University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball Vols Host Tennessee Tech on Wednesday
March 25, 2003 | Baseball
March 25, 2003
Knoxville, Tenn. -- The Tennessee baseball team closes out its five-game home stand with a single game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers (14-8) are 3-1 during the home stand following a three-game sweep over the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks this past weekend. Tennessee Tech (11-9), which hosted Belmont Tuesday afternoon, will be playing its sixth game in five days. The Golden Eagles had won four straight and six of their last seven entering the Belmont game.
Right hander Rob Fitzgerald (0-0, 3.08 ERA) will make his first start of the year and third of his career. He has made three relief appearances, throwing just 4 1/3 innings. He made two starts in league play last year dropping both decisions to Arkansas and Mississippi. Tennessee Tech was undecided on its starter.
Tennessee is riding a three-game winning streak, its longest since starting the season 8-0, thanks to some clutch hitting. Catcher Javi Herrera's game-winning grand slam on Sunday gave him a team-leading four home runs to go along with a .355 average. Right fielder Michael Rivera, coming off a 4-for-5 game Sunday, raised his average to .385.
The Golden Eagles, who hit .328 as a team, are led by shortstop Casey Benjamin who is batting a robust .513 (39-for-76) with two home runs and 26 RBI. Left fielder Carlos Martin leads the squad with six home runs while posting a .429 average and 23 RBI, while first baseman Ryan Hay chimes in with a .415 average, three home runs and 20 RBI.
Tennessee travels to Gainesville, Fla., to take on the No. 15 Florida Gators, Mar. 28-30. Games times for the series are 6:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and Noon ET.
