The Tennessee Volunteers have continued their undefeated season in Houston at the Astros Foundation College Classic. They have two wins in Daikin Park against Oklahoma State and Rice. This is thanks in large part to Gavin Kilen, a transfer infielder formerly of the Louisville Cardinals.
The Volunteers had seven home runs over the course of those two games. Four of those long balls came courtesy of Gavin Kilen. The Tennessee second baseman has been sensational in Houston.
In the 5-2 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Friday, Kilen had two home runs that led to Tennessee taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Final got the clip of Gavin's first bomb of the game. Figured you'd all like to watch. 😁#GBO pic.twitter.com/MNabhF4hGU
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 1, 2025
Not only did he end the game with three hits, but the power hitting from him became contagious and translated to his teammates. Manny Marin and Dean Curley also homered in Friday’s win.
Then, on Saturday, Kilen homered twice in one game again, this time against the Rice Owls.
In the 13-3 win, his two home runs came in the fourth and sixth innings to increase the Tennessee lead. The second baseman also tripled after those home runs and that scored two more runs.
In total, Gavin Kilen finished with six hits (four of them home runs) during the past two games. So far this season, he is batting .444, has five home runs, and has 12 RBI.
The Volunteers will look to keep their undefeated season alive on Sunday during their final game in the Astros Foundation College Classic. They will face off against the Arizona Wildcats at 11:05 a.m. EST.
The game is available for streaming via the Houston Astros’ YouTube channel.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
Photo Credit: Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, left, talks with pitcher Kirby Connell before an NCAA college baseball super regional game against Notre Dame, June 11, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee suspended Vitello, Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, for the Volunteers’ weekend series with Dayton while university officials, Vitello and the NCAA handle a violation in the program. (AP Photo/Randy Sartin, File)
