University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Tennessee at UNC Asheville (March 15)
March 14, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers travel to North Carolina this week, taking on the UNC Asheville Bulldogs for a midweek matchup on Tuesday, March 15, beginning at 6 p.m. ET at McCormick Field.
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Tennessee at UNC Asheville Gameday
- Opponent: UNC Asheville Bulldogs
- Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
- First Pitch: 6 p.m. ET
- Venue: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
Tennessee (10-5)
Roster Schedule StatsUNC Asheville (4-11)
Roster Schedule StatsThe Vols went 3-2 over their five games last week, including a 2-1 series finish in their first home weekend series vs. UC Irvine at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. UT is now 3-2 at home, 3-1 in away games and 4-2 in neutral site games this season, while Tennessee's offense improved to a combined .320 average this week, a fourth-best mark in the SEC.
Entering Tennessee's midweek contest vs. UNC Asheville, the Vols also have six starting position players hitting above .310 (Chris Hall - .396, Nick Senzel - .393, Derek Lance - .385, Jeff Moberg - .383, Jordan Rodgers - .328, Vincent Jackson - .314).
On Tuesday, righthander Eric Freeman (1-0, 3.12 ERA) will make his first career start for the Orange and White.
Tennessee vs. UNC Asheville All-Time
- Overall vs. UNC Asheville: UT leads, 23-7
- In Asheville: UT leads, 3-0
- In Knoxville: UT leads, 20-7
- Last Meeting: Vols won, 4-3 (10) in Knoxville
- Current Streak: Tennessee has won one game (last, 5/12/15)
Breaking Down the Bulldogs
Led by first-year Head Coach Scott Friedholm, UNC Asheville is off to a 4-14 start to the season, having most-recently dropped a three-game series to Iona College at Greenwood Field in Asheville, N.C.
This year, Asheville returns 20 players and five starters from last year's team, which finished 21-34 overall and 5-19 in Big South Conference action. On the mound, the Bulldogs also retained 11 arms from their 2015 squad, while the team also welcomes 11 newcomers.
Among UNC Asheville's noteable players, junior Joe Tietjen current leads the Bulldogs in multiple offensive categories including average (.433), hits (26), doubles (7) and RBI (23). This offseason, Tietjen was named a 2016 Big South Preseason All-Conference player by College Sports Madness, after he led the Bulldogs in runs scored and doubles during his sophomore campaign.
Vols on the Charts
Entering games this week, Tennessee ranks first in the Southeastern Conference with 21 double plays turned over their 15 games this season. As of last week, UT ranked tied for third in the NCAA for most double plays turned, with three players (Senzel, Moberg and Rodgers) among the Top 10 SEC players with the most double plays fielded in 2016.
Within the SEC, Tennessee is currently third in total runs scored (134), second in stolen bases (32) and fourth with a .410 team on-base percentage.
Several Volunteers also rank among the SEC's Top 10 in offensive categories:
- Chris Hall - .500 OBP (T-8th)
- Jeff Moberg - 24 runs scored (T-1st), seven doubles (T-5th)
- Jordan Rodgers - 30 RBI (1st), three triples (T-1st)
- Nick Senzel - 23 runs scored (3rd), 25 RBI (3rd), eight doubles (T-3rd), 14 walks (T-5th), seven stolen bases (T-7th), .500 OBP (T-8th)
- Vincent Jackson - five HBP (T-4th)
- Zach Warren - four wins (T-1st)
Volunteers among NCAA leaders:
- Jordan Rodgers - 30 RBI (T-1st in NCAA)
- Jeff Moberg - 1.60 runs scored per game (2nd in NCAA), 24 runs scored (T-2nd in NCAA)
- Nick Senzel - 1.53 runs scored per game (3rd in NCAA)
- Team Stolen Bases - 32 (10th in NCAA)
Through three weeks of play, Tennessee currently sits in seventh place in the SEC Eastern Division (10-5, .667), while its .320 team batting average is fourth-best in the league.
About Last Weekend...
The Volunteers took two of three games against UC Irvine in Knoxville last weekend, outscoring the Anteaters 26-5 over a three-game set and improving to 3-3 in the all-time series vs. UC Irvine.
On Friday, UT came out swinging and combined for 12 runs on 14 hits vs. UCI, with junior Jordan Rodgers leading the team's offense with four RBI. Lefty Zach Warren finished his start retiring five batters in his 6.0 innings of work and moved to 4-0 on the season with the win.
Tennessee then split a doubleheader with the Anteaters on Saturday. In Game One, UT used a big third inning to take the lead and push past UCI, 14-4. Rodgers (2-for-5, 5 RBI) and Nick Senzel (2-for-4, 3 RBI) each homered in the contest while Leno Ramirez (2-for-3) also drove in three runs. Senior Andy Cox entered the game in the first inning with the bases loaded and two outs, but was able to induce a weak grounder. Cox (2-1) struck out six over 6.2 after relieving Hunter Martin.
The Vols fell in the doubleheader finale, 2-0, after UC Irvine (10-6) scored the only runs of the game in the third inning as they pushed two runs across the plate.
Mr. 400
With a win over UC Irvine on Saturday, Head Coach Dave Serrano recorded his 400th career win as a head coach and now owns a 400-254-1 all-time record at the helm of Division 1 college programs.
The 2016 Volunteers
Among the 34 active members of this year's squad, the Volunteers are led by eight seniors, marking the most on a UT Baseball roster since 2004 (also eight). On the pitching staff, seniors Andy Cox and Steven Kane provide a veteran presence, while the 2016 lineup is scattered with senior experience from infielders Jeff Moberg and Jared Pruett, catcher Tyler Schultz and outfielders Vincent Jackson, Chris Hall and Derek Lance.
This year, Tennessee also welcomed 11 newcomers to Rocky Top, including four junior college transfers and seven true freshmen. Among the new faces making an immediate impact are starting shortstop Max Bartlett (Gulf Coast State), right-handed closer Jon Lipinski (Palm Beach State) and designated hitters Daniel Neal and Leno Ramirez.
On Deck for the Vols
The Big Orange will host SEC rival Ole Miss Rebels (15-1) the this weekend (March 18-20) for the Opening Weekend of Southeastern Conference play, with each game available for viewing via SEC Network + broadcast. Game One of the three-game series begins Friday, March 18 at 7 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
