Amick belts three-run home run and top-seeded Tennessee tops Northern Kentucky 9-3 in NCAA opener

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bill Amick hit a three-run home run — one of three long balls for top-seeded Tennessee — and the Volunteers rolled past Northern Kentucky 9-3 on Friday night at the Knoxville Regional.

Northern Kentucky struck first when Cleary Simpson hit the third pitch of the game deep to right-center field for a home run. But by the time Amick cracked his home run in the fourth, the No. 1 overall seed Volunteers led 6-1 and were headed to Saturday’s matchup against Indiana.

Hunter Ensley and Dylan Dreiling also hit home runs for Tennessee (51-11). Dreiling went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Amick was 1-for-3 and scored three times.

AJ Causey came on in relief in the first inning and pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win. He allowed two runs and four hits and struck out nine.

Liam McFadden-Ackman also hit a home run for Northern Kentucky (35-23), which will play Southern Mississippi on Saturday.

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports