University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, May 2
Knoxville, Tenn.
8 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Auburn
BSB PREVIEW: #5/12 Vols Host Top-10 Tigers on Rocky Top
May 01, 2025 | Baseball
SCHEDULE UPDATE:Â Due to expected inclement weather late in the evening, first pitch for Friday's series opener has been moved up one hour. The game will now begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5/12 Tennessee is back at home as it continues its difficult finishing stretch to the regular season with No. 5/10 Auburn coming to town this weekend for another important SEC series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Tigers are the second of four straight ranked conference foes that the Vols face over the final four weeks of the regular season. UT will look to right the ship after dropping three of its last four SEC weekends, including back-to-back series at home for the first time since 2017.
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Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.
Any pertinent updates regarding this weekend's series can be seen HERE.
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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
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Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and VFL Redmond Walsh, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
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UT: LHP Liam Doyle (11 GS, 7-1, 2.23 ERA)
AU: RHP Samuel Dutton (11 GS, 5-2, 2.48 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm):
UT: RHP Marcus Phillips (11 GS, 3-3, 2.93 ERA)
AU: RHP Cam Tilly (13 APP, 1 GS, 2-1, 4.60 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: RHP AJ Russell (4 GS, 0-0, 2.45 ERA)
AU: TBA
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Overall: Tigers lead, 98-43
in Knoxville: Tigers lead, 41-22
in Auburn: Tigers lead, 56-21
at Neutral Sites: Tigers lead, 1-0
Last 10 Meetings: Tigers lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: W, 19-5 (7 Inn.) on April 7, 2024 (Auburn, Ala.)
While Auburn has controlled the all-time series between the two programs, Tennessee has won each of the last two series. The Vols won their first road series at Auburn since 2005 when the two teams met On the Plains last season.
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After dropping the opening game, the Big Orange posted a pair of run-rule victories over the Tigers to take the series. UT hit 14 home runs in its three games against Auburn last year, which was the most ever by the Vols in an SEC weekend series.
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Tennessee ace Liam Doyle is having an All-American caliber junior season for the Vols and has arguably been the most dominant starting pitcher in the country through 11 weeks.
For the season, Doyle boasts a 7-1 record and a 2.23 ERA in his 11 starts while leading the country in strikeouts (110) and ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (15.31). The Derry, New Hampshire, native, has reached double-digit strikeouts five times this season, including twice in SEC play. His 2.23 ERA leads the league while his seven victories are tied for third in the SEC and 20th nationally.
Doyle was nearly unhittable in the month of April, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched over four starts while holding opposing hitters to a .087 average. In last weekend's start at No. 3/7 LSU, the lefthander allowed just one hit in 6.2 shutout innings.
The Century Mark in Homers
With a pair of home runs from Stone Lawless in Tuesday's midweek win over Northern Kentucky, the Vols reached the 100-homer mark for the fourth consecutive season. UT's 100 long balls rank third in the nation while their 2.22 homers per game are fourth nationally.
Tennessee is just the second SEC program to ever hit 100 or more home runs in four straight seasons, joining LSU, who did so from 1996-99. The Big Orange have homered in all but five games this year and has hit multiple home runs 28 times, posting a 27-1 record when doing so.
Vols Against Ranked SEC Opponents
During the Tony Vitello era, the Vols have played 43 SEC series against ranked teams and has won 27 of those series with a 74-55 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 22-7 in such series with a 58-29 overall record, including nine series wins.
Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, Tennessee has claimed 11 series victories under Vitello while posting 35 total wins against top-10 SEC opponents in the regular season. The Vols have won three of their four series against ranked opponents this season after sweeping No. 6 Florida (March 14-16) and taking two of three games from No. 10 Alabama (March 20-22) and No. 6 Ole Miss (April 11-13).
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5/12 Tennessee is back at home as it continues its difficult finishing stretch to the regular season with No. 5/10 Auburn coming to town this weekend for another important SEC series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
MORE INFO
Game & Broadcast Info
- Opponent: Auburn Tigers
- Dates: May 2-4
- Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (6,298)
- Watch: SEC Network+
- Listen: Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990)
- Live Stats: UTStats.com
- Game 1: Friday, May 2 – 5:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 2: Saturday, May 3 – 6 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 3: Sunday, May 4 – 1 p.m. (SEC Network+)
#2/4 Tennessee (32-5 | 11-4 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats Notes#5/10 Auburn (31-14 | 11-10 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats UT Baseball Record Book Ticket Info Gameday Central Follow @UTGameday Tennessee Mobile App Buy Tennessee GearThe Tigers are the second of four straight ranked conference foes that the Vols face over the final four weeks of the regular season. UT will look to right the ship after dropping three of its last four SEC weekends, including back-to-back series at home for the first time since 2017.
