| Arkansas vs. Tennessee
SEC Tournaent (May 26 - 9 p.m.-EDT, TV: CSS)
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (Capacity: 10,800) - Hoover, Ala. ?  | | Game 57 | | May 26, 2004 | | Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (Capacity: 10,800)? | | The Series | Overall: Tennessee leads 18-14
Last Series: April 30-May 2, 2004 at Fayetteville. Arkansas won series 2-1 (UT 9-3, UA 4-1, UA 5-3) | | Probable Pitchers | May 26, 9 p.m.
UT - RHP Luke Hochevar, So. (3-2, 3.59 ERA)
UA - TBA | | Up Next | | If win - Play winner of Ole Miss-South Carolina (9 p.m. EDT) If lose - Play loser of Ole Miss-South Carolina (2 p.m. EDT)
| Complete UT Release 
Tournament Schedule | Bracket | TICKETS
 COACH DELMONICO TELECONFERENCE Radio:
LISTEN: The Vol Radio Network
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John Wilkerson / Jeff Jacoby Rankings
Tennessee: N/A
Arkansas: No. 12 BA / 15 ESPN / 15 CB THE COACHES:
Tennessee Volunteers
Rod Delmonico (Liberty 1980)
586-322 (.645), 15th season overall
SEC Tournament: 14-9
SEC Titles: 3 (1993, 1994, 1995)
2004 Schedule/Results
2004 Statistics Arkansas Razorbacks
Dave Van Horn (Arkansas, 1988)
72-41 2nd season at Arkansas
655-280 16th season overall
2004 Schedule
2004 Statistics | | Verizon Wireless Sign Up For VOLS CONNECTION
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| Projected Lineup | | TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS | | Pos - Name | Quick Notes | | C | Kelly Edmundson
(6-0, 200, R/R, So.) | .302 - 2 HR - 10 RBI (Last 10: .263, 21 RBI) | | 1B | Chris Kemp
(6-4, 205, L/R, Jr.) | .279 - 2 HR - 44 RBI (Last 10: .185, 1 2B, 3 RBI) | | 2B | Eric King
(5-10, 177, R/R, Jr.) | .295 - 2 HR - 40 RBI (Last 10: .194, 3 RBI) | | SS | Brian Cleveland
(6-1, 183, R/R, Sr.) | .294 - 6 HR - 43 RBI (Last 10: .243, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI) | | 3B | Kyle Norrid
(6-0, 205, R/R, So.) | .315 - 2 HR - 27 RBI (Last 10: .324, 4 2B, 3 RBI) | | LF | Eli Iorg
(6-3, 200, R/R, So.) | .322 - 3 HR - 33 RBI (Last 10: .359, 1 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI) | | CF | Josh Alley
(5-9, 179, L/L, So.) | .316 - 5 HR - 25 RBI (Last 10: .367, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 runs scored) | | RF | Michael Rivera
(5-10, 194, R/R, So.) | .311 - 2 HR - 18 RBI (Last 10: .211, 1 2B, 4 runs scored) | | DH | Alex Suarez
(6-0, 190, R/R, Jr.) | .355 - 3 HR - 31 RBI (Last 10: .243, 1 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI) | | RF/!B | Chase Headley
(6-2, 195, S/R, So.) | .305 - 2 HR - 22 RBI (Last 10: .214, 1 2B, 3 RBI) | | | |
| SEC Tournament Notebook STARTING PITCHER NOTES TOURNAMENT NOTES: Tennessee is making its second appearance in the SEC Tournament in the last seven years ... The Vols are looking to snap a six-game losing streak in the tournament, having gone 0-2 in 1996, 1997 and 2001 ... UT won three SEC Eastern Division Tournament titles from 1993-95, while finishing runner-up in 1982 and 1984 ... Tennessee was the No. 3 seed in 2001, No. 4 in 1997 and No. 4 in 1996. VOLS AT A GLANCE: Tennessee finished the regluar season with a 36-20 record and 14-16 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Volunteers finished fifth in the Eastern Division, posting the most conference victories since an 18-12 league mark in 2001 when it made its last SEC Tournament apperance.
The Vols are 7-15 in their last 22 games after bolting out to a 29-5 start.
After winning three of their first four SEC series and starting 9-3 in conference play, the Vols dropped five of their last six league series, going 5-13. UT was 9-6 against the East and 5-10 versus the West.
