University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Vols Open SEC Play vs. #8 Ole Miss
March 16, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- For the first time since 2009, the Tennessee Volunteers (11-5) begin Southeastern Conference competition at home as they host the No. 8-ranked Ole Miss Rebels (17-1) for three games on Friday, March 18 - Sunday, March 20 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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Tennessee vs. Ole Miss Series
- Opponent: #8 Ole Miss Rebels
- Dates: Fri. March 18 - Sun. March 20, 2016
- Game 1: Fri. March 18 at 7 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Sat. March 19 at 4 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Sun. March 20 at 2 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
- Video Stream: SEC Network +
Tennessee (12-6, 1-1 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats#8 Ole Miss (18-2, 1-1 SEC)
Roster Schedule StatsGame One Info
- Date: Friday, March 18
- Final Score: UT 3, #8 Ole Miss 2
- Recap: Vols Top #8 Rebels on Lance's Walk-Off Hit
- Highlights: UTSports.com
- Photos: UTSports.com
Game Two Info
- Date: Saturday, March 19
- Final Score: #8 Ole Miss 6, UT 4
- Recap: #8 Ole Miss Holds Off Vols in Game Two
- Highlights: UTSports.com
- Photos: UTSports.com
Each of Tennessee's three games this weekend vs. the Rebels will be available for viewing via SEC Network + broadcast stream. The SEC Network will also present a Bases Loaded special Friday, March 18, the Opening Night of Southeastern Conference baseball, featuring every baseball team in the SEC, eight of which are ranked in the Top 25. The show is a live compilation of seven games -- all 14 teams -- taking place that evening across the southeast.
Tennessee Baseball VFL Rusty Ensor will be on the call for SEC Network + alongside former Vol Baseball broadcaster and current Tennessee Titans voice Mike Keith on Friday and Sunday, while Mick Gillispie will join Ensor for Saturday's UT vs. Ole Miss contest.
Weekend Matchups
- Friday, March 18 @ 7 p.m. ET: LHP Zach Warren (4-0, 1.59) vs. RHP Brady Bramlett (4-0, 2.14)
- Saturday, March 19 @ 4 p.m. ET: RHP Eric Freeman (1-0, 2.66) vs. RHP Chad Smith (2-1, 4.35)
- Sunday, March 20 @ 2 p.m. ET: RHP Hunter Martin (2-0, 1.17) vs. RHP Sean Johnson (3-0, 1.80)
Tennessee vs. Ole Miss All-Time
- Overall vs. Ole Miss: Ole Miss leads, 45-36-1
- In Knoxville: Ole Miss leads, 19-16
- In Oxford: Ole Miss leads, 22-17-1
- Last Meeting: Vols won, 4-2, in Oxford, Miss. (4/5/15)
- Current Streak: Tennessee has won two games
In the last series matchup between the programs in 2015, Tennessee captured their first series win over the Rebels since 2010, taking two of three games in Oxford, Miss.
Vols on the Charts
Several Volunteers rank among the SEC's Top 10 in offensive and pitching categories:
- Chris Hall - .404 average (T-9th), .509 OBP (10th)
- Jeff Moberg - .415 average (T-4th), 28 runs scored (1st), 27 hits (T-6th), 9 doubles (T-2nd), .519 OBP (T-4th)
- Jordan Rodgers - 31 RBI (1st), 3 triples (T-1st)
- Nick Senzel - 23 runs scored (T-4th), 25 RBI (T-3rd), 8 doubles (T-4th), 18 walks (T-3rd), 9 stolen bases (T-7th), .519 OBP (3rd)
- Vincent Jackson - five HBP (T-4th)
- Zach Warren - 4 wins (T-1st), 10 batters struck out looking (T-8th)
- Jon Lipinski - three saves (T-4th)
Volunteers among NCAA leaders:
- Jordan Rodgers - 31 RBI (1st in NCAA), 1.94 RBI/game (1st in NCAA), 3 triples (T-10th in NCAA)
- Jeff Moberg - 28 runs scored (T-1st in NCAA), 1.75 runs/game (1st in NCAA)
- Nick Senzel - 23 runs scored (T-12th in NCAA), 25 RBI (T-8th in NCAA), 1.56 RBI/game (T-6th in NCAA), 1.44 runs/game (T-9th in NCAA)
- Team Scoring - 8.8 runs/game (6th in NCAA)
- Total Runs Scored - 141 (T-14th in NCAA)
- Team Stolen Bases - 36 (T-8th in NCAA)
Entering games this week, Tennessee ranked tied for fifth in the NCAA with the most double plays turned (21). Within the SEC, UT infielders Jeff Moberg (16 - 2nd) and Jordan Rodgers (18 - 1st) currently rank in the Top 10 for most double plays fielded this year.
