KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee is off to another great start this year following a season-opening sweep over Georgia Southern and will look to keep things rolling with a pair of midweek contests on Tuesday and Wednesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The 16th-ranked Vols will host in-state foe Tennessee Tech on Tuesday before a clash with UNC Asheville on Wednesday. First pitch for both games is slated for 4:30 p.m. with online only broadcasts on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
For the most updated gameday information related to Tennessee baseball, please visit our Gameday Central page by clicking HERE. The baseball Gameday Central page contains info in regard to tickets, parking, stadium policies and more.
NEW TO LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
With a palpable excitement surrounding the program, Lindsey Nelson Stadium has added some new and improved seating areas and fan amenities to increase capacity and provide a better fan experience this season.
One of the first things fans will see upon arriving is an additional deck of porches behind the left-field wall as well as new chair-back bleacher seating down the left-field line.
All porches for the 2022 season are sold out, however, the left-field bleachers will be sold as general admission seating. Additional food and beverage options will be located next to the new bleachers throughout the year. For SEC games, a VolShop location and food trucks will be located in that area, as well.
UT has removed the playground down the right-field line and re-branded the area as “The Deck”, which will feature a standing room only area for UT’s students while also providing additional concessions options to help negate congestion throughout the main concourse. In order to enhance the gameday experience, a Petro’s Chili & Chips, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Gameday Sausage kiosk and a new beer kiosk have been added to the deck area.
Vol fans can look for Coca-Cola, popcorn and beer at kiosks on the Plaza located down the first-base line. The VolShop will have hats and merchandise available on the Plaza, as well. The Fan Experience Hub, your one-stop shop for game programs, posters, schedule cards, contest info and more, will also be located in the Plaza area.
Tennessee’s MVP season-ticket holders will also be greeted with a brand new, completely renovated MVP Room this season.
Friday SEC Fan Fest
Starting with the SEC opener on March 18 against South Carolina, an exciting new area will be in place for fans this season. “Friday SEC Fan Fest” will take place for ticketed fans on Pat Head Summitt Street for every Friday SEC contest.
Friday Fan Fests will feature music, giveaways, food/beverage options, VolShop sales locations and Vol Network Sponsor activations. Additionally, VFL Sterl the Pearl will join various SEC weekend games to add to the electricity in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for this season are SOLD OUT. However, single-game tickets for the first 15 home games are still available at AllVols.com or by calling the Tennessee Athletic ticket office at 865-656-1200.
Single-game tickets for SEC games and the remaining midweek contests will go on sale in early March.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to either transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE).
BROADCAST INFO
Tuesday and Wednesday’s games with both be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app with Andy Brock calling the action. The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Fans can also listen to the live audio call by John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara on UTSports.com or the UT Gameday App.
SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee Tech
Overall: Tennessee leads, 72-30-1
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 47-12
In Cookeville: Tennessee leads, 25-18-1
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 10-8 (May 11, 2021)
UNC Asheville
Overall: Tennessee leads, 29-7
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-7
In Asheville: Tennessee leads, 4-0
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 12-1 (Feb. 26, 2020)
NOTABLE
Another Season-Opening Sweep
Tennessee recorded its fourth straight season-opening sweep with three dominant wins over Georgia Southern last weekend. The Vols outscored the Eagles, 33-3, and posted a pair of shutouts. In their consecutive four season-opening series sweeps (12 games), the Big Orange have outscored their opponents 106-16.
Pitching Staff Off to Hot Start
The Vols pitching was dominant against Georgia Southern, holding the Eagles to just three runs on 13 hits over the weekend while posting a pair of shutouts. UT held GSU’s hitters to a .144 batting average and allowed just three hits in each of the two shutouts. Tennessee’s pitching staff has recorded at least two shutouts in their opening series in three of the past four years.
Newcomers Making an Early Impact
Tennessee received contributions from a handful of newcomers over the weekend. In total, 11 players made their UT debuts.
Highly touted freshman pitcher Chase Burns started on Opening Day and threw five shutout innings to earn his first-career victory. Sophomore transfer Chase Dollander was equally as impressive in his start on Saturday, striking out 11 batters in just five innings against his former team. Freshman Drew Beam got the start on Sunday and tossed three shutout innings, as well.
Junior college transfer Seth Stephenson made his presence felt at the plate and on the base paths, hitting .500 with team highs in runs scored (five) and stolen bases (three). He also had a pair of doubles, a home run and three RBIs for the series.
Preseason Honors
Tennessee has racked up the preseason accolades with five players earning preseason honors heading into the 2022 campaign.
Three players have garnered preseason All-America recognition:
– RHP Blade Tidwell: Baseball America (1st Team), NCBWA (1st Team), Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (1st Team), Perfect Game (2nd Team)
– OF Jordan Beck: NCBWA (2nd Team), Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (2nd Team), Baseball America (3rd Team)
– C Evan Russell: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (3rd Team)
Beck and fellow junior outfielder Drew Gilbert were also named to the Preseason All-SEC second team. Super senior LHP Redmond Walsh was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List for the third straight year.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
- Record: 3-0 (0-0 OVC)
- 2021 OVC Finish: 6th
- 2022 OVC Preseason Poll: 8th
- Preseason Honors: N/A
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Ed Johnson (.500)
- Runs: Ed Johnson (7)
- Hits: Ed Johnson (7)
- Home Runs: Ed Johnson (2)
- RBI: Ed Johnson/John Dyer (4)
- Stolen Bases: Jackson Green (1)
- Wins: Three players tied (1)
- Saves: Jackson Berry (1)
- ERA: Six players tied (0.00)
- Innings Pitched: Brock Myers (5.1)
- Strikeouts: Connor Adams/Matt Gelorme (4)
UNC Asheville Bulldogs
- Record: 0-3 (0-0 Big South)
- 2021 Big South Finish: 8th
- 2022 Big South Preseason Poll: 9th
- Preseason Honors: N/A
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Corbin Lanowitz (.375)
- Runs: Eight players tied (1)
- Hits: Corbin Lanowitz (3)
- Home Runs: N/A
- RBI: Dominic Freeberger (4)
- Stolen Bases: N/A
- Wins: N/A
- Saves: N/A
- ERA: Seven players tied (0.00)
- Innings Pitched: Jacob Edwards (5.0)
- Strikeouts: Jacob Edwards (8)
GAME PROMOTIONS
Gameday promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.
Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.
ON DECK
The Vols continue their nine-game homestand to begin the season this weekend with three games against Iona. Friday’s series opener is slated to start at 4:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
-UT Athletics
