KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 6 Tennessee caps its eight-game homestand to open the season with an in-state showdown against ETSU on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols are coming off a three-game demolition of Iona this past weekend as they outscored the Gaels 68-3 in the series sweep to improve to 7-0 on the year.
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.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for this season are SOLD OUT. However, single-game tickets for all home games through March 15 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 Tuesday, March 1.
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’s contest will be streamed 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 Vince Ferrara on UTSports.com and the UT Gameday App.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 68-20
In Knoxville: UT leads, 38-10
In Johnson City: UT leads, 29-10
Neutral Sites: UT leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 9-6 in 10 inn. (March 16, 2021)
The Vols won the only meeting between the two teams last season, coming away with a 9-6 victory in extra innings thanks to a Jordan Beck walk-off three-run homer in the 10th inning.
NOTABLE
Offensive Explosion
Tennessee flat out dominated its two opponents last week, outscoring UNC Asheville and Iona by a score of 84-4 over four games. The Vols scored at least 12 runs in every game and batted .438 as a team for the week while blasting 18 home runs. UT homered at least four times in every game last week as 10 different players went deep for the Big Orange.
Following last week’s offensive explosion, the Vols enter this week leading all of Division I in batting average (.395), runs per game (16.7), total runs (117), home runs (24), slugging percentage (.835), walks (71) and on-base percentage (.534).
Don’t Forget About the Pitching Staff
As impressive as the bats have been in the early going, Tennessee’s pitching staff has been just as dominant, leading the nation in WHIP (0.75) while ranking third nationally in ERA (0.89) and fourth in shutouts (three) entering this week. The Vols posted a 0.79 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .132 batting average and racking up 53 strikeouts last week.
Starting Fast
With its 4-0 record last week, the Vols improved to 7-0 on the year, marking the fourth consecutive season that they have started at least 7-0.
Lipscomb is Red Hot
Trey Lipscomb has been on an absolute tear to start the season. The senior third baseman leads the SEC and ranks second nationally with 20 RBIs so far this season after a monster week. Lipscomb became just the fourth player in program history to hit for the cycle, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and a homer in Friday’s series-opening win over Iona. He also had a career-high nine RBIs in the game, one shy of the single-game program record. Lipscomb followed that performance by finishing a double short of the cycle in Saturday’s game, going 3-for-4 with a triple, homer and three RBIs. The Maryland native capped his impressive week with another multi-hit and multi-RBI performance, going 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs.
For the week, Lipscomb hit .786 and led the team with three doubles, two triples, three homers, 16 RBIs, 27 total bases and a 1.929 slugging percentage on the way to earning SEC Co-Player of the Week honors.
OPPONENT SCOUT
ETSU Buccaneers
- Record: 5-1 (0-0 SoCon)
- 2021 SoCon Finish: 2nd in Blue Division (5th Overall)
- 2022 SoCon Preseason Poll: Coaches Poll – 4th// Media Poll – 5th
- Head Coach: Joe Pennucci (5th season)
- Preseason Honors:
- Colby Stuart – SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year & All-SoCon First Team
- Bryce Hodge – Preseason First Team All-SoCon (DH)
- Ashton King – Preseason Second Team All-SoCon (SS)
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Leo Jiminian (.667)
- Runs: Noah Webb (9)
- Hits: Noah Webb/Ashton King (9)
- Home Runs: Noah Webb (3)
- RBI: Noah Webb (10)
- Stolen Bases: 4 players tied (1)
- Wins: Hunter Loyd/Colby Stuart (2)
- Saves: N/A
- ERA (min. 1 IP/G): Multiple players tied (0.00)
- Innings Pitched: Colby Stuart (11.0)
- Strikeouts: Hunter Loyd (20)
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.
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.
ON DECK
The Vols hit the road for the first time this season for the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Tennessee will battle with top-ranked Texas on Friday night before taking on Baylor on Saturday and Oklahoma on Sunday.
All three games will be televised regionally by AT&T SportsNet SW and streamed nationally on Astros.com, the Astros Twitter, Facebook and YouTube accounts, and the MLB app. Tickets for the games can be purchased by clicking HERE.
-UT Athletics
