KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-----Rich Poythress hit two home runs for the second straight game and Georgia clinched its first series win at Tennessee since 2001 with an 11-9 victory over the Vols Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Poythress, who went 4-for-4 with two home runs and two doubles on Friday, went 2-3 Saturday with two homers, two walks, five RBI and three runs. He has five home runs in the last three games and has hit safely in the last 14 games. The Grovetown, Ga., native is batting .462 this season and has 13 home runs and 46 RBI. In 10 plate appearances against Tennessee this weekend, Poythress has four home runs, two doubles and three walks. He has reached in 13 of his last 15 plate appearances with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Georgia led 11-3 late, but Tennessee scored six runs in the eighth and had the tying run on in the ninth, but the Bulldogs held on for their sixth straight SEC win.

“It was like two different games,” said head coach David Perno. “We blew them out the first game and it was a nail biter the second game. We hung in there and executed and didn’t shut down offensively. Our guys are doing a good job in their roles. We played great defense again, and it was huge to hang on.

“Rich is officially hot. He’s on fire right now and I tip my hat to him. We have needed every bet of it this weekend. It’s hard to find a better complete hitter.”

Joey Lewis and Colby May also homered for Georgia (21-3, 6-2 SEC) and finished with two hits and two runs apiece. The Bulldogs hit four home runs for the second straight game and have 16 home runs in the last five games. Georgia also scored in double figures for the 16th time this season.

Johnathan Taylor and Zach Cone combined to go 3-for-5 with two singles, a double and a walk in the leadoff spot.

Michael Palazzone (3-0) worked 3.0 innings in relief and gave up four runs on seven hits to earn the win. Dean Weaver pitched the ninth and picked up his third save. Georgia’s starter Alex McRee allowed three runs on one hit in 4.1 innings.

Tennessee (11-14, 1-7 SEC) took advantage of a lead-off walk and a double in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Georgia answered in the third as Michael Demperio and Taylor hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Poythress blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.

Lewis hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth, and Georgia added three more runs in the fifth on a three-run shot by May to go ahead 7-2.

The Vols scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, then Poythress hit his second home run in the sixth that also scored Taylor to make it 9-3. Cone stretched the lead to 11-3 with a two-out two-run double in the seventh.

Tennessee sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth and scored six times to get within 11-9. The Vols had runners at first and second when Cody Grisham flew out to end the game.

Stephen McCray (3-2) surrendered four runs on six hits in 4.0 innings to take the loss.

Georgia will send sophomore righty Justin Grimm (1-1, 4.62) to the mound in game three Sunday at 1 p.m.