University of Tennessee Athletics
Play Ball! Todd Raleigh Era Begins
February 20, 2008 | Baseball
Game Notes??
After months of anticipation, Tennessee fans finally have the opportunity to witness the official beginning of a new era of Volunteers baseball this weekend. The Big Orange???led by first-year head coach Todd Raleigh???open their 99th season of varsity action with a three-game home series against Morehead State at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Game times are set for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
???It???s going to feel awesome to finally get back out there on the field after seven months of hard work,??? Tennessee sophomore catcher Yan Gomes said. ???And it will be fun to show the fans the new style of play we???re bringing out this year.???
Like the Vols, Morehead State enters the 2008 season under a new coaching staff. First-year skipper Jay Sorg leads an Eagles club that turned in a 16-36 (9-18 OVC) record last season. Sorg???s background includes nearly a decade of coaching and managerial experience in professional baseball.
Offensively, Morehead State returns two of its top four hitters from last year. Middle infielder Drew Lee hit .362 as a freshman last season, and outfielder Trent Hanna batted .345. The Eagles hit .303 as a team in 2007 and posted a 7.92 staff ERA.
Friday???s pitching matchup features Tennessee sophomore right-hander Steve Crnkovich against Eagles right-hander Tyler Bess. The game marks Crnkovich???s UT debut. The Downers Grove, Ill., native transferred from the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he led the Horizon League last season with a 2.39 ERA as a freshman. Bess went 2-7 last year with a 5.08 ERA.
Sophomore left-hander Nick Hernandez gets the start for the Vols Saturday against freshman right-hander Josh Schneider of Morehead State. Hernandez finished last season with a 4-4 record as a true freshman.
And Sunday???s series finale marks the debut of Tennessee???s highly touted redshirt freshman left-hander Bryan Morgado. Freshman right-hander Trey Smith will take the mound for the Eagles Sunday.
This weekend???s promotions include a free schedule poster giveaway Friday, free schedule magnet giveaway Saturday and free admission for all kids (age 12 and under) Sunday. There also will be a postgame autograph session with the team after Sunday???s series finale.
Tennessee leads the all-time series with Morehead State 26-1, dating to 1987. The teams have met at least once annually since 1997, and UT has won 13 straight against the Eagles.
The Vols are 63-33-2 all-time in season openers.
