KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennessee's national title defense continues as the Vols punched their ticket to the Fayetteville Super Regional with an 11-5 win over Wake Forest.

Liam Doyle pitched the final 2.1 innings and recorded five strikeouts to set a new Tennessee single-season record with 155 K's.

AJ Russell got the start after throwing 53 pitches just two days ago against Cincinnati. The junior allowed a double, but recorded a strikeout and two flyouts to escape the inning. In the bottom frame, Andrew Fischer drew a walk with one out, but Hunter Ensley grounded out into a double play to leave Fischer stranded.

After a pair of strikeouts, Russell gave up a single, followed by a two-run shot into the Tennessee bullpen from Matt Conte.

Brayden Krenzel replaced Russell on the mound after the home run. Krenzel forced a groundout to get out of the inning.

Tennessee couldn't find an answer in the bottom of the second, going three up, three down.

However, the Vols did find that answer in the third. Levi Clark started things off as he was hit by a pitch, Cannon Peebles drew a walk, and then Manny Marin singled to load the bases with no outs. Gavin Kilen grounded out into a double play, but Clark was able to run home to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Krenzel pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth with a pair of strikeouts.

The Vols kept the offense going in the bottom of the fourth. Ensley drew a leadoff walk, Dean Curley followed suit with another walk, and then they both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Reese Chapman sent a single to second to score Ensley and tie the game, 2-2.

Wake Forest turned to its bullpen, but Tennessee's offense kept striking. Curley scored on a wild pitch as Tennessee took its first lead of the game. Marin blew things wide open with a three-run shot to give the Vols a 6-2 lead. It marked the freshman's third home run of the season, and his first since March 8.

The lineup then reset and Kilen started things off with a single. Fischer mashed his 24th home run of the season over the right field wall to extend Tennessee's lead to 8-2 and cap off a seven-run fourth inning.

The Demon Deacons pulled within four runs thanks to a two-run shot from Matt Scannell in the top of the fifth. That homer ended Krenzel's day as Dylan Loy took over on the mound. The Pigeon Forge native forced a groundout and picked up a strikeout to prevent any further damage.

After allowing a double in the top of the sixth, Tanner Franklin replaced Loy on the mound. Wake Forest's Dalton Wentz then stole third and scored on an RBI single to cut Tennessee's lead to 8-5. Franklin recorded a pair of strikeouts to get out of the inning.

With two outs in the seventh, Liam Doyle took over on the mound and recorded the final strikeout to end the inning. Tony Vitello said the lefty had "been in his ear" to pitch right when Sunday's game wrapped up. Vitello gave Doyle the opportunity and he made the most of it.

Tennessee extended its lead in the bottom of the seventh. A walk and a single put runners on the corners. Dean Curley sent a single up the middle to score both Ensley and Fischer to give the Vols a 10-5 advantage.

Doyle added another pair of strikeouts in the eighth to give him 155 on the season, a new Tennessee single-season record. The lefty added two more in the top of the ninth.

UP NEXT: Tennessee heads to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks in a Super Regional.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/sports/tennessee-volunteers/tennessee-advances-to-super-regional-for-5th-straight-season/