The Vols have surpassed both their overall (31) and conference win (13) totals from last season. They posted their 12th 30-win campaign in the last 14 years.
UT finished 27-9 at home, 9-11 on the road and 12-18 against ranked teams. Head coach Rod Delmonico is the sixth-winningest coach in Southeastern Conference history with 586 wins. SEC TOURNAMENT: Tennessee is making its 10th SEC Tournament apperance and its second in the last seven years. The Vols own a 21-15 mark in tourney play with three SEC Eastern Division Tournament titles. Tennessee is looking to snap a six-game losing streak in tournament play.
Dusty Johnson, Patrick Hicklen, Beau Massey and Brandon Crowe are the only Vols remaining from the 2001 team. Johnson is the only player to have played in the SEC Tournament. He lost his start against Florida. SUAREZ AMONG SEC LEADERS: Over the last 28 games, designated hitter Alex Suarez has been one of Tennessee's hottest hitters. He is batting .366 (37-for-101) during that span, hitting safely 22 times, including a season-high eight-game hitting streak. He has 13 multi-hit games with eight doubles, 17 runs scored and 18 RBI since the span started April 3.
He was selected second team All-SEC designated hitter by SEBaseball.com. IORG COMES ON STRONG: Who would have thought a sore back would be a cure all? Since missing the Ole Miss series with a sore back Eli Iorg has hit safely in 12 of the last 16 contests with five multi-hit games. Since the final game of the Georgia series, April 11, Iorg has hit safely in 14 of his last 18, batting .333 (26-for-78). He went on a season-high eight-game hitting streak during that span. In his previous 16 games, he was 15-for-64 (.234).
Iorg had two four-hit games in two of the last two series. He went 4-for-4 vs. Vanderbilt 5/17 and 4-for-5 with a grand slam at South Carolina 5/16. KEEP ON DRUCKING: UT's relief ace Scot Drucker is 4-2 with two saves in his last 16 appearances covering 29.1 innings with 31 strikeouts and 1.53 ERA. He would be fourth in ERA (2.08) with enough innings pitched. He is third in appearances (29), first in games finished (26) and tied for third in relief appearances (28).
Drucker has not allowed an earned run in 20 of his last 25 appearances (37.0 IP), posting a 1.95 ERA.
He has converted five of seven save opportunities and is leads the team lead with seven wins.
Against Kentucky he picked up two wins, while he saved the Georgia State series by earning a win and two saves in all three games. STREAKIN': Brian Cleveland is the current leader in the clubhouse with a four-game hitting streak. Michael Rivera owns the longest hitting streak for a Vol this season at 10 games, while Cleveland and Josh Alley each had nine-game streaks.  OFFENSE NOTES:The Vols, who lead the SEC with the fewest strikeouts, are the only team in the conference that has drawn more walks and hit by pitches than strikeouts with 265 to 263, which has led to an on-base percentage of .383. In 25 of the 56 games, they have been even or plus in walks vs. strikeouts.
- The Vols have collected at least 10 hits 34 times, which has led to a .307 batting average. They have amassed at least a dozen hits in six of the last 11 games.
- The Vols boast 81 steals in 109 attempts (74.3%), led by Eli Iorg's 25 and Josh Alley's 15.
- Tennessee has scored 401 for an average of 7.2 runs per game. It scored at least 10 runs 15 times, including 20 on two occasions (29 vs. Morehead State G2 2/14 and 20 vs. ETSU 3/23). It is 18-3 in games decided by five runs or more, 8-5 in two-run games and 5-8 in one-run games.
- UT leads the conference with 142 doubles. The 142 doubles is tied for the fourth-highest total in school history. The record is 152 set in 56 games by the 1998 team.
- Kyle Norrid (.421) is the only Vol batting .400 or better with runners in scoring position. On the season, the Vols are batting .311 with RISP and .355 (27-for-76) with the bases loaded.
- Eric King is 5-for-10 and Chris Kemp is 4-for-11 with the bases loaded.
- UT has jumped on opponents early this season scoring in the first inning 24 times while outscoring them 59-22. They have had a balanced scoring attack, plating at least 40 runs in all but the 7th (39) and 9th (12) innings.
- Tennessee has only five multi-home run games this year with a season-high three against Morehead State in the season opener.
- When the Vols posted their first sweep at Georgia since 1996, it was their first road sweep of any kind since taking three at Kentucky in 2001.