The Volunteers' current .321 team batting average is the third-best mark in the SEC, 19th-best in the NCAA.
Vols in SEC Openers
The Tennessee Volunteers own a 30-42 all-time record in Southeastern Conference openers, including a 6-8 record in SEC openers at home since 1980.
This weekend marks the first-ever time for Tennessee to open SEC competition against Ole Miss.
This year also marks the first time for Tennessee to open SEC play at home since 2009, when UT hosted Auburn and dropped two decisions in the three-game series.
In 2015, the Volunteers opened SEC play on the road at then-No. 3 ranked Florida and took a 6-3 win in Gainesville. UT blasted four home runs against the Gators to support a one-hit pitching effort by senior righty Bret Marks en route to the victory at McKethan Stadium.
Scouting the Rebels
After playing the nation's toughest schedule last season, the Ole Miss Rebels made their 13th NCAA Regional appearance under Head Coach Mike Bianco in 2015 and finished with a 30-28 overall record and a 15-14 conference mark. The Rebels went 11-11 against NCAA Tournament teams during their regular season, including a 7-6 record against Top-10 teams.
Now off to a 17-1 start, No. 8-ranked Ole Miss returns a veteran squad to the field this year. With six starting position players and their designated hitter having returned to the lineup in 2016, the Rebels hold a current 12-game win streak entering their trip to Rocky Top and have outscored opponents 154-52 over 18 games.
On the mound, Ole Miss lost nine pitchers from last year's squad, including the trio of Christian Trent, Jacob Waguespack and Scott Weathersby. Against Tennessee, the Rebels are slated to throw righthanders Brady Bramlett, Chad Smith and Sean Johnson. Bramlett is no stranger to the rotation, having started 15 games for Ole Miss in 2015. Junior college transfer Smith looks to make his ## start of the year, while redshirt junior Johnson is seeing his first action since recovery from injury last year.
Midweek Recap
Tennessee used a balanced offensive attack and took advantage of nine walks to defeat UNC Asheville, 7-3, at historic McCormick Field on Tuesday night.
Tennessee's offense was quick and disciplined in the first inning, as the Vols loaded the bases twice to score two runs against the Bulldogs. The Vols went on to push single runs across in the second and fourth innings, both scored by Moberg, to make it a 4-0 Tennessee advantage.
UNC Asheville inched forward in the seventh to make it a two-run ballgame before Tennessee's offense opened the gates again in the eighth. With runners on first and second, Nick Senzel drew his fourth walk of the game to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Vincent Jackson then ripped a two-run single through the right side to put UT ahead, 7-3.
In his first career start for the Orange and White, righthander Eric Freeman worked 3.0 scoreless innings against UNC Asheville and struck out three of his 13 batters faced. In relief, Hunter Martin threw 2.0 scoreless frames, retiring five straight batters between the fourth and fifth innings to earn the win.
On Deck for the Vols
Following their SEC Opening Weekend vs. Ole Miss, the Volunteers play host to Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network television, before embarking for Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a three-game set vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide (March 25-27).
