University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols travel to Tenn. Tech, host Charlotte
March 31, 2008 | Baseball
The Tennessee baseball team plays a pair of non-conference games this week, traveling to Cookeville, Tenn., Tuesday for a 6 p.m. CT contest at Tennessee Tech before hosting 18th-ranked Charlotte Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Through 25 games, the Volunteers own a 16-9 (5-4 SEC) record. Strong early-season pitching has inspired the Vols??? bats recently, as Tennessee averaged more than 12 hits per game in last weekend???s Southeastern Conference series at Auburn. Five runs seem to be the magic total for Big Orange success, as UT owns a 14-1 record in games in which it scores at least five runs. On the year, Tennessee averages 5.1 runs per game.
The Vols lead the all-time series with Tennessee Tech 64-27-1, dating to 1942. Tennessee has won each of the last seven meetings and each of the last three in Cookeville.
Led by fifth-year head coach Matt Bragga, the Golden Eagles sport a 19-7-1 (4-2 OVC) record, including a 15-4-1 mark at home. Five Tech regulars are batting .335 or better, and the Eagles are hitting .328 as a team. On the mound, the Eagles own a 5.36 staff ERA. Tennessee Tech pitchers average 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Projected Atlantic 10 Conference champion Charlotte visits Knoxville Wednesday. Loren Hibbs is in his 16th season as head coach of the 49ers, and his club owns an impressive 21-3 (6-0 Atlantic 10) record, including a 5-2 mark on the road.
The 49ers are hitting .338 as a team and feature six players with averages of .350 or better. Charlotte has belted 27 home runs in 24 games and is 36-of-50 on stolen-base attempts this season.
The 49ers pitching has been just as impressive. A 3.33 staff ERA is bolstered by a 2.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Charlotte won last season???s Atlantic 10 title and turned in a final record of 49-12 (23-4 Atlantic 10).
SUNDAY FLORIDA GAME TIME CHANGED TO 1 P.M.
Tennessee???s home baseball game against Florida this Sunday has been moved to a 1 p.m. start. The change comes after Florida???s team flight plans were altered for reasons beyond the Gators control.
Times for the first two games of this weekend???s series remain the same. Friday???s game begins at 7 p.m., and first pitch Saturday is set for 4 p.m.
Friday???s game will be televised on SportSouth, and Saturday???s game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