PITCHING NOTES:Tennessee boasts a 3.46 team ERA with eight of the 12 active pitchers having ERAs under 4.00. - The staff is averaging 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings while posting a 2.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
- The Vols have posted at least 10 strikeouts 14 times, with a season-high 16 against Kentucky 4/2 and Tennessee Tech 4/21. Twice they have struck out 15 (Auburn 3/27 and Carson-Newman 4/14).
- The pitching staff has given up three or less earned runs 34 times, while allowing more than four earned runs in a game just 15 times.
- UT's starting pitching has a 25-11 mark with a 3.44 ERA while averaging nearly six innings per outing.
- The relievers are 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA and eight saves in 10 opportunities.
BENCH PRODUCTION: Tennessee has gotten solid production off the bench as the reserves are batting .311 (56-for-180) with 43 runs scored, 21 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 51 RBI. - Rob Fitzgerald has been productive by going 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, a triple, a game-winning HR vs. Florida 5/22, eight runs scored and eight RBI.
- Kelly Edmundson has five doubles and a pair of home runs while going 11-for-32 (.344) with eight RBI.
- Brett Chappell has gone 9-for-29 (.310) with three doubles and six RBI.
- Todd Martin is 4-for-12 (.333) with a double and two RBI, while Michael Rivera is 4-for-11 (.364) and Chris Kemp is 4-for-9 with a double and RBI.
- Alex Suarez showed great execution, going 7-for-21 (.333) with five doubles, a home run and seven RBI.
- As a group, UT pinch hitters are 18-for-59 (.305) with five doubles, a triple, a home run and 19 RBI.
STARTING PITCHER NOTES: Here are some notes on this week's starting pitchers. - Luke Hochevar, RHP (3-1, 3.59 ERA) ... Will be making his eighth start of the season and 13th of his career ... Returned to the lineup six weeks ago after missing eight weeks due to a lower leg injury suffered in the season opener and a head injury sustained on March 13 ... Has worked into at least the eighth inning in his last three starts, including a complete game victory over Vanderbilt 5/7 ... He limited the Commodores to three runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk ... Struck out nine in 7.1 innings loss to South Carolina 5/14, giving up two runs on five htis ... Had a no-decision in 7.1 innings against Florida 5/21, allowing four runs on 10 hits ... Is 2-1 in his last five starts with a 3.31 ERA in 32.2 innings with 31 strikeouts and 14 walks ... Pitched five innings at Arkansas 5/2 in his first SEC start, taking a no decision ... In season opener, tossed seven no-hit innings against Morehead State 2/13, matching his career high with 10 strikeouts ... Pitched two scoreless innings in a start against Carson-Newman 4/14 in his return from injury ... Took loss to Ole Miss 4/17 in 3.0 innings of relief ... Roughed up for five runs on four hits in three innings of relief against LSU 4/24 ... Is 5-2 in 12 career starts with a 4.00 ERA (72 Ks in 74.1 IP).
- Craig Cobb, RHP (3-3, 2.88 ERA) ... An invited walk-on who will be making his sixth start ... Became the first Vol since R.A. Dickey in 1996 to pitch three straight complete games (Arkansas 4/30, Vanderbilt 5/8, S. Carolina 5/15) ... Vols were shutout twice in that span ... Is 1-3 in last four starts with a 3.27 ERA (33.0 IP) ... He has given up 31 hits with 17 strikeouts and nine walks during that span ... He has allowed three or fewer runs in four of five starts, pitching at least 7.0 innings in each outing ... Struck out a season-high seven at South Carolina 5/15, limiting the Gamecocks to six hits ... Pitched a complete-game five hitter in his first SEC start giving up three first inning runs before shutting out the Razorbacks over the final eight innings ... Limited Vanderbilt to two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and three walks ... Had been used mainly as a short reliever, making the third most relief appearances on the staff with 13 ... Earned a win in his first start against Niagara 3/10 in game one of a doubleheader ... Tossed seven innings in that outing, giving up two runs on six hits with two strikeouts ... Had not allowed an earned run in his last five relief appearances (6.0 innings) and had been unscored upon in his last four ... Made four relief appearances in SEC play, pitching three innings twice against Auburn 3/28 and LSU 4/25 ... Earned his first win at Miami 2/21, pitching a season-high 3.2 innings of relief, striking out a season-high four.
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