The Tennessee baseball team started out the 2008 season by defeating Morehead State 9–4, giving first-year head coach Todd Raleigh his first victory as a Volunteer.

"The first one, the second one, I'll take all of the wins we can get," Raleigh said. "Obviously, you want to come out and get off to a good start. It's a little bit of a relief to get the first one and stay undefeated."

The Vols got off to a fast start when senior designated hitter Shawn Griffin drew an RBI walk to put UT on the board in the first inning. Freshman right fielder Josh Liles followed up with a two-run single up the middle two batters later. First baseman Tanner Moore capped the first inning with an RBI basehit, making the lead 4–0.

The first one, the second one, I'll take all of the wins we can get. Obviously, you want to come out and get off to a good start. It's a little bit of a relief to get the first one and stay undefeated. Head Coach Todd RaleighIn the bottom of the same inning, Kentrail Davis drove in second baseman Andy Simunic on a ground out to give the Vols a 5–1 lead.

In the third inning the Eagles made the score RBI sacrifice fly by Andrew Wertz to make the score 5–2 in favor of the Vols, after a misplayed ball in center field.

Tanner Moore notched another RBI single in the third inning, his second hit of the afternoon scored Griffin. Heading into the fourth inning the score was 6–2.

J.D. Ashbrook of MSU hit a two run homer left in the top of the fourth when he drove the ball to left-centerfield, cutting the lead to 6–4.

After two scoreless innings, Davis added to Tennessee’s lead with a hard-hit double to right field in the bottom of the sixth that drove in Simunic and stretched the lead to 7–4.

Davis later scored on an RBI fielder's choice that made the score 8–4 going into the seventh inning.

Tennessee posted the final run of the game in the seventh when Liles hit an RBI triple to deep centerfield.

Right-hander Steve Crnkovich who transferred from the University of Illinois-Chicago performed well in his first start for UT, allowing no earned runs and coming away with his first win for the Orange and White.

Liles drove in a game-high three runs for the Vols and was 2-for-3 hitting on the day.

On Saturday at 2 p.m., sophomore left-hander Nick Hernandez will start for Tennessee while freshman right-hander Josh Schneider will take to the mound for Morehead State.

The Vols will close out the three game series against the Eagles on Sunday at 1 p.m.