University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 22
Knoxville, Tenn.
6:30 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Ole Miss
BSB PREVIEW: SEC Play Returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium as #7/8 Vols Host Ole Miss
March 21, 2024 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/8 Tennessee jumps right back into Southeastern Conference play this weekend as No. 17/NR Ole Miss visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols are coming off a 10-2 midweek win over Xavier and will be looking to win their first conference series of the year after dropping two of three games at Alabama last weekend in Tuscaloosa.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you're a season ticket holder and can't make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.Â
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990). A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App. Â
GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (3-1, 3.03 ERA) vs. LHP Liam Doyle (2-0, 3.95 ERA)
GAME 3: TBD vs. RHP Grayson Saunier (3-2, 4.09 ERA)
in Knoxville: Rebels lead, 22-19
in Oxford: Rebels lead, 25-23-1
at Neutral Sites: Rebels lead, 3-1
Last Meeting: W, 4-3 – March 27, 2022 in Oxford
Tennessee has won five of the last six meetings in the series, including a series sweep in Oxford back in 2022. The Vols are 6-3 against Ole Miss overall under Tony Vitello and have won back-to-back series against the Rebels.
Whenever AJ Causey has been on the mound for Tennessee this season, it's been a winning recipe for the Big Orange, who have come away victorious in all five of his appearances this year.
Causey improved to 4-0 last Friday when he led the Vols to an 11-3 win over No. 12/14 Alabama. Making his first-ever SEC start, Causey bounced back from allowing two solo home runs in the first inning to hold the Crimson Tide scoreless over the next 5.2 frames and retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced on the night.
The junior righthander enters this weekend's series tied for the SEC lead with four victories while ranking seventh in the league in ERA (1.65) and strikeouts (38). Causey's strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.50) also ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the country.
Burke Closing in on Home Run Record
Junior slugger Blake Burke enters this weekend with 38 career home runs after hitting his eighth of the year Tuesday's midweek win over Xavier, which moved him into a tie for third in program history with UT legend and Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton (1993-95).
The California native needs just two more homers to tie the program record of 40 held by his predecessor at first base, Luc Lipcius (2017-22).
Vols Dominant in SEC Home Opening Series Under Vitello
UT has been nearly unbeatable in SEC home opening series under Vitello, posting a 14-1 record during his head coaching tenure (2018-pres.). In that span, the Vols have swept four of their five SEC home opening series.
2023: Swept #12 Texas A&M (3-0)
2022: Swept South Carolina (3-0)
2021: Swept #14 LSU (3-0)
2020: No SEC Games (COVID-19)
2019: Won Series vs. South Carolina (2-1)
2018: Swept Alabama (3-0)
MORE INFO
Game & Broadcast Info
- Opponents: Ole Miss Rebels
- Dates: March 22-24
- Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium
- Watch: SEC Network+
- Listen: Vol Network
- Live Stats: UTSports.com
- Game 1: Friday, March 22 – 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 2: Saturday, March 23 – 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 3: Sunday, March 24 – 1 p.m. (SEC Network+)
#7/8 Tennessee (19-3 | 1-2 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats Notes#17/NR Ole Miss (16-6 | 2-1 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats Notes UT Baseball Record Book Tickets Gameday Central Follow @UTGameday Official Gameday App Buy Tennessee GearThe Vols are coming off a 10-2 midweek win over Xavier and will be looking to win their first conference series of the year after dropping two of three games at Alabama last weekend in Tuscaloosa.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office.Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you're a season ticket holder and can't make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.Â
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
As we prepare for the next phase in renovations, please pardon our progress... and our dust. Once completed, Lindsey Nelson Stadium will offer fans an unrivaled experience and be among the nation's finest college baseball venues. We appreciate your support and patience when you enter Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. Please be advised changes may occur from game to game.BROADCAST INFO
All three games this weekend will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Jack Benjamin (PxP) and Bobby Moranda (analyst) on the call.Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990). A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App. Â
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
GAME 1: RHP AJ Causey (3-0, 1.65 ERA) vs. LHP Gunnar Dennis (3-0, 4.56 ERA)GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (3-1, 3.03 ERA) vs. LHP Liam Doyle (2-0, 3.95 ERA)
GAME 3: TBD vs. RHP Grayson Saunier (3-2, 4.09 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Rebels lead, 50-43-1in Knoxville: Rebels lead, 22-19
in Oxford: Rebels lead, 25-23-1
at Neutral Sites: Rebels lead, 3-1
Last Meeting: W, 4-3 – March 27, 2022 in Oxford
Tennessee has won five of the last six meetings in the series, including a series sweep in Oxford back in 2022. The Vols are 6-3 against Ole Miss overall under Tony Vitello and have won back-to-back series against the Rebels.
NOTABLE
Cause(y) and EffectWhenever AJ Causey has been on the mound for Tennessee this season, it's been a winning recipe for the Big Orange, who have come away victorious in all five of his appearances this year.
Causey improved to 4-0 last Friday when he led the Vols to an 11-3 win over No. 12/14 Alabama. Making his first-ever SEC start, Causey bounced back from allowing two solo home runs in the first inning to hold the Crimson Tide scoreless over the next 5.2 frames and retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced on the night.
The junior righthander enters this weekend's series tied for the SEC lead with four victories while ranking seventh in the league in ERA (1.65) and strikeouts (38). Causey's strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.50) also ranks second in the SEC and 18th in the country.
Burke Closing in on Home Run Record
Junior slugger Blake Burke enters this weekend with 38 career home runs after hitting his eighth of the year Tuesday's midweek win over Xavier, which moved him into a tie for third in program history with UT legend and Pro Baseball Hall of Famer Todd Helton (1993-95).
The California native needs just two more homers to tie the program record of 40 held by his predecessor at first base, Luc Lipcius (2017-22).
Vols Dominant in SEC Home Opening Series Under Vitello
UT has been nearly unbeatable in SEC home opening series under Vitello, posting a 14-1 record during his head coaching tenure (2018-pres.). In that span, the Vols have swept four of their five SEC home opening series.
2023: Swept #12 Texas A&M (3-0)
2022: Swept South Carolina (3-0)
2021: Swept #14 LSU (3-0)
2020: No SEC Games (COVID-19)
2019: Won Series vs. South Carolina (2-1)
2018: Swept Alabama (3-0)
OPPONENT SCOUT
Ole Miss Rebels (16-6, 2-1 SEC)- Head Coach: Mike Bianco (24th season)
- 2023 Record: 25-29 (6-24 SEC)
- 2023 Postseason: N/A
- Rankings: D1Baseball – NR | USA Today – RV | Baseball America – 17 | NCBWA – RV | Perfect Game – NR
- 2024 SEC Preseason Poll: 6th in Western Division
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (0)
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Ethan Lege (.384)
- Runs: Ethan Lege (25)
- Hits: Ethan Lege (28)
- Home Runs: Andrew Fischer (9)
- RBI: Fischer & Lege (25)
- Stolen Bases: Groff & Hill (8)
- Wins: Dennis & Saunier (3)
- Saves: Connor Spencer (4)
- ERA (min. 10 IP): Mason Nichols (0.79)
- WHIP (min. 10 IP): Mason Nichols (0.88)
- Innings Pitched: Riley Maddox (25.2)
- Strikeouts: Gunnar Dennis (29)
ON DECK
The Vols continue their eight-game homestand with four more games in Knoxville next week, starting with an in-state matchup against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. before hosting Georgia over the weekend.
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