University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Travel to Georgia for Battle with Bulldogs
March 20, 2008 | Baseball
Game Notes
The Tennessee baseball team renews one of its oldest rivalries this weekend in Athens, Ga., where it faces Southeastern Conference Eastern Division foe Georgia in a three-game series at Foley Field. Game times are set for 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Friday and Saturday???s games both will be televised regionally on CSS.
Tennessee leads the all-time series with Georgia 109-96, dating to 1909. The Bulldogs hold a 57-38 edge in Athens, but the Vols have won eight of the last 10 meetings overall (including each of the last four).
The Big Orange (13-5, 3-0 SEC) are hoping that their impressive early-season pitching continues to flourish. Tennessee???s 3.44 team ERA ranks fourth in the SEC, and UT???s pitchers rank second in the league with an opponents??? batting average of .235. The Vols??? starters have combined to post a 2.85 ERA, and the UT bullpen leads the SEC with seven saves on the year.
Offensively, the highlight for UT thus far in 2008 continues to be freshman centerfielder Kentrail Davis. Tennessee???s top hitter through 18 games, Davis ranks second in the SEC in on-base percentage (.592), third in batting average (.463) and sixth in slugging (.778). The Theodore, Ala., native is Tennessee???s team leader in hits (25), home runs (4) and RBI (19).
Georgia???s 10-7 (2-1 SEC) record can be deceptive, as the Bulldogs have played one of the nation???s most difficult schedules entering the weekend. In fact, 11 of UGA???s 17 games have come against top-25 teams???including five games against teams ranked in the top three nationally.
Despite the stout competition, the Bulldogs have produced some staggering offensive statistics, hitting .325 as a team and belting out 31 home runs. Junior shortstop Gordon Beckham is batting .513 with 39 hits, 11 home runs, 27 RBI and a 1.066 slugging percentage. Sophomore infielder Rich Poythress is hitting .400 this season and joins Beckham as one of five Bulldogs batting .325 or better.
This weekend???s pitching matchups begin with Friday???s showdown between UT sophomore right-hander Steve Crnkovich (4-0, 2.93 ERA) and Georgia right-hander Trevor Holder (2-2, 2.86 ERA). Tennessee left-hander Bryan Morgado (3-1, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound Saturday against Bulldogs right-hander Stephen Dodson (2-1, 5.66 ERA). Sunday???s starting pitchers are slated to be sophomore left-hander Nick Hernandez (0-1, 4.95 ERA) for UT and junior lefty Nathan Moreau (1-0, 2.01 ERA) for UGA.
Five current Vols own career batting average of better than .350 against Georgia (Cody Brown, .389; Jarred Frazier, .438; Yan Gomes, .385; Jeff Lockwood, .556; Andy Simunic, .357). In last year???s home sweep of the Dogs, Tennessee hit .343 as a team with a 2.00 staff ERA. Lockwood and Brown each homered and hit better than .500 in that series.
Vols head coach Todd Raleigh owns a 3-5 (.375) career coaching record against Georgia, with all meetings coming during Raleigh???s tenure at Western Carolina. Raleigh???s 2006 WCU club defeated UGA???s College World Series team in Athens that season.
Free audio webcasts of this weekend???s games can be accessed online at UTsports.com.
