rock who belted a 3-run HR. 

Razorbacks notch another series win 

What was a tight game for the majority of the day was ultimately decided by a 4-run 7th inning from Arkansas (18-4, 5-1) aided by sloppy play from Missouri (13-7, 1-5). While the Razorbacks did have two hits, two errors and a balk paved the way, and all four runs were unearned. Arkansas was led by another deep outing from Jaxon Wiggins as he went 7.1 IP, with only 4 hits and 4 runs, plus 8 strikeouts.