Left fielder P.J. Polk was able to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth when Arkansas pitcher Stephen Richards threw a pickoff attempt out of reach for first baseman Andy Wilkins.

With two outs, Polk reached first on a drive to right field. When Arkansas (28-12) brought in closer Stephen Richards, head coach Todd Raleigh felt he had nothing to lose when he gave the signal for Polk to steal.

"That guy is one of the best closers in the country, and we've got two left-handed hitters coming up, so I thought our chances were better trying to score that way than getting a hit," Raleigh said.

After the errant throw, Polk's speed did the rest. "The only thing I was thinking was to turn it on,'' Polk said. "I've never been a part of anything like that, to win a game on such a weird play."

Tennessee (20-24), moved to 6-14 within SEC play with the win as they evened the weekend series with Arkansas. The Vols look to win their third straight SEC series after stunning top-ranked LSU last weekend.

The game was Raleigh's first back after a one game suspension by the SEC. A new rule specifies that a coach must serve a one game suspension after two ejections.

Tennessee's pitching showed improvement Saturday, giving up only one base on balls, after allowing nine runs and 10 walks Friday night. Starter Nick Hernandez pitched six innings and allowed three runs, and Bryan Morgado was solid despite giving up one home run in the eighth to Arkansas' Andrew Darr.

Third baseman Cody Hawn sent a two-run homer over the left field wall in the fifth inning to give the Vols a 4-2 lead. Hawn leads the team in home runs this season with 16.

The Vols will look to clinch the series against Arkansas Sunday at 1 p.m. before traveling to Lexington to take on Kentucky in a three-game series next weekend.