The midweek woes continued for the Vols on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols once again fell behind early and were unable to rally, losing a disappointing 5–2 game to the Western Carolina Catamounts—first year coach Todd Raleigh's former team.

"It hurts that we didn't win, and that we didn't play well," Raleigh said. "We've been struggling and it wasn't much different than this weekend.

"I don't know if it hurts anymore (losing to Western Carolina), we're just not playing well. And I don't have the answer right now."

Jeff Lockwood started the game from the mound for the Vols and worked five innings while giving up three-earned runs on five hits, absorbing the loss and dropping to 2–2 on the season.

The Vols (25–20) fell behind early when Catamount catcher Blake Murphy sent his 15^th homerun of the year into the left-field bleachers, scoring three RBIs on the shot, and building an early lead his team wouldn't relinquish.

Danny Lima found his swing in the second inning. The sophomore turned on a 2–0 pitch for his second home run of the year, a solo shot bringing his team within two.

The next Volunteer run was scored in an unconventional way during a fifth inning rundown.

The Vols had the bases loaded when Western Carolina pitcher Drew Saberhagen threw attempting to pick off the runner on first base. Kentrail Davis scored from third as the pick off attempt went wide, but Catamount first-basemen Barret Shaft recovered the ball in time to throw home to catch Josh Liles in a rundown while attempting to score.

Western Carolina catcher Blake Murphy then tagged out a sliding Yan Gomes as he tried to advance to third to end the inning on an unusual unassisted double-play – tremendously helped by Vol base-running blunders.

Western Carolina tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the Vols away for good.

Joey Rosas, Steve Crnkovich and Ryne Simpson combined to pitch four innings and gave up four runs and two hits.

The loss brings the Vols record to 7–8 in midweek contests, but the weekend series with Vanderbilt is where the Vols will shift their focus, as they try to qualify for the eight-team SEC tournament in Hoover, Alabama.

"We've got to turn our focus to Vandy, I mean we're still playing for Hoover (Alabama), and that's the goal," Raleigh said about the team's post-season motivation.

"We've just got to get this stuff out of us, something good has to happen to us, and we can get back on a roll."

Game Notes

Danny Lima's solo-home run in the second inning gave the Vols their 49^th on the year. This ties the last season's home run total.

Yan Gomes extended his 17-game hitting streak with a single in the third inning.

The loss was the 20th on the season for the Vols (25–20), and the win was the 20th for Western Carolina (20–24).