University of Tennessee Athletics
BASEBALL CENTRAL: Vols Host Middle Tennessee (April 4)
April 03, 2017 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Volunteers look to host Middle Tennessee Baseball in midweek action this Tuesday, April 4 with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
More Info
Game Times & Broadcast Info
- Opponent: MTSU Blue Raiders
- Date: Tuesday, April 4
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Radio: UTSports.com
- Live Stats: UTSports.com
Tennessee (15-10, 1-8 SEC)
Roster Schedule 2017 Stats
MTSU (13-15, 3-6 C-USA)
Roster Schedule 2017 Stats
The Vols (15-10, 1-8 SEC) enter Tuesday's contest against MTSU (13-15, 3-6 C-USA) with a current two-game win streak against the Blue Raiders and the fourth-best team average in the Southeastern Conference at .296.
Lefty Zach Warren (2-2, 5.52 ERA) will get the starting nod for UT's midweek matchup against MT right-hander Grant Williams (0-2, 7.08).
Last weekend, Tennessee dropped two of three games against the Georgia Bulldogs (13-16, 3-6 SEC) on Rocky Top. Backed by a season-long outing from senior Hunter Martin, the Vols took their first SEC victory of the season with a 6-5 Friday night win.
This season, the Volunteers are playing 15 of their 55 regular season games against five 2016 NCAA postseason participants, including 2016 SEC Tournament Champion Texas A&M.
- Tues. April 4 vs. MTSU - LHP Zach Warren (2-2, 5.52) vs. RHP Grant Williams (0-2, 7.08)
Tennessee vs. MTSU
- All-time vs. MTSU: UT leads, 35-23
- In Knoxville: UT leads, 15-11
- In Murfreesboro: UT leads, 17-7
- Last 10 Games: MTSU leads, 6-4
- Last Meeting: Vols won, 4-2, in Murfreesboro (4/19/16)
- Win Streak: Vols hold a two-game win streak, dating back to March 29, 2016
Due to expected inclement weather last month, Tennessee's previously scheduled midweek matchup at MTSU on Tuesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. ET was postponed. No makeup date has been set or released at this time.
Tuesday's game marks the first game between UT and MTSU since April 19, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., when the Vols took a 4-2 win at Reese Smith Jr. Field. In that game, the Vols used a ninth-inning rally to push past the Blue Raiders, 4-2.
Blue Raider Rundown
- The MTSU Blue Raiders (13-15, 3-6 C-USA) visit Knoxville having just dropped an 8-6 Sunday finale vs. Marshall, failing to complete the sweep at Appalachian Power Park. The loss snapped a four-game win streak for MTSU.
- MTSU's veteran lineup includes senior shortstop Riley Delgado, who came into 2017 as the No. 26-rated shortstop in the country. Through 28 starts, Delgado is hitting a team-best .336 with nine doubles.
- Delgado was named First-Team All-Conference in 2016, along with being a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award (nation's best shortstop).
- Austin Dennis leads MTSU in run production this season, boasting three homers and a team-high 24 RBI in 28 games.
- On the mound, Carson Lester, Tyler Hasper, Devin Conn and Jake Wyrick have been the consistent starters for MTSU this year. Tuesday starter Grant Williams looks to make his fourth start for the Blue Raiders.
- Tyler Holcombe has shored up the bullpen, recording four saves in his 11 relief appearances in 2017.
Quick Hits: 2017 Volunteers
- Bombin' Dom: Dom Thornton's home run on Sunday was his fourth in his last seven games. The transfer outfielder is looking to continue his recent run production, having hit 18 home runs with 74 RBI in 2016 as Howard College's (Texas) primary right fielder.
- Rodger(s) That: Senior Jordan Rodgers has reached base safely in every game started this year (24), while his .392 batting average currently ranks fourth-best in the SEC.
- Safety In Numbers: Jordan Rodgers (24), Jeff Moberg (18), and Justin Ammons (11) each own current streaks of reaching base safely for the Volunteers.
- Call It A Comeback: Right-hander Kyle Serrano threw 2.0 innings in UT's series finale vs. UGA and punched five strikeouts, including three straight strikeouts to retire the side in the eighth inning. Serrano has now collected 17 punchouts against 23 batters faced over 7.2 innings this season.
- More on Moberg...: Redshirt senior Jeff Moberg owns a team-best 12 multi-hit games on the season. His .398 average ranks second in the league, while his six home runs are tops on the Vols squad in 2017.
- The Vols have combined for 72 extra-base hits this year, including 21 home runs. In 2016, the Volunteers combined for 21 homers over 57 games.
Tennessee on [Rocky] Top
UT on NCAA charts (as of April 2):
- Team On Base Percentage: 43rd (.390)
- Team Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: 25th (2.99)
- Team Walks Allowed/Nine Innings: 17th (2.78)
- Team WHIP: 41st (1.25)
- Jordan Rodgers: 1.58 hits per game (T-41st)
- Jeff Moberg: .398 average (42nd), 1.64 hits per game (T-14th)
- Hunter Martin: 6.57 K/BB ratio (41st)
As a team, Tennessee ranks among the SEC's Top 5 in the following categories (as of April 2):
- Team Batting Average: 4th (.296)
- Team On-Base Percentage: 5th (.390)
- Team Triples: T-5th (7)
- Fewest Hits Allowed: 5th (210)
- Fewest Walks Allowed: 1st (69)
- Fewest Doubles Allowed: 4th (37)
- Double Plays Turned: T-4th (23)
Vols rank among the SEC's Top 10 in the following categories (as of April 2):
- Jeff Moberg: .398 average (2nd), .641 SLG (4th), .466 OBP (7th), 41 hits (T-5th), six home runs (T-6th) and 66 total bases (7th)
- Jordan Rodgers: .392 average (4th) and .577 SLG (8th)
- Justin Ammons: nine doubles (T-9th)
- Pete Derkay: .472 OBP (6th), 21 walks (T-6th) and 1.000 fielding percentage (T-1st)
- Benito Santiago: three triples (T-2nd) and five runners caught stealing (T-6th)
- Andre Lipcius: 1.000 fielding percentage (T-1st), 221 putouts (T-6th) and 21 double plays fielded (2nd)
- Hunter Martin: 19 batters struck out looking (4th) and fewest walks allowed (7 - T-5th)
- Garrett Stallings: 13 appearances (T-7th), fewest runs allowed (11 - T-7th), fewest earned runs allowed (10 - T-10th) and fewest walks allowed (5 - 3rd)
- Zach Linginfelter: two runners picked off (T-4th), fewest hits allowed (25 - 3rd)
- Jon Lipinski: 10 games finished (T-4th)
Hailing From the Mid-State
- Senior right-hander Hunter Martin came to Rocky Top from Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he attended and played for Blackman High School.
- Right-hander Quint Robinson calls Nashville, Tenn., home, where is attended The Ensworth School and was a three-year varsity letterman for the Tigers.
On Deck for the Vols
- Tennessee hits the road to take on its SEC foe Florida Gators (20-9, 5-4 SEC) on Friday, April 7 - Sunday, April 9 in Gainesville, Fla.
- Each of UT's matchups against the Gators will be available for viewing via SEC Network+ broadcast, with the Saturday and Sunday games slated for SEC Network television broadcasts.
