Tennessee Beats LSU 9-3 in Attendance Record-Setting Game

BATON ROUGE, La. – Tennessee‘s right-hander Marcus Phillips limited LSU to two runs over 6.2 innings Saturday night as the fifth-ranked Volunteers defeated the fourth-ranked Tigers 9-3 in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The game was attended by a record crowd of 13,376 paid and 11,439 actual fans.

The Volunteers improved their overall record to 35-8 and 13-7 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), while LSU’s record fell to 35-9 and 13-7 in the conference. Phillips allowed only three hits, walking four batters and striking out six while throwing 100 pitches. Tennessee reliever Dylan Loy earned his second save of the season, pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowing one run on one hit with no walks.

“Phillips was throwing strikes, he was mixing, and he just wasn’t missing over the heart of the plate very much,” LSU Coach Jay Johnson said after the game. “We didn’t hit a lot, and it didn’t seem like we got a lot of pitches we could do anything with. So, I’m going to credit the pitcher in this instance, knowing that we can keep chipping away at this thing and get better.”

LSU’s starter Anthony Eyanson (6-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. Tennessee catcher Cannon Peebles led his team with five RBIs, highlighted by a three-run homer during a six-run eighth inning.

The Tigers hit three solo homers during the game, coming from shortstop Steven Milam, third baseman Michael Braswell III, and pinch hitter John Pearson. The series concludes at 2 p.m. CT Sunday, with the game broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and televised on the SEC Network.