KNOXVILLE (Interstat) — Trent Grindlinger went 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs to lead Tennessee to a 14-9 victory over Texas on Saturday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, evening the Southeastern Conference series after the Longhorns won the opener.

The Volunteers improved to 34-17 overall, while Texas dropped to 36-12. Tennessee banged out 16 hits, including five home runs, and overcame an early five-run deficit with a five-run fifth inning that tied the game.

Texas third baseman Temo Becerra was the offensive standout for the Longhorns, finishing 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBIs. His two-run homer in the first inning capped a three-run frame after Sam Eric Tinney scored on a balk. Becerra added a two-run single in the fifth and an RBI double in the ninth, but Tennessee’s relentless offense answered each time.

Tennessee designated hitter Grindlinger sparked the lineup from the leadoff spot, doubling and scoring in the third inning, homering in the first and adding singles in the fifth and eighth. Right fielder Reese Chapman went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer in the sixth that put the Volunteers ahead for good. Shortstop Manny Marin homered in the second and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Second baseman Blake Grimmer hit a two-run homer in the fourth, catcher Stone Lawless smacked a two-run shot in the eighth, and center fielder Garrett Wright led off the bottom of the first with a solo homer.

Tennessee starter Evan Blanco worked seven innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs while striking out eight. He left with an 11-9 lead after the sixth. Ethan Walker pitched one-third of an inning for Texas, striking out one.

The most pivotal sequence unfolded in the bottom of the fifth inning with Texas leading 9-4. Grindlinger singled, and Lucas Clark singled. Chapman then bunted and reached on a throwing error by Texas third baseman Becerra, allowing both runners to score and Chapman to second. Lawless sacrificed Chapman to third, and Marin flied to center for a sacrifice fly that tied the game 9-9. Blaine Brown singled and stole second, and Wright walked, but Grimmer struck out looking to end the inning. Two innings later, Chapman’s opposite-field homer off reliever Ethan Walker gave Tennessee an 11-9 lead. Lawless added a two-run homer in the eighth off Walker to stretch the margin to 14-9.

Texas attempted a ninth-inning rally, scoring three runs on two walks, a single by Jalin Robbins, a wild pitch and an RBI double by Becerra before the final out.

The game featured a combined 26 hits and 23 runs, with both teams using multiple pitchers. Texas left fielder Justin Larson singled in a pinch-hit appearance, and designated hitter Ethan Borba homered in the eighth for the Longhorns.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Texas 8, Tennessee 7. Interstat’s ELO system gave Tennessee a 54.00 percent probability to win, and Texas was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 1.5.