The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team won their second-consecutive weekend series by beating Kentucky in the rubber match 3-1 Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Vols (24-21, 8-13 SEC) won a hard-fought game and passed the Wildcats (24-20, 7-14 SEC) in the SEC standings. With an Alabama loss to South Carolina, the Vols moved within one game of eighth place, which represents the final spot in the SEC Tournament.

"That's the word we use a lot with this team: grind," said second baseman Khayyan Norfork.

The Vols pulled ahead with a bases-loaded grounder by Matt Ramsey. Kentucky pitcher Jordan Cooper recovered the ball and threw Ramsey out at first base. P.J. Polk scored from third on the play and gave the Vols the 2-1 lead.

The Vols added another run in the seventh inning on a failed pickoff attempt after a rundown at second base. Josh Liles was in a pickle between first and second base and Norfork timed his steal of home perfectly. The throw was too high for the catcher and Liles moved to third on the error.

"We put a trick play on, we practice that a lot believe it or not," UT head coach Todd Raleigh said.

Tennessee fell behind early off a bloop single from designated hitter Braden Kapteyn that trickled between third baseman  Cody Grisham and shortstop Zach Osborne and into the outfield.

From then on, the Vols pitching took over and held Kentucky to only four hits. Steven Gruver battled through six innings of play.

"He hasn't been pitching great recently, but he battled and really reinvented himself today," Raleigh said.

The Volunteers scored a run in the bottom of the third inning when Norfork hit a ball that went straight to first baseman Gunner Glad. Glad did not have enough time to make the throw to home and tagged first base for the out. Osborne scored on the play, tying the game at one run.

Will Locante pitched in the seventh for the Vols, giving up one hit and a walk with one strikeout. Steve Crnkovich pitched the final two innings and earned the save, giving up just one hit and striking out one batter.

The Volunteers travel to face last-place Georgia (13-30, 3-16 SEC) this weekend as they continue to grind for a spot in the SEC tourney. The games are scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.