Baseball Central: Tennessee vs. Western Carolina

March 13, 2018 | Baseball

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** Please be aware that Wednesday's game has been moved up to a 4 p.m. start time. The game was originally scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off a series sweep over Cincinnati, the Volunteers return home for a midweek contest against Western Carolina on Wednesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

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Game Times & Broadcast Info

Opponent: Western Carolina
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 14 – 4 p.m.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium
Stream: SEC Network + (WatchESPN)
Radio: UTSports.com
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Tickets: AllVols.com

Tennessee Volunteers (11-6)

Roster Schedule Stats Game Notes

Western Carolina Catamounts (1-14)

Roster Schedule Stats

Tennessee will look to up its winning streak to four games before heading to Oxford, Miss., to open SEC play at Ole Miss this weekend.

Projected Starting Pitchers

RHP Sean Hunley (2-0, 1.20 ERA) vs. LHP Caleb Bishop (0-1, 12.71 ERA)

Broadcast Info
Wednesday's game will be streamed live on SEC Network + (WatchESPN) and will also feature a live audio broadcast on UTSports.com.

Series History vs. Western Carolina
Overall: UT leads, 20-7
In Knoxville: UT leads, 15-5
Last Meeting: W, 6-2 (4/16/14)

Need to Know

Tennessee went 4-1 last week and recorded its first series sweep of the year, defeating Cincinnati three times on the road. It was the first road series sweep by the Vols since 2010 when they swept Georgia in Athens.
Wednesday's project starter, freshman RHP Sean Hunley, continued the solid start to his career by earning his second straight win in last Tuesday's victory over James Madison. Hunley threw seven scoreless innings and had a career-high six strikeouts in the win. The Mount Juliet, Tenn., native has now thrown 11.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
UT's four primary starting pitchers totaled a 1.41 ERA last week (Sean Hunley, Garrett Crochet, Garrett Stallings, Will Neely) and each pitched at least seven innings in their respective starts.
Pete Derkay and Benito Santiago both carry lengthy on-base streaks into Wednesday's game with the Catamounts. Derkay has reached base is all 17 games this season and 18 straight dating back to last year while Santiago has reached safely in 16 consecutive games.
Santiago led the Vols with eight hits last week and also drove in a pair of runs. He hit his second homer of the year in Saturday's win and totaled four extra-base hits for the week.
Freshman lefty Garrett Crochet was stellar in his first-career start, tossing eight strong innings in UT's series-opening win at Cincinnati on Friday. Crochet allowed just five hits and two runs (one earned) while posting a new career high in strikeouts with eight.
Brodie Leftridge came up with the eventual game-winning hit on Friday night, an RBI single in the 12^th. He finished with two hits on the day.
Leftridge has another big game in Saturday's series-clinching victory over the Bearcats with two RBI singles that tied the game on both occasions.
The Vols rode an impressive complete-game performance from RHP Will Neely to complete the series sweep of Cincinnati on Sunday. Neely gave up just five hits and one run while striking out five in his first-career complete game performance.
UT exploded for seven runs in the first inning of Tuesday's 10-1 win over James Madison. It marked the most runs scored in an inning by the Vols this season. It was also the most runs scored in an inning for UT since also scoring seven in the seventh inning of an 18-4 win over Austin Peay on March 15, 2017.
Freshman Brandon Trammell hit his first-career home run in Tuesday's win over the Dukes, a pinch hit, two-run shot in the seventh inning. The Vols have now hit two pinch-hit homers this season and both have come off the bats of true freshmen (Trammell and Evan Russell).

Opponent Scout
Western Carolina Catamounts (1-14, 0-0 SoCon)

2017 Record: 28-28 (15-8 SoCon)
2017 Postseason: N/A
Picked to finish tied for fourth in the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and fifth in the preseason media poll.
Return five starting position players and two starting pitchers from last season but also lost 11 letterwinners and added 15 newcomers.
Freshman Justice Bigbie leads the Catamounts with a .380 batting average, 19 hits and a .446 on-base percentage and ranks second on the team with 12 RBI.
Redshirt junior outfielder Matthew Koehler leads the team with five home runs, 13 RBI and a .565 slugging percentage.
Despite being 0-2, freshman RHP Zach Franklin leads WCU with a 2.35 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched. He is tied for the team lead with 17 strikeouts.

Gameday Promotions

Pi Day: First 150 fans will receive free mini pies
Weekday Work Perk: $2 General Admission Tickets and unlimited refills with a purchase of a souvenir cup through the fourth inning.

On Deck for the Vols
Following Wednesday's game, the Vols go back on the road to open SEC play against No. 8 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. The series will begin on Friday at 8 p.m. ET and all three games will be streamed on SEC Network + (WatchESPN).

Gameday/Stadium Policies & Information
Clear Bag Policy
In order 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.

Stadium Entry
Please be aware that gates will not open until 90 minutes prior to game time as opposed to two hours like it has been in years past.

Parking
Baseball parking is located in Lots G16, GF2, GF3, GF4, and C22. (Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium events have priority if on same days as baseball games.)

Additional parking is located on the street along Todd Helton Drive. Parking for MVP ticket holders is located in Lot GF1 and handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt Drive and G16 Garage.

Please refer to the parking map by clicking HERE.

Other Info
All of the information listed above and more can be found on the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Information page HERE.