University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLS CONTINUE 17-GAME HOMESTAND WITH SERIES AGAINST ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
March 01, 2007 | Baseball
March 1, 2007
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The Tennessee baseball team continues its 17-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series against Illinois-Chicago at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The series begins with a 3 p.m. contest on Friday. Saturday's game is set to begin at 2 p.m., while first pitch Sunday is 1:30 p.m.
The Volunteers (6-5) are coming off their first three-game sweep of the season last weekend vs. IPFW. Tennessee used a season-high 16 hits and seven stolen bases to win Game 1 of the Saturday doubleheader. The Big Orange collected another 12 hits in the series-finale to win 9-1. Knoxville, Tenn., native Craig Cobb pitched the Vols to a complete-game victory Friday.
Offensively, Tennessee is led by second baseman Danny Lima. The sophomore leads the team with a .382 average and also has a team-high 13 hits and nine RBIs. Shortstop Tony Delmonico raised his season batting average more than 100 points after going 7-for-11 with a home run, a double and three RBIs against IPFW.
Cobb (3-1, 3.58 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday's opener against Flames senior right-hander Zach Peterson (0-1, 4.91 ERA). With the start, Cobb will tie former Vols Sean Watson and R.A. Dickey atop UT's career appearances list with 73. Cobb also will take over sole possession of second place on the school's career innings-pitched list with the first out that he records.
Saturday's contest matches UT junior left-hander James Adkins (1-2, 1.50 ERA) against UIC senior right-hander Ryan Zink (0-0, 9.00 ERA). Adkins was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week following his win over IPFW last weekend. He worked eight full innings, allowing no runs on just four hits with one walk and a season-high 12 strikeouts.
Adkins ranks eighth in the SEC this season in ERA, first in strikeouts (30) and second in innings pitched (24.0).
On the hill for the Vols Sunday is Knoxville, Tenn., native Lance McClain (2-2, 8.79 ERA). McClain allowed only two hits and struck out four in four innings last weekend. He will oppose senior left-hander Joe Skinner (1-1, 8.31 ERA).
Friday's game marks the first meeting between the Volunteers and the Flames. The Flames are members of the Horizon League Conference and have been picked by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper to win the 2007 Horizon League championship.
