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Blake Grimmer, Levi Clark and Henry Ford combined to hit six home runs for Tennessee baseball in a 13-5 win over Ole Miss in the type of performance the Vols hoped would eventually occur this season.
The trio aligned for long balls in the series finale on April 19 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. It had been a long time coming for the three sluggers to get hot at the same time.
“The horses were running. That’s it,” UT coach Josh Elander said. “It was good to see Levi do his deal. Grimmer had an amazing day. It was a really good day for those guys at the plate.”
The half-dozen homers helped the Vols (26-14, 8-10 SEC) avoid a sweep and stop an eight-game winning streak by the Rebels (29-12, 10-8). Ole Miss won 7-4 in Game 1 and 8-1 in Game 2 to leave Knoxville with a series win.
But the Vols enjoyed seeing some of their bats with the biggest potential line up in Game 3 of the series.
Grimmer tied a program record with three home runs. He hit a solo homer, a two-run homer and a three-run shot. He became the first UT player to hit three homers in a game since Christian Moore did it against Kentucky in 2024.
Clark smashed a pair of two-run homers, and he added a double for good measure.
Ford went 4-for-5 with a double and a three-run homer. He became the first UT player to record four hits in a game this season.
Tennessee has rarely gotten Ford, Clark and Grimmer on the same page. But it’s better late than never.
Ford, a Virginia transfer, has hit the ball well all season. But Clark, a preseason All-SEC selection, had labored through a prolonged slump. And Grimmer was sidelined by a back injury early in the season. But their bats were hot at the same time against Ole Miss.
Clark, who has a .197 batting average, was the brightest spot. He now has six homers this season, including one towering shot that he launched over the batter’s eye in center field against the Rebels.
“Hopefully it’s a reminder to (Clark) that he can change the game if he just stays in there and not try to do too much,” Elander said. “I believe in Levi. He was a highly touted recruit. He hasn’t had the best start.
“But we’re in the second half of SEC play, and he’s done some damage in SEC games that’s been the difference in us winning or not. So we need him to continue to do that.”
Tennessee plays Lipscomb on April 21 (6 p.m. ET). Then the Vols face No. 13 Alabama in an SEC series on April 23 (7 p.m. ET), April 24 (6:30 p.m. ET) and April 25 (1 p.m. ET). All four games will be at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and streamed on SEC Network+.
Ford hit his team-leading 12th homer of the season.
Grimmer hit his eighth, ninth and 10th homers of the season in Game 3 against Ole Miss. The left-handed hitter pulled all three down the right-field line, including one that struck the foul pole.
“(Grimmer) hit one out there into the trees in right (field),” Elander said.
The Vols had only nine hits for a team average of .145 in the first two games of the series. But they went 14-for-38 (.368) in the final game.
“It’s one of those things about baseball,” Elander said. “Some of those guys really struggled the first two days (against Ole Miss). But I tell them that they’re one swing away from getting hot.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Blake Grimmer, Levi Clark, Henry Ford combine for six homers vs Ole Miss
Continue reading...
The trio aligned for long balls in the series finale on April 19 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. It had been a long time coming for the three sluggers to get hot at the same time.
“The horses were running. That’s it,” UT coach Josh Elander said. “It was good to see Levi do his deal. Grimmer had an amazing day. It was a really good day for those guys at the plate.”
The half-dozen homers helped the Vols (26-14, 8-10 SEC) avoid a sweep and stop an eight-game winning streak by the Rebels (29-12, 10-8). Ole Miss won 7-4 in Game 1 and 8-1 in Game 2 to leave Knoxville with a series win.
But the Vols enjoyed seeing some of their bats with the biggest potential line up in Game 3 of the series.
Grimmer tied a program record with three home runs. He hit a solo homer, a two-run homer and a three-run shot. He became the first UT player to hit three homers in a game since Christian Moore did it against Kentucky in 2024.
Clark smashed a pair of two-run homers, and he added a double for good measure.
Ford went 4-for-5 with a double and a three-run homer. He became the first UT player to record four hits in a game this season.
Why Levi Clark could be Tennessee's difference-maker
Tennessee has rarely gotten Ford, Clark and Grimmer on the same page. But it’s better late than never.
Ford, a Virginia transfer, has hit the ball well all season. But Clark, a preseason All-SEC selection, had labored through a prolonged slump. And Grimmer was sidelined by a back injury early in the season. But their bats were hot at the same time against Ole Miss.
Clark, who has a .197 batting average, was the brightest spot. He now has six homers this season, including one towering shot that he launched over the batter’s eye in center field against the Rebels.
“Hopefully it’s a reminder to (Clark) that he can change the game if he just stays in there and not try to do too much,” Elander said. “I believe in Levi. He was a highly touted recruit. He hasn’t had the best start.
“But we’re in the second half of SEC play, and he’s done some damage in SEC games that’s been the difference in us winning or not. So we need him to continue to do that.”
Tennessee plays Lipscomb on April 21 (6 p.m. ET). Then the Vols face No. 13 Alabama in an SEC series on April 23 (7 p.m. ET), April 24 (6:30 p.m. ET) and April 25 (1 p.m. ET). All four games will be at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and streamed on SEC Network+.
How Vols got hot before it was too late
Ford hit his team-leading 12th homer of the season.
Grimmer hit his eighth, ninth and 10th homers of the season in Game 3 against Ole Miss. The left-handed hitter pulled all three down the right-field line, including one that struck the foul pole.
“(Grimmer) hit one out there into the trees in right (field),” Elander said.
The Vols had only nine hits for a team average of .145 in the first two games of the series. But they went 14-for-38 (.368) in the final game.
“It’s one of those things about baseball,” Elander said. “Some of those guys really struggled the first two days (against Ole Miss). But I tell them that they’re one swing away from getting hot.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Blake Grimmer, Levi Clark, Henry Ford combine for six homers vs Ole Miss
Continue reading...
