University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky (March 8)
March 07, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Baseball returns home to Rocky Top this Tuesday, March 8, to host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers beginning at 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky Gameday
- Opponent: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2016
- First Pitch: 6 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
- Ticket Info: UTTix.com
Game Results
- Opponent: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2016
- Final Score: WKU 6, UT 0
- Recap: UTSports.com
Tennessee (7-4)
Roster Schedule StatsWestern Kentucky (8-4)
Roster Schedule StatsThe Volunteers went 2-2 last week, including a Home Opener win over Cincinnati (March 2) and a 1-2 finish in the 13th Annual Keith LeClair Classic, hosted by nationally ranked East Carolina University. On the weekend, Tennessee posted a 5-2 win over #16 ECU, while their matchups vs. Maryland and Southeastern Louisiana each resulted in one-run losses for Tennessee.
Tuesday's matchup vs. Western Kentucky features freshman Daniel Vasquez (1-0, 4.50) making his second career start for the Orange and White against Hilltoppers senior Josh Bartley (2-0, 1.74). In his last start during UT's Home Opener, Vasquez went 5.0 innings and fanned seven batters en route to the win against Cincinnati.
On the season, the Volunteers are scheduled to play 18 of their 56 regular season games against eight 2015 NCAA postseason participants, including College World Series squads Vanderbilt, LSU and Florida.
- Tues. March 8 at 6 p.m. ET - RHP Daniel Vasquez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Western Kentucky RHP Josh Bartley (2-0, 1.74 ERA)
Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky All-Time
- Overall vs. Western Kentucky: UT leads, 5-3
- In Knoxville: UT leads, 5-1
- Last Meeting: Vols won, 5-4 (10), in Knoxville (3/13/13)
- Current Streak: Tennessee has won three games (since 2/21/12)
A Look at the Hilltoppers
Under Head Coach John Pawlowski, Western Kentucky has witnessed their best season start since 1985.
Since 2003, Western Kentucky owns a 7-7 record when facing Southeastern Conference competition, including a win over Georgia earlier this year.
Entering Tuesday's matchup, the Hilltoppers own a team .315 batting average with a .405 on-base percentage and five regular starters each batting over .300. WKU has also out-hit eight of their 11 opponents and has combined for double-digit hits in eight games in 2016.
On the hill, WKU's veteran pitching staff returns all of its starters from 2015. In total, the team's returners amount to more than 70 percent of the Hilltoppers' innings pitched in 2015, as well as 73.5 percent of the team's total strikeouts.
Vols on the Charts
Through their first 10 games of 2016, Tennessee ranks tied for third in the NCAA with the most double plays turned (16). Within the SEC, UT infielders Nick Senzel (8 - T-10th), Jeff Moberg (11 - T-2nd) and Jordan Rodgers (13 - 1st) rank in the Top 10 for most double plays fielded this year.
Offensively, UT's 97 total runs scored on the season rank tied for 17th in the NCAA, while the Vols also stand in fourth place for most runs scored per game (9.7).
Among SEC opponents, UT's .323 team batting average ranks second-best in the league behind Texas A&M (.350).
Several Volunteers also rank among the SEC's Top 10 in offensive categories:
- Jeff Moberg - 18 runs scored (1st), five doubles (T-6th)
- Jordan Rodgers - 20 RBI (2nd), two triples (T-5th)
- Nick Senzel - .425 avarege (9th), .531 OBP (7th), 17 runs scored (3rd), 17 RBI (5th), six doubles (T-3rd), six stolen bases (T-7th)
- Vincent Jackson - three home runs (T-4th), five HBP (T-2nd)
Through three weekends of play, Tennessee currently sits in fifth place in the SEC Eastern Division (7-3, .700).
About Last Week...
Led by a stellar start from freshman righthander Daniel Vasquez, Tennessee defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 7-1, in the Vols' 2016 Home Opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Despite two weekend losses in their Keith LeClair Classic appearance last weekend, the Vols used an early offensive jump and a solid team pitching effort to take down the No 16-ranked Pirates, 5-2, at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Volunteers struck first in the contest, putting up a three spot in the first inning thanks to RBI hits from Nick Senzel (3-for-4, 1 RBI) and Jordan Rodgers (1-for-3, 3 RBI). Tennessee also took advantage of two fielding errors by the Pirates, giving UT a 3-0 advantage before sophomore lefty Zach Warren took the mound.
Warren dealt 6.2 innings for the Vols, marking his longest career start for the Big Orange, and struck out seven batters for the win. Senior Steven Kane entered in the seventh for Warren and tossed 1.1 innings before the Vols went to righty closer Jon Lipinski in the ninth. Lipinski and the Vols went on to retire the side and capture his third save of the season.
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 look to 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 welcomes 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 hitter Daniel Neal, who was voted Mr. Kentucky Baseball as a senior at South Laurel High School (Ky.) in 2015.
On Deck for the Vols
The Volunteers hit the road to visit ETSU on Wednesday, March 9, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. ET, before hosting UC Irvine in UT's first home weekend series from Friday, March 11 - Sunday, March 13 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
