Jan. 31, 2017

2017 Schedule

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 17 days away! To count down to the start of the 2017 season, UTSports.com will profile a player each day on the Vols' 2017 squad. The countdown continues today with true freshman pitcher Connor Darling and will run up until UT’s season opener on February 17 against Memphis at FedEx Park.

TENNESSEE BASEBALL'S NO. 17

2012(Away) | Josh Allman
2008 | Grant Betler
1987-88 | Jim Boyce
2010-11 | Rob Catapano
2003-04 | Brian Cleveland
1976 (Away) | Rick Colbert
1998-2001 (Away) | Will Curtiss
2017-Present | Connor Darling
1994-95 | John Darlington
1992 | David Dupree
1969 (Away) | Sam Ewing
2009 | Clayton Gant
1969 (Home), 1970 | Nick Gates
1984-86 | Jeff Glover
1972 (Home) | Greg Johnson
2005 | Nicholas Kulp
2013-16 | Derek Lance
1991 | Terrance McDermott
1965 | Richard Price
1989-90 | Eric Reichenbach
1976-78 | Gary Rivers
1974-75 (Away) | Gary Robinson
1979 (Home) | Tom Schaughency
1983 | Steve Searcy
2006-07 | Ryne Simpson
1980-82 | Kendall Stiles
1972-73 (Away) | Grey Strang
1974 (Home) | John Yarbrough

Need to Know

In February, Tennessee will travel to Memphis to open their 2017 season with a three-game set (Feb. 17-19) against the University of Memphis at FedEx Park, home of the Tigers. The Big Orange then heads west during their second week of the season for a single-game matchup at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. (Feb. 22) before travelling to San Diego to participate in the Tony Gwynn Classic on Feb. 24-26.

Following the four-game stint in California, the Volunteers will return to Knoxville for their first home series of the season on March 3-5. The series also signifies the first-ever meeting between Norfolk State and UT.

The Orange & White open their 2017 Southeastern Conference schedule with the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville on March 17-19, marking the second consecutive year for UT to begin conference play at home. Tennessee later plays host to SEC rivals Georgia (March 31-April 2), Auburn (April 13-15) and Arkansas (May 4-6) before closing out regular season play against Missouri (May 18-20) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

This year, the Volunteers' SEC road schedule includes trips to Mississippi State (March 24-26), Florida (April 7-9), Texas A&M (April 21-23), Vanderbilt (April 28-30) and Kentucky (May 12-14).

On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 15 of their 55 regular season games against five 2016 NCAA postseason participants, including 2016 SEC Tournament Champion Texas A&M.

Countdown to Baseball: 17 Days

Freshman right-handed pitcher Connor Darling comes to Rocky Top as the 29th Vol to ever wear No. 17 in Tennessee history.

The four-year letterman hailing from North Gwinnett High School in Georgia, Darling received Perfect Game Underclassman All-America honors and was ranked as the No. 11 right-handed pitcher in the state of Georgia during his time with the Bulldogs. Entering his senior season, he was tabbed a Top-200 right-hander in the nation by PG and 54th overall player in his home state.

During his junior year, Darling went 5-2 with a 1.32 ERA with North Gwinnett. After pitching in his first varsity high school game as a freshman, the Suwanee , Ga. native went on to earn All-Region and Georgia State Player of the Month honors as a sophomore in 2014.