KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Samford University baseball team opened its series at fourth-ranked Tennessee Friday afternoon, falling by a score of 5-1 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
 
With the loss, Samford fell to 3-2 on the young season. Tennessee improved its record to 5-0 with the win.
 
Samford was led at the plate by Trey Higgins, who went 1-for-3 with a solo home run to account for Samford's lone run in the game. Jeffrey Ince, Gus Gandy and Cade Carr also had a hit each for the Bulldogs.
 
Miller Riggins (1-1) pitched 4.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits to take the loss on the mound for Samford. Noah Berry and Evan Steckmesser combined to pitch the final 4.0 innings without allowing a run.
 
For Tennessee, Andrew Fischer went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Cannon Peebles hit a two-run home run for the Volunteers, while Reese Chapman hit a solo homer, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Liam Doyle (2-0) tossed 5.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out 14 batters to earn the win on the mound for the Volunteers.
 
Tennessee struck first when Chapman hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the second inning to give the Vols a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third inning, Peebles hit a two-run homer to left field to push the Tennessee lead to 3-0.
 
The Vols added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI ground out by Hunter Ensley and an RBI single by Fischer to make the score 5-0.
 
Samford got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning when Higgins hit a solo home run to right field to cut the lead to 5-1.
 
Samford and Tennessee will continue their series with a game on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT).
 
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