University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, May 19
Columbia, S.C.
7 PM
University of Tennessee
at
South Carolina
BSB PREVIEW: #9/18 Vols Cap Regular Season at #9/13 South Carolina
May 17, 2023 | Baseball
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Rounding out the 2023 regular season, the No. 9/18-ranked Tennessee baseball team hits the road for another top-25 matchup as it faces No. 9/13 South Carolina for a three-game series at Founders Park.
Due to field conditions, the series opener will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. The two Saturday games will both be seven innings with a 45-minute break between the contests.
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The Vols (36-17, 14-13 SEC) are facing a top-five RPI team in a weekend series for the second-consecutive week as the Gamecocks (37-15, 15-11 SEC) sit at No. 5 nationally in RPI while Tennessee is coming off a series win over the No. 1 RPI team in the country, Kentucky, last week.
UT finished out the home slate on Tuesday night in a 9-5 victory over Belmont. Prior to the in-state battle, the Big Orange recognized six seniors for their hard work and efforts to better the program throughout their time on Rocky Top, honoring Logan Chambers, Kirby Connell, Zane Denton, Seth Halvorsen, Griffin Merritt and Ethan Payne shortly prior to first pitch.
RHP Andrew Lindsey (1-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Eli Jones (4-3, 3.40 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday, May 20 (2 p.m.) [SEC Network]
RHP Chase Dollander (6-5, 4.35 ERA) vs. TBA
Game 3 – Saturday, May 20 (45-min. after Game 2) [SEC Network]
TBA vs. TBA
The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Both of Saturday's game will be televised on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (PxP) and Kyle Peterson (Analyst) on the call. In addition to being on television, the games can be streamed HERE.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball, John Wilkerson, call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
in Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-24
in Columbia: South Carolina leads, 39-16
at Neutral Sites: South Carolina leads, 3-2
Last 10 Meetings: Tennessee leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: W, 10-0 (March 20, 2022, in Knoxville)
UT swept the Gamecocks at home last season after earning their first series win in Columbia since 2006 the year prior. Tennessee has won four straight in the series and would tie its longest winning streak against Carolina with a win in Thursday's series opener.
Postseason play begins next week as Tennessee heads to Hoover, Alabama for the 2023 SEC Tournament, where the Big Orange will defend its crown after winning last year's tournament, ending a 27-year drought.
In that tournament, the Vols outscored their four opponents, 35-10, and became just the second team in tournament history to never trail in a game, joining 2010 LSU.
Tennessee is 7-2 in its last two SEC Tournament appearances after going 4-2 and reaching the final in 2021 before winning it all last season.
Prior to this current run of success in Hoover, the Vols had lost six straight SEC Tournament contests from 2007-2019) and had never advanced to the double-elimination rounds since the current format began in 2014.
THEY CALL 'EM RESUME BUILDERS
Tennessee is set to face its seventh ranked opponent in SEC play this weekend when its takes on No. 9/13 South Carolina in Columbia. UT has won three of its prior six series against ranked foes, including taking two of three against No. 15 Kentucky last weekend in Knoxville.
The Big Orange is 10-8 overall against ranked teams so far this season, and 9-3 at home after their series win over the Wildcats. UT is 59-51 overall against ranked teams under head coach Tony Vitello.
A few weeks ago, the Vols completed a grueling stretch of five straight weekend series against top-15 teams with a sweep of No. 2 Vanderbilt (April 21-23). In that stretch, the Vols faced No. 2 Vandy, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 2 Florida, No. 1 LSU and No. 12 Texas A&M, posting an 8-7 record.
Since Vitello became UT's head coach in 2018, the Vols have posted 26 victories over teams ranked in the top 10 and seven wins over top-ranked teams - LSU in 2023, Ole Miss (x3) in 2022, Arkansas in 2021, Texas Tech in 2020 and Florida in 2018.
UT has won 15 series over ranked teams since 2018, including eight since the start of last season.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION TRENDING UP
Tennessee has been tearing the cover off the ball down the stretch, batting .318 as a team with 81 extra-base hits and 42 home runs over the last month (18 games), posting an 13-5 record in that stretch.
Over that stretch, UT is outscoring its opponents 158-96, averaging 8.8 runs per game with 197 hits and a .590 slugging percentage as a team.
The Vols have scored double-digit runs in seven of their last 11 SEC games and nine of their last 15 games overall. UT has recorded double-digit hits in 13 of its last 15 games entering this weekend's series.
Two-out hitting has been a staple for the Big Orange as of late. In its last 10 wins, Tennessee has scored 68 of its 146 runs with two outs while batting .355 (59-for-166) with two outs during that stretch.
Due to field conditions, the series opener will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. The two Saturday games will both be seven innings with a 45-minute break between the contests.
MORE INFO
Game & Broadcast Info
- Opponent: South Carolina Gamecocks
- Dates: May 19-20
- Location: Columbia, S.C.
- Venue: Founders Park
- Watch: SEC Network +/SEC Network
- Listen: Vol Network/UTSports.com/UT Gameday App
- Live Stats: Statbroadcast
- Game 1: Friday, May 19 – 7 p.m. ET (SEC Network+)
- Game 2: Saturday, May 20 – 2 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
- Game 3: Saturday, May 20 – Approx. 5:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
#9/18 Tennessee (36-17 | 14-13 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats#9/13 South Carolina (37-15 | 15-11 SEC)
Roster Schedule StatsTennessee Baseball Yearbook UT Baseball Record Book Official Gameday App Buy Tennessee Gear
The Vols (36-17, 14-13 SEC) are facing a top-five RPI team in a weekend series for the second-consecutive week as the Gamecocks (37-15, 15-11 SEC) sit at No. 5 nationally in RPI while Tennessee is coming off a series win over the No. 1 RPI team in the country, Kentucky, last week.
