Baseball Central: Tennessee vs. Liberty / Middle Tennessee

February 25, 2019 | Baseball

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off another series sweep over Indiana last weekend, the Tennessee baseball team will wrap up its nine-game homestand with a pair of midweek games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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Game Times & Broadcast Info

Opponents: Liberty & Middle Tennessee
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (4,283)
Date/Time: Tue, Feb. 26 (4:30 p.m.) | Wed, Feb. 27 (4:30 p.m.)
Watch: SECN+/WatchESPN App
Listen: UTSports.com/UT Gameday App
Live Stats: UTSports.com
Tickets: AllVols.com

Tennessee Volunteers (4-0)

Roster Schedule Stats Game Notes

Liberty Flames (5-2)

Roster Schedule Stats

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-3)

Roster Schedule Stats

The Vols will host Liberty on Tuesday and in-state foe Middle Tennessee on Wednesday. Both games are slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are available on AllVols.com.

At 7-0, UT is off to its best start since 2014 when the Big Orange won their first 12 games. Tennessee's pitching has been downright dominant so far this season, allowing just four runs in 63.0 innings of work while holding opposing batters to a .126 average.

Broadcast Info
Fans can watch a live stream of both games online via SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. A live audio stream of all three games will be available through UTSports.com and the UT Gameday app as well.

Projected Starting Pitchers
Tuesday vs. Liberty: RHP Sean Hunley (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Mason Meyer (1-1, 8.22 ERA)
Wednesday vs. Middle Tennessee: TBD vs. TBD

Series History vs. Liberty
Overall: UT leads, 1-0
In Knoxville: UT leads, 1-0
In Lynchburg: N/A
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: April 13, 1977 in Knoxville (W, 10-7)

Series History vs. Middle Tennessee
Overall: UT leads, 37-24
In Knoxville: UT leads, 17-13
In Murfreesboro: UT leads, 18-8
Neutral Sites: MT leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: March 4, 2018 in Knoxville (L, 7-5 in 12 Inn.)

Need to Know

Last weekend against Indiana, the Vols recorded their second consecutive weekend series sweep to start the season for first time since 2014, when they took all three from Purdue and UNLV to start the year.
Junior right hander Zach Linginfelter was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after a dominant performance in Saturday's win over the Hoosiers. The Sevierville native had 13 strikeouts and allowed just two hits in six shutout innings to improve to 2-0 on the year.
Tennessee's pitching staff had another incredible week, posting two more shutouts and a 1.00 team ERA over four games. The Vols allowed just four runs while striking out 57 batters in 36.0 innings pitched.
The Big Orange have already posted five shutouts this season after recording just five shutouts combined in 2017 and 2018. They lead the country with a 0.57 team ERA entering the week.
The Vols' bullpen has been nearly untouchable, allowing just one run and five hits while striking out 41 batters in 39.2 innings of work.
Shortstop Ricky Martinez and outfielder Evan Russell are both coming off solid weeks at the plate. The duo both tied for the team lead with a .500 batting average and six hits last week. Martinez also led the squad with six RBI while Russell paced the team in runs (six) and doubles (four) for the week.
Tennessee rolled past Northern Kentucky, 18-0, last Tuesday in its first midweek game of the season. The Vols' 18 runs were their most since defeating Austin Peay, 18-4, on March 15, 2017.

Opponent Scout
Liberty Flames (5-2)

2018 Record: 32-26 (17-10 Big South)
2018 Postseason: N/A
Liberty was picked to finish third in the Atlantic Sun Preseason Poll. This is their first season in the ASUN after previously being members of the Big South.
The Flames are led by third-year head coach Scott Jackson, who came one win short of leading the program to a NCAA Regional berth in 2018.
Liberty is off to a good start this season, posting a 5-2 record including wins over South Carolina and Wake Forest. The Flames are coming off a sweep over Delaware last weekend.
Sophomore infielder Will Wagner currently leads the team with a .385 batting average, 10 hits, one home run and five RBI while redshirt junior utility man Jonathan Embry is batting .320 and leads the team with eight runs scored.
On the mound, the Flames will go with sophomore lefty Mason Mercer, who enters the contest with a 1-1 record and an 8.22 ERA in two starts this season.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (3-3)

2018 Record: 27-27-1 (12-17-1 C-USA)
2018 Postseason: N/A
After finishing ninth in the league last year, Middle Tennessee was picked to finish 12^th in the 2019 Conference USA Preseason Poll.
The Blue Raiders are led by Jim Toman, who is in his first year as head coach with the program after spending nine years as head coach at Liberty from 2008-2016.
Middle Tennessee is off to a 3-3 start after posting two wins over Bowling Green and a win over Bradley.
Wednesday's matchup will feature the top two teams in the country in earned run average. UT ranks first with an ERA of 0.57 while MT is second with an ERA of 0.80.
The Blue Raiders are led by Preseason All-Conference USA selection Blake Benefield. The senior outfielder has been limited to just three hits and two RBI so far this season.
Sophomore Nick Carnevale currently leads MT with a .400 batting average and eight hits.

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

ALL GAMES THIS SEASON

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

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 baseball.
$2 Tuesday: All general admission tickets are only $2 and fans can purchase pretzels for just $2 through the fourth inning.

WEDNESDAY

Weekday Work Perk: All general admission tickets are only $2.
WINGSday for Students: First 100 students get free wings!

On Deck for the Vols
The Big Orange hit the road for the first time this season as they travel south to Pensacola, Fla., for the Cox Diamond Invitational this weekend. The Vols will take on Louisiana Monroe on Friday (3 p.m. ET), North Florida on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) and Western Kentucky on Sunday (noon ET).

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.