University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols host MTSU, Presbyterian in midweek games
March 10, 2008 | Baseball
The Tennessee baseball team has two final midweek tune-ups on its schedule before beginning the gauntlet of Southeastern Conference play this weekend against LSU. The Volunteers welcome Middle Tennessee on Tuesday before hosting Presbyterian College on Wednesday. First pitch for both contests is set for 3 p.m. at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Tuesday???s matchup with Middle Tennessee is the first of a home-and-home series that also features a game in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on April 15. The Volunteers lead the all-time series with the Blue Raiders 26-16, dating to 1926. The teams haven???t met since the 2001 postseason, when UT posted a 2-1 win in the opening game of the NCAA Knoxville Regional. Tennessee is riding a five-game win streak in the series.
Middle Tennessee head coach Steve Peterson has the Blue Raiders off to an 8-2-1 (1-1 Sun Belt) start in his 21st year at the helm. The Raiders are hitting .343 as a team with 16 home runs. Three Blue Raiders regulars are hitting better than .400, with junior outfielder Nathan Hines pacing the club with a .481 average, 25 hits and 20 RBI.
The Blue Raiders roster features a pair of former Knoxville high school standouts, as freshman pitcher Bryce Brentz graduated from South Doyle High School, and freshman infielder Justin Miller graduated from Bearden High School.
Tennessee???s starting pitcher Tuesday is expected to be junior right-hander Ty???Relle Harris (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Harris worked 2 2/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen in his UT debut Sunday against Eastern Michigan. Right-hander Chad Edwards (2-0, 1.17 ERA) gets the start Tuesday for Middle Tennessee.
The Vols have won 16 straight Tuesday games, dating to the 2005 season.
Wednesday???s game against Presbyterian College marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Blue Hose are in their first year competing as an NCAA Division I Independent after finishing last season 18-36 (7-17) in the Division II South Atlantic Conference. The school is located in Clinton, S.C., and has an enrollment of approximately 1,200.
This year???s Presbyterian club owns a 5-5 record under fourth-year head coach Elton Pollock. Starting pitchers for Wednesday???s game have not yet been announced.