UT finished out the home slate on Tuesday night in a 9-5 victory over Belmont. Prior to the in-state battle, the Big Orange recognized six seniors for their hard work and efforts to better the program throughout their time on Rocky Top, honoring Logan Chambers, Kirby Connell, Zane Denton, Seth Halvorsen, Griffin Merritt and Ethan Payne shortly prior to first pitch.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE/PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday, May 19 (7 p.m.)RHP Andrew Lindsey (1-2, 2.98 ERA) vs. Eli Jones (4-3, 3.40 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday, May 20 (2 p.m.) [SEC Network]
RHP Chase Dollander (6-5, 4.35 ERA) vs. TBA
Game 3 – Saturday, May 20 (45-min. after Game 2) [SEC Network]
TBA vs. TBA
BROADCAST INFO
Friday's series opener will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Dave Weinstein (PxP) and Stuart Lake (Analyst) calling the action..The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Both of Saturday's game will be televised on the SEC Network with Dave Neal (PxP) and Kyle Peterson (Analyst) on the call. In addition to being on television, the games can be streamed HERE.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball, John Wilkerson, call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: South Carolina leads, 66-43in Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 25-24
in Columbia: South Carolina leads, 39-16
at Neutral Sites: South Carolina leads, 3-2
Last 10 Meetings: Tennessee leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: W, 10-0 (March 20, 2022, in Knoxville)
UT swept the Gamecocks at home last season after earning their first series win in Columbia since 2006 the year prior. Tennessee has won four straight in the series and would tie its longest winning streak against Carolina with a win in Thursday's series opener.
NOTABLE
GEARING UP FOR HOOVERPostseason play begins next week as Tennessee heads to Hoover, Alabama for the 2023 SEC Tournament, where the Big Orange will defend its crown after winning last year's tournament, ending a 27-year drought.
In that tournament, the Vols outscored their four opponents, 35-10, and became just the second team in tournament history to never trail in a game, joining 2010 LSU.
Tennessee is 7-2 in its last two SEC Tournament appearances after going 4-2 and reaching the final in 2021 before winning it all last season.
Prior to this current run of success in Hoover, the Vols had lost six straight SEC Tournament contests from 2007-2019) and had never advanced to the double-elimination rounds since the current format began in 2014.
THEY CALL 'EM RESUME BUILDERS
Tennessee is set to face its seventh ranked opponent in SEC play this weekend when its takes on No. 9/13 South Carolina in Columbia. UT has won three of its prior six series against ranked foes, including taking two of three against No. 15 Kentucky last weekend in Knoxville.
The Big Orange is 10-8 overall against ranked teams so far this season, and 9-3 at home after their series win over the Wildcats. UT is 59-51 overall against ranked teams under head coach Tony Vitello.
A few weeks ago, the Vols completed a grueling stretch of five straight weekend series against top-15 teams with a sweep of No. 2 Vanderbilt (April 21-23). In that stretch, the Vols faced No. 2 Vandy, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 2 Florida, No. 1 LSU and No. 12 Texas A&M, posting an 8-7 record.
Since Vitello became UT's head coach in 2018, the Vols have posted 26 victories over teams ranked in the top 10 and seven wins over top-ranked teams - LSU in 2023, Ole Miss (x3) in 2022, Arkansas in 2021, Texas Tech in 2020 and Florida in 2018.
UT has won 15 series over ranked teams since 2018, including eight since the start of last season.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION TRENDING UP
Tennessee has been tearing the cover off the ball down the stretch, batting .318 as a team with 81 extra-base hits and 42 home runs over the last month (18 games), posting an 13-5 record in that stretch.
Over that stretch, UT is outscoring its opponents 158-96, averaging 8.8 runs per game with 197 hits and a .590 slugging percentage as a team.
The Vols have scored double-digit runs in seven of their last 11 SEC games and nine of their last 15 games overall. UT has recorded double-digit hits in 13 of its last 15 games entering this weekend's series.
Two-out hitting has been a staple for the Big Orange as of late. In its last 10 wins, Tennessee has scored 68 of its 146 runs with two outs while batting .355 (59-for-166) with two outs during that stretch.
OPPONENT SCOUT
South Carolina Gamecocks- 2023 Record: 37-15 (15-11 SEC)
- 2022 Record: 27-28 (13-17 SEC)
- 2022 Postseason: none
- 2023 SEC Preseason Poll: 4th Eastern Division
- Head Coach: Mark Kingston (14th season overall, sixth at South Carolina)
- Stat Leaders:
- Average: Ethan Petry (.378)
- OBP: Carson Hornug (.475)
- SLG: Ethan Petry (.761)
- OPS: Ethan Petry (1.222)
- Hits: Ethan Petry (71)
- Runs: Cole Messina (54)
- RBIs: Ethan Petry (68)
- Doubles: Cole Messina (17)
- Triples: Michael Braswell (2)
- Home Runs: Ethan Petry (21)
- Stolen Bases: Braylen Wimmer (13)
- ERA: Eli Jerzembeck (2.84)
- BAA: Matthew Becker (.225)
- WHIP: Eli Jerzembeck (1.12)
- Innings Pitched: Jack Mahoney (57.0)
- Strikeouts: Will Sanders (66)
- Wins: James Hicks (6)
- Saves: Chris Veach (5)
ON DECK
Tennessee will await its seed in the 2023 SEC Tournament which will begin either Tuesday or Wednesday in Hoover, Alabama.
Players Mentioned
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