University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Tennessee Hosts No. 4 Vanderbilt (April 22-24)
April 21, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers (21-16, 4-11 SEC) return home to Rocky Top and begin the second half of Southeastern Conference play, hosting the No. 4-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores (29-8, 9-6 SEC) for a home weekend series on Friday, April 22 - Sunday, April 24 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
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Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Series
- Opponent: No. 4 Vanderbilt Commodores
- Date: Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m. ET
- Date: Saturday, April 23 at 4 p.m. ET
- Date: Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. ET
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
- Broadcast: SEC Network+
Game One Results
- Final Score: VU 6, UT 0
- Recap: UTSports.com
- Photo Gallery: UTSports.com
Game Two Results
- Final Score: UT 2, VU 1
- Recap: UTSports.com
- Photo Gallery: UTSports.com
Tennessee (22-17, 5-12 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats#4 Vanderbilt (30-9, 10-7 SEC)
Roster Schedule StatsThe Volunteers enter their weekend conference matchup against the Vandy with a 21-16 overall record, including a 4-11 mark in Southeastern Conference play. The Commodores own a 29-8 record and are currently 9-6 in SEC competition this year, currently in third place in the SEC East Division.
In the last weekend series between the in-state rivals, the Commodores took two of three games against the Vols in Nashville, while Tennessee managed a 9-5 win in Game Two of the weekend. UT seeks its first series win over Vandy since 2014 on Rocky Top.
Each of UT's three weekend games are slated for viewing via SEC Network+ stream, with the Vol Network's Bob Kesling and Vol Baseball VFL Rusty Ensor on the call for the conference series in Knoxville.
Following Tuesday's game at MTSU, Head Coach Dave Serrano announced that shortstop Max Bartlett will miss playing time due to an injured wrist (hit by pitch).
Weekend Rotation Matchups
- Friday, April 22 @ 6 p.m. ET: LHP Aaron Soto (4-1, 4.13) vs. RHP Jordan Sheffield (5-2, 2.91)
- Saturday, April 23 @ 4 p.m. ET: LHP Zach Warren (4-4, 2.98) vs. RHP Kyle Wright (4-2, 1.70)
- Sunday, April 24 @ 2 p.m. ET: TBA vs. TBA
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt All-Time
- Overall vs. VU: UT leads 171-152-2
- In Knoxville (since 1965): UT leads, 59-30
- In Nashville (since 1965): VU leads, 54-44
- Last Meeting: VU won, 14-3 (3/29/15)
- Last 10 Games: VU leads, 7-3, since 2013
Vols on the Charts
Tennessee owns a collective .306 team batting average, the fourth-best mark in the league. Additionally, UT's 64 stolen bases rank second in the SEC, while they lead the conference with 41 double plays turned over 37 games in 2016.
Among SEC opponents, the Volunteers also rank fourth in total runs scored (265), sixth in hits (389) and fifth in on-base percentage (.392).
Tennessee on NCAA charts (as of April 21):
- Jordan Rodgers - 53 RBI (4th in NCAA), 1.43 RBI/game (3rd in NCAA), six sacrifice flies (T-5th in NCAA), five triples (T-9th in NCAA)
- Nick Senzel - 47 RBI (T-11th in NCAA), 46 runs scored (T-11th in NCAA), 15 doubles (T-18th in NCAA), 1.27 RBI/game (17th in NCAA), 1.24 runs/game (T-9th in NCAA)
- Vincent Jackson - 46 RBI (T-15th in NCAA)
- Team Batting Average - .306 (30th in NCAA)
- Team Double Plays - 41 (T-8th in NCAA)
- Team Double Plays/Game - 1.11 (7th in NCAA)
- Team Sacrifice Flies - 24 (T-7th in NCAA)
Volunteers rank among the SEC's Top 10 in the following categories:
- Chris Hall - .464 OBP (7th), 39 runs scored (T-6th), 10 HBP (3rd)
- Benito Santiago - .362 (9th)
- Jordan Rodgers - 53 RBI (1st), 11 doubles (T-7th), five triples (2nd), six sacrifice flies (T-2nd)
- Nick Senzel - 46 runs scored (T-2nd), 47 RBI (3rd), 15 doubles (T-1st), 79 total bases (10th), 31 walks (T-4th), 15 stolen bases (T-7th), .477 OBP (4th), .594 SLG (6th)
- Vincent Jackson - .368 average (7th), 46 RBI (4th), six home runs (T-8th), seven HBP (T-10th)
- Zach Warren - 19 batters struck out looking (10th)
- Eric Freeman - 17 appearances (T-6th)
- Steven Kane - 16 games in relief (T-10th), four runners picked off (2nd)
- Jon Lipinski - 11 games finished (T-6th)
In addition to leading the SEC in double plays turned this year as a team, Jordan Rodgers (1st - 37) and Max Bartlett (7th - 25) also rank among the league's Top 10 players with the most double plays fielded.
Scouting the Commodores
Vanderbilt (29-8, 9-6 SEC) enters weekend competition with the Volunteers ranked No. 4 in the nation by D1Baseball.com, as well as No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Commodores are also ranked sixth by NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball in addition to being tabbed eighth in the country by Baseball America.
Last week, the Commodores went 3-1 including a series win over No. 12-ranked Kentucky in Nashville. Entering games against Tennessee, Vanderbilt is tied for third place in the Southeastern Conference alongside Kentucky (23-13, 9-6 SEC) and LSU (25-11, 9-6 SEC).
The Commodores rank third in the SEC with a 3.03 team ERA and the staff averages 10.4 strikeouts per game, the second-best mark in the league.
Vandy starting pitcher Jordan Sheffield was named SEC and National Pitcher of the Week (April 11-17) after tossing his first career shutout and striking out a career-best 14 in a Friday night win over No. 12 Kentucky.
Offensively, Vanderbilt leads the SEC with 27 sacrifice bunts and 24 sacrifice flies. Additionally, the Commodores have outscored their opponents 275-138. Of the runs scored by Vandy, 247 have been RBI. The club owns a team batting average of .285.
Sophomore outfielder Jeren Kendall leads Vanderbilt's offense, hitting at a .349 clip and leading the team with 40 RBI. Kendall earned National Hitter, National and SEC Player of the Week honors after going 10-for-15 with three home runs, 10 RBI and five stolen bases during opening weekend (Feb. 19-21).
Midweek Recap
Following a ninth inning rally, the Tennessee Volunteers pushed past the MTSU Blue Raiders, 4-2, in Tuesday night's matchup at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Seniors Derek Lance (2-for-4), Chris Hall (2-for-4) and Vincent Jackson (3-for-5, 3 RBI) led the Big Orange in the effort, combining for seven hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
In his fifth start of the season, right-hander Eric Freeman tossed 3.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out a career-high four batters. Reliever Alex Harper-Cook (1.1 IP) entered the game to start the fourth. He fanned one MTSU Blue Raider and gave up one run on two hits in the appearance.
Murfreesboro nativeHunter Martin recorded the save after taking the mound in the ninth and tossing a scoreless inning.
On Deck for the Vols
The Volunteers host back-to-back midweek contests next week against Eastern Kentucky (Tuesday, April 26) and Alabama State (Wednesday, April 27), with each game slated for 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
From there, Tennessee travels to Columbia, Mo., for a three-game set against the Missouri Tigers.
