Knoxville, Tenn. – Luke Robinson belted his team-leading sixth home run of the season on a third-inning, two-run shot to give Western Carolina a 2-1 advantage against sixth-ranked Tennessee on Tuesday evening. However, the Volunteers' pitching staff stymied the potent Catamount offense, limiting WCU to a season-low three base hits while striking out 11 in snapping its eight-game winning streak with a 9-2 loss in nonconference action at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
 
Robinson's blast – the 20th of his collegiate career – was his lone hit in a 1-for-4, two-RBI performance with both Daylan Nanny and Will Prater singling in 1-for-4 showings at the plate. Nanny and freshman Pascanel Ferreras have reached base in every game this season as Ferreras drew a first-inning walk. Justice Bigbie saw his 26-game reached base safely streak dating back to the abbreviated 2020 season end, hitless in four trips.
 
Tennessee (22-4) led 1-0 after the home half of the first inning before Robinson's blast pushed WCU ahead in the top of the third. The lead was short-lived, though, as Korey Booker hit a solo homer in the home portion of the third to knot the game at three a third of the way through.
 
Booker struck again in the fourth with a two-run single as a part of a three-run outburst, and it was all the Vols would need. Tennessee tacked on a solo homer in the fifth and a three-run home run in the eighth inning to provide the final tally.
 
Reliever Eric Wallington (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three earned runs over a third of an inning out of the bullpen. Weekend starter Ryan Mitschele tossed 2.0 innings on Tuesday after his scheduled Saturday start was rained out­. Freshman Jackson Kirkpatrick struck out two in an inning of work, while Jack Snyder and Davis Tyndall also posted strikeouts on the mound for WCU as the Catamounts used eight different pitchers.
 
Reliever Jake Fitzgibbons (1-0) tossed a team-high 3.1 relief innings to earn the victory for the Vols, striking out four. Booker finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored to lead Tennessee, with Jake Rucker driving in four in a 1-for-4 performance.
 
Western Carolina (13-5) returns to league play this weekend, traveling to Spartanburg, S.C., to face the Wofford Terriers (14-10, 3-3 SoCon). The three-game series is scheduled for a single-game on Friday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ (paid subscription required) with a Saturday doubleheader slated for 2 p.m.