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IMPORTANT GAMEDAY INFO & REMINDERS
Lindsey Nelson Stadium is undergoing extensive renovations that will make it one of the best college baseball stadiums in the nation upon completion. Renovations will be ongoing throughout the season, so be sure to be on the lookout for updated information throughout the course of the year when it comes to seating, stadium entry, parking, etc.Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.
Any pertinent updates regarding this weekend's series can be seen HERE.
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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
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BROADCAST INFO
Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will call the action all series long on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and VFL Redmond Walsh, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
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PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (5:30 pm):  ÂUT: LHP Liam Doyle (11 GS, 7-1, 2.23 ERA)
AU: RHP Samuel Dutton (11 GS, 5-2, 2.48 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm):
UT: RHP Marcus Phillips (11 GS, 3-3, 2.93 ERA)
AU: RHP Cam Tilly (13 APP, 1 GS, 2-1, 4.60 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: RHP AJ Russell (4 GS, 0-0, 2.45 ERA)
AU: TBA
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SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. TigersOverall: Tigers lead, 98-43
in Knoxville: Tigers lead, 41-22
in Auburn: Tigers lead, 56-21
at Neutral Sites: Tigers lead, 1-0
Last 10 Meetings: Tigers lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: W, 19-5 (7 Inn.) on April 7, 2024 (Auburn, Ala.)
While Auburn has controlled the all-time series between the two programs, Tennessee has won each of the last two series. The Vols won their first road series at Auburn since 2005 when the two teams met On the Plains last season.
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After dropping the opening game, the Big Orange posted a pair of run-rule victories over the Tigers to take the series. UT hit 14 home runs in its three games against Auburn last year, which was the most ever by the Vols in an SEC weekend series.
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NOTABLE
Doyle Making His Case for National Pitcher of the YearTennessee ace Liam Doyle is having an All-American caliber junior season for the Vols and has arguably been the most dominant starting pitcher in the country through 11 weeks.
For the season, Doyle boasts a 7-1 record and a 2.23 ERA in his 11 starts while leading the country in strikeouts (110) and ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (15.31). The Derry, New Hampshire, native, has reached double-digit strikeouts five times this season, including twice in SEC play. His 2.23 ERA leads the league while his seven victories are tied for third in the SEC and 20th nationally.
Doyle was nearly unhittable in the month of April, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched over four starts while holding opposing hitters to a .087 average. In last weekend's start at No. 3/7 LSU, the lefthander allowed just one hit in 6.2 shutout innings.
The Century Mark in Homers
With a pair of home runs from Stone Lawless in Tuesday's midweek win over Northern Kentucky, the Vols reached the 100-homer mark for the fourth consecutive season. UT's 100 long balls rank third in the nation while their 2.22 homers per game are fourth nationally.
Tennessee is just the second SEC program to ever hit 100 or more home runs in four straight seasons, joining LSU, who did so from 1996-99. The Big Orange have homered in all but five games this year and has hit multiple home runs 28 times, posting a 27-1 record when doing so.
Vols Against Ranked SEC Opponents
During the Tony Vitello era, the Vols have played 43 SEC series against ranked teams and has won 27 of those series with a 74-55 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 22-7 in such series with a 58-29 overall record, including nine series wins.
Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, Tennessee has claimed 11 series victories under Vitello while posting 35 total wins against top-10 SEC opponents in the regular season. The Vols have won three of their four series against ranked opponents this season after sweeping No. 6 Florida (March 14-16) and taking two of three games from No. 10 Alabama (March 20-22) and No. 6 Ole Miss (April 11-13).
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OPPONENT SCOUT
Auburn Tigers (31-14, 11-10 SEC)- 2024 Record: 27-26 (8-22 SEC)
- 2024 Postseason: N/A
- 2025 SEC Preseason Poll: 12th  Â
- Highest Ranking: No. 5 (Baseball America)
- D1Baseball.com Ranking: No. 10
- Head Coach: Butch Thompson
- Overall Record: 353-248-1 (11th year)
- Record at AU: 314-227-1 (10th year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
- C Ike Irish (1st Team)
- 1B Cooper McMurray (2nd Team)
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ON DECK
The Vols welcome Indiana State to Knoxville for a midweek matchup against the Sycamores on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
C/1B
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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