Baseball Central: Tennessee vs. Northern Kentucky

February 18, 2019 | Baseball

Watch (SECN+)Listen Live Stats Tickets UT Game Notes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following a dominant opening weekend series sweep of Appalachian State the Volunteers jump right back into action this Tuesday as they welcome Northern Kentucky for a midweek matchup at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch has been moved from 4:30 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. due to expected inclement weather in the Knoxville area late in the afternoon and into the evening.

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Game Times & Broadcast Info

Opponent: Northern Kentucky Norse
Date/Time: Tuesday, Feb. 19 / 3:05 p.m.
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (4,283)
Watch: SECN+/WatchESPN
Listen: UTSports.com/UT Gameday App
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Tickets: AllVols.com

Tennessee Volunteers (3-0)

Roster Schedule Stats Game Notes

Northern Kentucky Norse (0-3)

Roster Schedule Stats Game Notes

Tennessee was carried by its pitching staff in its opening series sweep over the Mountaineers. The staff did not allow a single run and gave up just nine total hits while totaling 32 strikeouts in the series.

Broadcast Info
Tuesday's game will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app with Andy Brock calling the action. A live audio featuring Eric Cain will also be available on UTSports.com and the UT Gameday App.

Projected Starting Pitchers

RHP Sean Hunley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Proctor Mercer (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Series History vs. Northern Kentucky
Overall: First Meeting
In Knoxville: N/A
In Highland Heights: N/A
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: N/A

Tuesday's meeting between the Vols and Norse will be the first between the two programs on the diamond.

Need to Know

With this weekend's opening series sweep over Appalachian State, the 2019 team became the first in program history to record a three-game series sweep without allowing a run and just the third squad to post three straight shutouts in a season, joining the 1965 and 1916 teams.
UT's pitching staff was dominant against the Mountaineers. Eight total pitchers saw action and held App State to nine total hits while combining for 32 strikeouts over the weekend.
Junior RHP Garrett Stallings shined in his first-career Friday-night start, giving up just one hit in seven scoreless innings while setting a career high with eight strikeouts.
Sophomore LHP Garrett Crochet was unhittable in his lone appearance out of the bullpen last weekend, setting a career high with nine strikeouts in just four innings. The Ocean Springs, Miss., native retired all 12 batters he faced and picked up his first save of the season.
According to College Baseball Analytics, 79 percent of Tennessee's starts came from underclassmen last season, the highest rate of any Power 5 conference program.
UT is the only Power 5 conference program to return every pitcher that recorded a win last season.
In Year One under head coach Tony Vitello, the Vols had a five-win improvement in SEC play, going from seven to 12 wins. Tennessee's nine home victories in conference play were its most since the 2005 College World Series team had 10.
The 29 wins that Vitello guided the Vols to last season is tied for the most by a first-year head coach in program history.
UT is slated to play one of the nation's toughest schedules this year with 30 games against teams that advanced to an NCAA Regional in 2018.

Opponent Scout
Northern Kentucky Norse (3-0)

2018 Record: 14-39 (9-21 Horizon League)
2018 Postseason: N/A
The Norse are led by head coach Todd Asalon, who is in his 19^th year as the program's head coach.
NKU has a balanced roster made up of eight seniors, eight juniors, seven sophomore and 12 freshmen. The Norse return 19 letterwinners, five position starters and four starting pitchers from last year's team.
Top returning hitters for the Norse include redshirt senior Will Haueter (.360 avg., 9 HR, 37 RBI in 2018) and sophomore infielder Griffin Doersching (13 HR, 49 RBI in 2018), who was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and the Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2018.
Freshman right hander Proctor Mercer is slated to get the start for the Norse on Tuesday. Mercer posted a 4-2 record with a 1.08 ERA for Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., last season.

Game Promotions
TUESDAY

Trivia Tuesday (Sponsored by Moe's): Play trivia throughout the game with a chance to win prizes. The theme for this Tuesday's trivia is Tennessee basketball.
$2 Tuesday: All general admission tickets are only $2 and fans can purchase popcorn for just $2 through the fourth inning.
BASEketball: Get into Tuesday's baseball game for FREE by showing your ticket to Tuesday night's men's basketball game vs. Vanderbilt.

ALL GAMES

Kids Combo: Corn dog, chips and a drink for just $6!

Upcoming promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.

On Deck for the Vols
Tennessee welcomes Big 10 foe Indiana to Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a three-game series starting Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Hoosiers advanced to the NCAA Regionals last season. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the Watch ESPN app.

Gameday/Stadium Policies & Information
Clear Bag Policy
In an effort to enhance safety and expedite fan entry at Tennessee athletic events, UT has implemented a clear bag policy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and all other athletic facilities. Only one clear bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches (gallon size) per person is permitted. Fans are also allowed a small clutch purse not exceeding 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Gates will open until 90 minutes prior to game time.

Parking
Baseball parking is located in Lots G16, GF2, GF3, GF4, and C22. (Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium events have priority if on same days as baseball games.)

Additional parking is located on the street along Todd Helton Drive. Parking for MVP ticket holders is located in Lot GF1 and handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt Drive and G16 Garage.

Please refer to the parking map by clicking HERE.

Other Info
All of the information listed above and more can be found on the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Information page HERE.