Baseball Preview: Vols host #10 Auburn (Thu-Sat)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee returns home to Rocky Top and continues Southeastern Conference play this week, hosting the No. 10-ranked Auburn Tigers for a three-game series from Thursday, April 13 – Saturday, April 15 at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers (17-13, 3-9 SEC) enter the weekend matchup having taken two of three games against No. 7 Florida last week, marking the first series win for UT in Gainesville since the 2007 season.

The Tigers (25-10, 8-4 SEC) continue a season-long eight-game road trip with their weekend stop in Knoxville. Last weekend, Auburn dropped two of three games against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas. On Tuesday evening, the Tigers came out on top of an offensive slugfest at Samford.

Thursday’s series opener will mark the 129th overall meeting between the schools, with Auburn holding the upper hand in the all-time series at 90-38.

SEC Network will carry Tennessee’s Thursday night opener vs. Auburn, with broadcasters Mike Rooney and Jason Benetti on the call. Friday’s Game Two will be available for viewing via SEC Network+ stream, with VFL and former UT first baseman Rusty Ensor joining former Vol Baseball broadcaster and current Tennessee Titans voice Mike Keith.

Weekend Matchups

• Thur. April 13 at 7 p.m. ET – RHP Hunter Martin (4-2, 3.56) vs. RHP Casey Mize (5-1, 1.37)
• Fri. April 14 at 6 p.m. ET – RHP Garrett Stallings (2-0, 3.00) vs. RHP Keegan Thompson (4-1, 1.27)
• Sat. April 15 at 2 p.m. ET – TBA vs. RHP Davis Daniel (2-2, 4.86)

Tennessee vs. Auburn All-Time

• All-time vs. AU: AU leads, 90-38
• In Knoxville: AU leads, 38-19
• In Auburn: AU leads, 52-19
• Last 10 Games: AU leads, 7-3
• Last Meeting: Tigers won, 7-6, in Auburn (4/16/16)

Auburn took two of three games in last year’s series between the programs in Auburn, Ala. Tennessee claimed the Friday series opener with a 13-4 win, but dropped the following two games of the series to the Tigers.

War Eagle Scouting

• Auburn is off to its best start both overall and in the SEC in 14 years. The Tigers opened the season 23-8 (7-2 SEC).
• Auburn reached 20 wins in only 26 games, the fastest since 2004, and reached its 2016 win total of 23 victories in 30 games.
• D1Baseball Midseason All-American Casey Mize faces off against Vol senior Hunter Martin on Thursday night. Mize tossed his first career complete game on March 31 in a 5-4 win over No. 6 South Carolina, striking out 12 batters in the effort.
• Auburn’s defense is second in the SEC with 35 double plays turns over 35 games.
• Senior Daniel Robert leads the Tigers with three homers and 30 RBI in 35 games, tied for ninth-most in the league.
• Robert, Jonah Todd (.362) and Conor Davis (.333) have all posted averages above .300 entering the weekend series in Knoxville. Todd also owns the most hits on the squad with 46 (7th in SEC).

Quick Hits: 2017 Volunteers

• Keep on Walking: Pete Derkay has a team-leading 27 walks on the season, which ranks T-24th in the NCAA and T-3rd in the SEC through 30 games.
• Rodger(s) That: Senior Jordan Rodgers has reached base safely in every game started this year (29), while his .375 batting average currently ranks second-best in the SEC. With a three-hit game at ETSU on Tuesday, Rodgers matched teammate Jeff Moberg with a team-leading 12 multi-hit games this season.
• More on Moberg…: D1Baseball.com Midseason All-American Jeff Moberg owns 12 multi-hit games on the season. His .355 average ranks seventh in the league, while his six home runs are tops on the Vols squad in 2017.
• The Vols have combined for 81 extra-base hits this year, including 21 home runs (already matching 2016’s complete season total.
• The Vols’ 2017 roster boasts 17 newcomers including 14 true freshmen, two JUCO transfers and one graduate transfer.

Tennessee on [Rocky] Top

UT on NCAA charts (as of April 11):

• Pete Derkay: 27 walks (T-24th), .90 walks per game (T-24th) and .492 OBP (25th)
• Jordan Rodgers: 1.55 hits per game (31st)
• Hunter Martin: eight games started (T-28th)

As a team, Tennessee ranks among the SEC’s Top 10 in the following categories (as of April 11):

• Batting Average: 6th (.287)
• On-Base Percentage: 6th (.380)
• Slugging Percentage: 9th (.413)
• Runs Scored: 10th (168)
• Hits: T-9th (303)
• RBI: 10th (150)
• Team Triples: 3rd (10)
• Stolen Bases: T-6th (35)
• Batters Stuck Out Looking: T-9th (80)
• Fewest Walks Allowed: 5th (99)
• Fewest Doubles Allowed: 4th (43)
• Fewest Home Runs Allowed: 4th (17)
• Double Plays Turned: 4th (29)

Vols rank among the SEC’s Top 10 in the following categories (as of April 11):

• Jeff Moberg: .355 average (7th), .562 SLG (6th), six home runs (T-9th), 68 total bases (9th), 81 assists (T-10th) and 21 double plays fielded (T-7th)
• Jordan Rodgers: .375 average (2nd), .550 SLG (9th), 45 hits (8th), 66 total bases (T-10th)
• Pete Derkay: .492 OBP (2nd), 27 walks (T-3rd) and 1.000 fielding percentage (T-1st)
• Benito Santiago: three triples (T-2nd), two runners picked off (T-5th) and seven runners caught stealing (T-5th)
• Andre Lipcius: 262 putouts (4th) and 26 double plays fielded (2nd)
• Hunter Martin: 20 batters struck out looking (T-4th) and fewest walks allowed (9 – T-9th)
• Garrett Stallings: fewest runs allowed (13 – T-9th) and fewest walks allowed (7 – T-2nd)
• Zach Warren: fewest doubles allowed (3 – T-1st)
• Zach Linginfelter: two runners picked off (T-5th) and fewest hits allowed (32 – T-8th)
• Jon Lipinski: 13 games finished (T-3rd)

Tuesday’s Gone

• The Volunteers struggled to find a rhythm against ETSU on Tuesday, as the Buccaneers held off UT for a 10-2 final at Thomas Stadium.
• Offensively, shortstop Jordan Rodgers led UT at the plate with a 3-for-5 effort, while outfielders Justin Ammons (2-for-4) and Dom Thornton (2-for-4) each added two hits for UT.
• Freshmen Pete Derkay, Brandon Chinea and Andre Lipcius made their first career starts at first base, second base and third base, respectively.
• Righthander Kyle Serrano made his first start on the mound for the Vols since Feb. 20, 2016 vs. Memphis in Chattanooga.

Smoky Mountain Challenge (April 26)

• Tennessee and ETSU will compete in the Smoky Mountain Challenge on Wednesday, April 26 at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn.
• First pitch for the game will be at 6:00 pm and gates will open at 5:00 pm.
• Multiple ticket options are available for fans planning to attend the April 26 game at Smokies Stadium. Field level seating prices will be $10 for adults, $8 for children and seniors and $5 for current UT and ETSU students.
• The Smokies will also offer “All You Can Eat” options ranging from $19 for adults, $17 for children, and $15 for students.
• For more ticket information, fans are encouraged to call (865) 286-2300, visit smokiesbaseball.com, or visit the Smokies Box Office Monday – Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET.

On Deck for the Vols

• UT hosts UNC Asheville on Rocky Top for midweek action next Wednesday, April 19 at 6 p.m. ET before traveling to College Station, Texas, taking on the Texas A&M Aggies for three games (April 21-23).

-UT Athletics