University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Baseball Countdown: 13 Days
January 31, 2015 | Baseball
2015 Schedule
Purchase Tickets
Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 13 days away!
Throughout January and February, UTSports.com will count down the days leading up to the start of the Vols' 2015 campaign (Feb. 13) with a look back at the many players who donned each jersey No. 30 through No. 1.
After opening last season at home, the Vols will travel to Miami, Fla., this year to face Florida International for a three-game series (Feb. 13-15). The team will return home to take on Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Rutgers for four games (Feb. 20-22) during Tennessee's home opener weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, including a doubleheader against the Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Orange & White will later host long-time SEC foe Georgia (March 20-22) for the program's first home conference opponent series in March. Additionally, Missouri (April 9-11), South Carolina (April 24-26), Texas A&M (May 1-3) and Mississippi State (May 15-17) will make trips to Rocky Top this year.
On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 27 of their 55 regular season games against nine 2014 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, UC Irvine and Ole Miss.
Practice has officially begun on Rocky Top. The Diamond Vols are in action throughout the week. All outdoor practices at Lindsey Nelson Stadium are free and open to the public. For more information, visit UTSports.com.
In total, 27 Vols have worn the Orange and White No. 13, with Knoxville native and All-SEC player Nick Senzel donning the jersey again in 2015. In the mid 1980s, the jersey belonged to left-handed pitcher and Knoxville native Steve Searcy, who played professionally for the Tigers and Phillies and was later inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame.
THE PAST...#13 Steve Searcy
1983-85 | LHP | L/L | 6-1 | 190 lbs. | Knoxville, Tenn. (Central HS)
An all-district player out of Central High School here in Knoxville, Steve Searcy came to the University of Tennessee in 1983. Searcy went 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA as a rookies, starting six games and appearing in 11. He struck out 19 over 34.2 innings. His 2.60 ERA is Tennessee's single-season record for the category (min. 30 innings pitched).
An injury on the Vols' roster put Searcy in the No. 1 pitching spot as a sophomore, and he delivered. He led the team in wins (9), ERA (2.45), appearances (16), starts (12), complete games (7), innings pitched (95.1) and strikeouts (74). His 95.1 innings were at the time a school record. He was part of a combined no-hitter in 1984, blanking Tusculum for an inning. Five Vols combined for the no-hitter in the 13-0 UT victory. Searcy earned All-SEC Eastern Division honors as a sophomore.
Searcy posted a team-leading five wins as a junior to go along with a 4.65 ERA. He struck out 40 in 60 innings pitched that season.
The Knoxville native was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 1985 MLB Draft. After minor league stints, he made his pro debut on August 29, 1988. Searcy would pitch four seasons for the Tigers before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He threw two seasons in Philadelphia. Serving primarily as a reliever, Searcy finished his pro career with six wins, a 5.68 ERA and 140 strikeouts over 187.0 innings pitched.
Searcy was inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. UT's Most Improved Player Award is also named after Searcy.
NOTES ON SEARCY
- Majored in sociology at Tennessee
- Was 13-1 at Knoxville's Central H.S.
- Nickname is "Searse"
THE PRESENT...#13 Nick Senzel
2014 | INF | 6-1 | 205 lbs. | R/R | Knoxville, Tenn. (Farragut HS)
Like Searcy, sophomore infielder Nick Senzel is a Knoxville product. During his rookie season, he played in 53 of the Vols' 54 games, including 45 starts as designated hitter. On Opening Day 2014, Senzel became just the second true freshman since 1990 to begin a season in the cleanup spot of the order. He finished the year hitting .315 with 12 doubles, two triples, one homer, a team-best 37 runs scored and 39 RBI, taking home Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Playing his high school ball at Farragut, Senzel earned all-state, all-district, PrepXtra first team and All-KIL honors following his senior season. He was also ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the state and the No. 17 second baseman in the nation by Perfect Game. Senzel also earned Rawlings Southeast Region Second Team honors. He hit a team-high .386 with 42 RBIs, 14 doubles, five home runs and four triples as a senior. He helped the Admirals go 35-9 and claim the District 4-AAA Championship, Region 2-AAA Championship and finish as the TSSAA State Runner-ups his senior season.
NOTES ON SENZEL
- Full name is Nicholas Peter Senzel
- Lists his father as his biggest sports influence
- Majoring in psychology
