KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Justin Ammons hit a one-out, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th as host Tennessee turned back a game effort from Norfolk State in a 5-4 Vols' victory on Sunday afternoon at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Spartans (3-8) nearly pulled off their first-ever win against an SEC opponent, but fell just short as Tennessee (9-1) made enough clutch plays to finish off the three-game sweep of the weekend series.

Behind three RBI and the first career homer off the bat of third baseman Justin Burrell, NSU held leads of 2-1 in the fifth and 4-3 in the sixth. UT struck for a run in the second on Dom Thornton's sacrifice fly. But Denathan Dukes singled, took second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI groundout by Brian Beard to tie the score in the top of the fourth.

Burrell then tagged a solo homer over the left-field fence in the fifth off UT starter Will Neely to give the Spartans their first lead of the series. The lead would be short-lived, though, as the Vols scored a run on a based-loaded walk and a double play in the bottom of the inning for a 3-2 UT advantage.

Burrell again provided a go-ahead hit in the sixth. Beard was hit by a pitch and Roger Hall singled before Alex Mauricio grounded out to move both runners up one base. Burrell then lined a single to right-center off Vols reliever Garrett Stallings to put the Spartans back in front, 4-3.

Reggie Southall knotted the score in the bottom of the sixth, however, with an RBI single off NSU reliever Chase Anderson.

Anderson, however, came up big for the Spartans out of the bullpen for the second day in a row. After pitching two scoreless innings on Saturday, Anderson tossed five more strong innings in relief of starter Jonathan Mauricio. Anderson allowed just five hits and one unearned run while fanning three batters. He kept UT off the board in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to send the game into extras.

Both teams had prime opportunities to score in the 10th. NSU outfielder Terrence Pinkston led off with a double off UT reliever Jon Lipinski. One out later, Hall walked to put two runners aboard. Alex Mauricio then sent a shot up the middle that appeared ticketed for center field, but Southall – the Vols' shortstop – made a diving stop and flipped to second to start an impressive 6-4-3, inning-ending double play.

The Vols then loaded the bases with one out against Spartan reliever Michael Parmentier in the bottom of the 10th. But Parmentier struck out Southall looking for the second out. The next batter, Brandon Chinea, hit a come-backer which Parmentier knocked down and then threw home for the inning-ending force out.

Lipinski retired NSU in order in the 11th before the Vols won it in the bottom of the inning. Jeff Moberg led off with a single and advanced to second on a groundout before Ammons hit the game-winner.

Burrell went 2-for-4 with a season-high three RBI for NSU. Alex Mauricio and Dukes both went 2-for-5. 

Moberg went 4-for-4 to lead the Vols. Ammons had two hits and Jay Charleston tallied three.

The Spartans (3-8) continue a seven-game road stretch with a 3 p.m. game Wednesday at VCU, which completes a home-and-home two-game series with the Rams.