University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Tennessee at Missouri (April 29 - May 1)
April 28, 2016 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers (24-18, 6-12 SEC) take their Southeastern Conference competition to the road this weekend, visiting the Missouri Tigers (21-21, 4-14 SEC) for a three-game series in Columbia, Mo., from Friday, April 29 - May 1 at Taylor Stadium.
Series Info
Tennessee vs. Missouri Series
- Opponent: Missouri Tigers (21-21, 4-14 SEC)
- Date: Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. ET
- Date: Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. ET
- Date: Sunday, May 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Taylor Stadium (Columbia, Mo.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
- Broadcast: WatchESPN
Tennessee (24-18, 6-12 SEC)
Roster Schedule StatsMissouri (21-21, 4-14 SEC)
Roster Schedule StatsThe Volunteers enter their weekend matchup with a 24-18 overall record, including a 6-12 mark in Southeastern Conference play while Missouri (21-21, 4-14 SEC) looks to take their third conference series win of 2016 hosting UT at Taylor Stadium.
In the last series between the schools from April 9-11, 2015, the Tigers took two out of three games at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Entering just their fourth-ever series contest vs. Mizzou this weekend, Tennessee has won two of three all-time series since 2013.
UT's Saturday (April 30 @ 4 p.m. ET - ESPNU) and Sunday (May 1 @ 12:30 p.m. ET - SEC Network) games will be broadcast on national television, while the Friday, April 29 series opener is available for viewing via SEC Network+ stream at 4 p.m. ET.
NOTE: Friday's series opener game time at Missouri has been changed to 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT), due to expected inclement weather.
Weekend Rotation
- Friday, April 29 @ 4 p.m. ET: LHP Aaron Soto (4-2, 4.02 ERA) vs. RHP Reggie McClain (3-2, 3.89 ERA)
- Saturday, April 30 @ 4 p.m. ET: Soph. LHP Zach Warren (5-4, 2.88 ERA) vs. So. RHP Tanner Houck (4-4, 3.20 ERA)
- Sunday, May 1 @ 12:30 p.m. ET: TBD vs. TBD
Tennessee vs. Missouri All-Time
- Overall vs. Mizzou: UT leads, 5-4
- In Columbia: UT leads, 2-1
- In Knoxville: Tied, 3-3
- Last Meeting: Mizzou won, 10-1 in Knoxville (4/11/15)
Vols on the Charts
Tennessee owns a collective .297 team batting average, the fifth-best mark in the league. Additionally, UT's 66 stolen bases rank second in the SEC, while they lead the conference with 43 double plays turned over 42 games in 2016.
Among SEC opponents, the Volunteers also rank third in doubles (83), fifth in hits (423), sixth in total runs scored (276) and seventh in on-base percentage (.385).
Tennessee on NCAA charts (as of April 27):
- Jordan Rodgers - 53 RBI (T-9th in NCAA), 1.29 RBI/game (10th in NCAA), six sacrifice flies (T-7th in NCAA), five triples (T-11th in NCAA)
- Nick Senzel - 48 RBI (T-19th in NCAA), 46 runs scored (T-18th in NCAA), six sacrifice flies (T-7th in NCAA)
- Vincent Jackson - 48 RBI (T-19th in NCAA)
- Team Double Plays - 43 (T-9th in NCAA)
- Team Double Plays/Game - 1.05 (T-14th in NCAA)
- Team Sacrifice Flies - 25 (T-10th in NCAA)
Volunteers rank among the SEC's Top 10 in the following categories:
- Chris Hall - .450 OBP (7th), 39 runs scored (9th), 12 HBP (3rd)
- Derek Lance - .364 average (7th)
- Jordan Rodgers - 53 RBI (2nd), 12 doubles (T-7th), five triples (T-2nd), six sacrifice flies (T-2nd)
- Nick Senzel - 46 runs scored (3rd), 48 RBI (T-3rd), 16 doubles (2nd), 31 walks (5th), 16 stolen bases (T-6th), .448 OBP (8th)
- Vincent Jackson - 48 RBI (T-3rd), seven home runs (T-7th)
- Zach Warren - 20 batters struck out looking (T-9th)
- Steven Kane - four runners picked off (T-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 - 39) and Max Bartlett (T-9th - 25) also rank among the league's Top 10 players with the most double plays fielded.
Scouting Mizzou
Last season, Missouri finished with a 30-28 mark, the third-best mark in the SEC East, while ranking as high as No. 14 among national media polls.
Under the direction of Head Coach Tim Jamieson, the Tigers are 21-21 and 4-14 in SEC play in 2016. They enter the conference matchup with Tennessee after being swept at South Carolina and a posting a midweek win vs. Missouri State.
Offensively, Mizzou is led by senior first baseman Zach Lavy. Lavy not only boasts a .352 batting average but he also leads the SEC in extra-base hits, doubles and triples while ranking third in total bases and fourth in slugging percentage.
Righthander Tanner Houck has accepted an invitation to play with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team this summer, joining Vol pitcher Zach Warren. Houck, who has logged the most innings pitched (70.1) of the Tigers staff, heads into the weekend outing with an ERA of 3.20 and a record of 4-4.
Midweek Recap(s)
The Volunteers enter weekend play at Mizzou after posting a 1-1 record in midweek action this week.
After a back and forth battle with Eastern Kentucky, a walk-off single down the left field line by Chris Hall lifted Tennessee (24-17, 6-12 SEC) to a 4-3 win over the Colonels at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
UT's offense combined for eight hits against Eastern Kentucky, led by senior Vincent Jackson (1-for-4, 2 RBI), who blasted his seventh home run of the season. Chris Hall (2-for-4, RBI) also recorded multiple hits and delivered a hit down the left field line to score fellow senior Jared Pruett for the walkoff win.
After threatening in the first inning of the Wednesday night matchup at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Tennessee fell behind Alabama State, 3-0. The Volunteers put runners on base in all but two innings, but were unable to string together a series of hits to push a run across.
Entering the game to start the fifth inning, righty Daniel Vasquez struck out his first two batters faced. He went on to retire 12 of 17 Alabama State batters in 5.0 innings of scoreless relief. Vasquez gave up just two hits and struck out two batters in the appearance.
On Deck for the Vols
The Volunteers (24-18, 6-12 SEC) return to Rocky Top next weekend to host the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators from Friday, May 6 - Sunday, May 8, with each game available for viewing via SEC Network+ streams.
