SCHEDULE NOTE: Friday’s game has been moved to a 4 p.m. start. The game was originally slated to begin at 6:30 p.m.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The high-scoring Tennessee baseball team is back in action at home this weekend as the 11^th-ranked Vols host Wright State Friday-Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Big Orange enter the series unbeaten at 13-0 after a midweek thrashing of Longwood. UT is one of only four undefeated teams remaining in college baseball.

Broadcast Info
All three games will be streamed on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app. Joel Silverberg will have the call for Friday’s contest, while Vince Ferrara will call the action on Saturday and Sunday.

Fans can also listen to the games on UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app.

Projected Starting Pitchers
Game 1: RHP Chad Dallas (3 GS, 3-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. RHP Daniel Kreuzer (3 GS, 0-3, 7.04 ERA)
Game 2: TBD vs. RHP Bradley Brehmer (3 GS, 0-3, 8.36 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Chase Wallace (3 GS, 1-0, 3.21 ERA) vs. RHP Austin Cline (3 GS, 1-2, 7.90 ERA)

Series History vs. Wright State
Overall: UT leads, 1-0
In Knoxville: UT leads, 1-0
In Dayton: N/A
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 16-4 (March 20, 2007)

Notable
Vols Rank Among the Nation’s Leaders
Tennessee enters this weekend ranked among the nation’s leaders in a handful of statistical categories. The Vols rank among the top 25 in the country in each of the following categories:

Offense

• Batting Average: .325 (12^th)
• Doubles: 32 (9^th)
• Hits: 149 (4^th)
• Home Runs: 24 (1^st)
• On-Base Percentage: .458 (3^rd)
• Runs: 153 (1^st)
• Runs/Game: 11.8 (1^st)
• Slugging Percentage: .560 (4^th)
• Stolen Bases: 26 (14^th)
• Walks: 109 (1^st)

Pitching

• ERA: 1.46 (3^rd)
• Hits Allowed/Nine Innings: 5.54 (6^th)
• Shutouts: 3 (4^th)
• Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: 5.63 (2^nd)
• WHIP: 0.82 (2^nd)
• Walks Allowed/Nine Innings: 1.85 (2^nd)

Here Come the Vols
Tennessee moved up or into all of the major college baseball polls this week after posting a 5-0 record last week. The Vols debuted at No. 11 in the USA Today Top 25 poll, their highest ranking in any poll since being ranked No. 11 in Baseball America’s 2007 preseason poll.

UT entered play this week ranked No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper (up seven spots), No. 16 by the NCBWA (up eight spots), No. 17 by Perfect game (up two spots) and No. 20 by D1Baseball.com (up four spots). The Big Orange also made their season debut in Baseball America’s poll, coming in at No. 18.

Historic Home Run Pace
UT has come out of the gates swinging this season with a nation-leading 24 home runs through 13 games this season. The Vols have hit multiple home runs in 11 of their 13 games and have hit more homers (24) than runs have been scored against them (22).

Tennessee hit 11 home runs in five games last week with eight different players going deep. In total, 13 different players have already hit a home run for the Vols this season.

Precision Pitching
The Vols’ pitching staff has been every bit as impressive as the offense so far this season, leading the SEC in ERA (1.46), strikeout-to-walk ration (5.63), WHIP (0.82) and walks allowed per nine innings (1.85).

Over five games last week, UT’s pitching staff posted a 1.00 ERA and allowed just six runs (five earned) over 45.0 innings. The staff held opposing hitters to a .184 batting average and had 43 strikeouts while issuing just six walks.

The bullpen was even more dominant than the starting pitching, allowing just two runs and one walk while striking out 23 batters in 26.1 innings pitched. In UT’s series sweep of George Washington, the bullpen did not allow a single run or walk in 14.0 innings and racked up nine strikeouts.

Soularie Starting to Heat Up
After a slow start to the season, Tennessee preseason All-American Alerick Soularie has started to heat up over the past few weeks. The Houston native ranked second on the team with a .412 batting average last week, racking up seven hits, five runs scored, two homers and five RBI. In Tuesday’s midweek win over Longwood, Soularie hit his third home run of the year and finished the night with two hits, three runs and four RBI.

Opponent Scout
Wright State Raiders (3-8)

• 2019 Record: 42-17 (22-8 Horizon League)
• 2019 Postseason: N/A
• Head Coach: Alex Sogard (2^nd season) // Was named Horizon League Coach of the Year during his first season at the helm in 2019 after leading the Raiders to a regular-season conference title.
• Wright State was picked to finish second in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
• Tennessee will be the third SEC opponents for the Raiders already this season. They were swept by Mississippi State to open the year and were also swept by Auburn last weekend.
• One of Wright State’s three wins on the year was against then No. 1 Louisville, 10-3, on Feb. 19.
• The Raiders returned 21 players from last season’s team, including sophomore infielder Tyler Black, who was named to the 2019 Horizon League First Team and All-Freshman Team after hitting .353 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and 41 RBI. They also return Horizon League All-Freshman team honoree Damon Dues, who hit .307 with 14 extra base hits and 33 RBI in 2019.
• Redshirt junior outfielder Quincy Hamilton leads the team with a .357 batting average, 15 hits, one home run and seven RBI entering this weekend’s series.
• Wright State’s pitching has struggled so far this season. The Raiders have a 6.56 team ERA and their projected weekend rotation on Daniel Kreuzer, Bradley Brehmer and Austin Cline are a combined 1-8 so far this season.

Game Promotions
Upcoming promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.

ALL SERIES

• Second Harvest Weekend: Free general admission ticket with the donation of two (2) canned food items.

FRIDAY

• Free Food Friday: First 75 students will get free Chick-fil-A.
• Student Rewards Swipe In:  On the plaza down the right-field line.
• Dads & Daughters Day: Delta Gamma and Kappa Kappa Gamma

SATURDAY

• BASEketball: Free admission to the baseball game if you show your men’s basketball ticket for the game versus Auburn.

SUNDAY

• Kids Day: All kids 12 and under receive free admission. Run the bases and get postgame autographs from select players (weather permitting).
• First 50 kids in attendance will receive a free Kids Combo meal.

On Deck
The Vols will wrap up their 10-game homestand with a midweek matchup against in-state foe ETSU on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. General admission tickets for the game are just $2 as part of our year-long $2 Tuesday promotion. Get your tickets at AllVols.com.

Gameday/Stadium Policies & Information
All of the information listed below and more can be found on the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Information page HERE.

Parking
Baseball parking is located primarily in Lots GF3, GF4, and S23 at the Haslam Music Center. Lots C1, C22 and G16 are available only on dates that Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium have no scheduled events.

Additional street parking is located in C10 along Todd Helton Drive and Chamique Holdsclaw Drive, as well as along West Volunteer Blvd.

Parking for MVP ticket holders is located in Lots GF1 and GF2.

Handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt Street and in the G16 Volunteer Blvd garage.

A parking map for the 2020 season can be found by clicking HERE.

Beer Sales Policy
New this season, beer will be sold at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Protocol for beer sales will be consistent with all other on-campus venues that have sold alcohol this season.

For more information, click HERE.

Clear Bag Policy
In an effort to enhance safety and expedite fan entry at Tennessee athletic events, UT has implemented a clear bag policy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and all other athletic facilities. Only one clear bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches (gallon size) per person is permitted. Fans are also allowed a small clutch purse not exceeding 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Gates will open until 90 minutes prior to game time.

-UT Athletics