KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3 Tennessee returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium after its weekend trip to Houston to kick off a 10-game home stand with a pair of midweek games against James Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The Vols are coming off a 2-1 showing at the Shriners Children’s College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston, where they finished with a pair of wins over Baylor and Oklahoma after opening the tournament with a loss to top-ranked Texas.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
For the most updated gameday information related to Tennessee baseball, please visit our Gameday Central page by clicking HERE. The baseball Gameday Central page contains info in regard to tickets, parking, stadium policies and more.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets and single-game tickets for SEC contests are SOLD OUT. Single-game tickets for all remaining non-conference home games can be purchased at AllVols.com or by calling the Tennessee Athletic ticket office at 865-656-1200.
Single-game tickets can also be purchased through Vivid Seats, 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 either transfer your tickets to someone else (Instructions HERE).
BROADCAST INFO
Tuesday and Wednesday’s games will be streamed on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app with Andy Brock 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.
Fans can also listen to the live audio call by John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 3-2
In Knoxville: JMU leads, 2-1
In Harrisonburg: 0-0
Neutral Sites: UT leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: L, 21-2 (March 7, 2018)
The Vols and Dukes split a two-game midweek series in Knoxville the last time the two programs met back in 2018.
NOTABLE
Climbing in the Polls
After another successful week, the Vols continued their climb in the national polls. Tennessee is ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation this week (Collegiate Baseball News) in the polls that have been released. UT rose seven spots to No. 10 in the D1Baseball.com Top 25 and climbed five spots to No. 11 in Baseball America’s poll.
Vols Love the Long Ball
After blasting six more home runs last week, Tennessee enters Week 4 of the season with a NCAA-leading 30 long balls through 11 games. The Vols have had 12 different players go deep this season, including 11 who have hit multiple homers. UT also leads the country in slugging percentage (.721) entering play this week.
Another Day, Another Shutout
With Sunday’s 8-0 blanking of Oklahoma, the Vols posted their fourth shutout of the season, which is the most in the country entering this week. Tennessee posted just three shutouts all of last season and had just one in the regular season.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, UT’s pitching staff ranks seventh nationally in ERA (1.69), first in hits allowed per nine innings (5.06), fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.68), fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.3) and second in WHIP (0.85).
The Kids Can Play
While Tennessee has gotten contributions from nearly its entire roster so far this season, its freshman class has been outstanding to start the year. The Vols’ pair of freshman weekend starters Chase Burns and Drew Beam have been lights out in each of their three starts this year.
Burns held the top-ranked Longhorns to just two hits and one run in five innings while setting a career high with 10 strikeouts on Friday night while Beam also allowed just two hits and had a career-high six strikeouts over five shutout innings in UT’s 8-0 win over Oklahoma on Sunday. Beam has yet to allow a run in three starts (11.1 IP) this season while Burns have given up just one earned run in 15.0 innings.
True freshmen position players Christian Moore and Blake Burke provided some highlights over the weekend. Moore got the start at DH and went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs in Sunday’s win over Oklahoma. Moore also hit an inside-the-park home run, the first since Zach Daniels had one in a win over Texas Tech on Feb. 21, 2020 at the Round Rock Classic. Burke hit a pinch-hit home run late in Sunday’s victory over the Sooners, his second long ball of the year.
OPPONENT SCOUT
James Madison Dukes
- Record: 8-4 (0-0 CAA)
- 2021 Postseason: N/A
- 2022 CAA Preseason Poll: 5th
- Head Coach: David Pierce (6th season)
- Preseason Honors:
- OF Christian DeLauter: Preseason All-American (Multiple Outlets), Golden Spikes Award Watch List, All-CAA Team.
- RHP Liam Grubbs: NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List, All-CAA HM
- OF Carson Bell: All-CAA HM
- DH Kyle Novak: All-CAA HM
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Chase DeLauter (.459)
- Runs: Trevon Dabney (22)
- Hits: Chase DeLauter/Trevon Dabney (17)
- Home Runs: Trevon Dabney (5)
- RBI: Chase DeLauter/Trevon Dabney (18)
- Stolen Bases: Travis Reifsnider (5)
- Wins: Liam McDonnell (3)
- Saves: Liam Grubbs (1)
- ERA (min. 1 IP/G): Eight players tied (0.00)
- Innings Pitched: Liam McDonnell (13.0)
- Strikeouts: Donovan Burke (17)
GAME PROMOTIONS
Gameday promotions for all Tennessee athletics home events can be found on the UT Fan Experience page by clicking HERE.
Fans are encouraged to download the My All App for their phones and devices this season. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and will allow fans to participate in in-game trivia, the custom filter selfie cam and more throughout the year.
NEW TO LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
With a palpable excitement surrounding the program, Lindsey Nelson Stadium has added some new and improved seating areas and fan amenities to increase capacity and provide a better fan experience this season.
One of the first things fans will see upon arriving is an additional deck of porches behind the left-field wall as well as new chair-back bleacher seating down the left-field line.
All porches for the 2022 season are sold out, however, the left-field bleachers will be sold as general admission seating. Additional food and beverage options will be located next to the new bleachers throughout the year. For SEC games, a VolShop location and food trucks will be located in that area, as well.
UT has removed the playground down the right-field line and re-branded the area as “The Deck”, which will feature a standing room only area for UT’s students while also providing additional concessions options to help negate congestion throughout the main concourse. In order to enhance the gameday experience, a Petro’s Chili & Chips, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Gameday Sausage kiosk and a new beer kiosk have been added to the deck area.
Vol fans can look for Coca-Cola, popcorn and beer at kiosks on the Plaza located down the first-base line. The VolShop will have hats and merchandise available on the Plaza, as well. The Fan Experience Hub, your one-stop shop for game programs, posters, schedule cards, contest info and more, will also be located in the Plaza area.
Tennessee’s MVP season-ticket holders will also be greeted with a brand new, completely renovated MVP Room this season.
Friday SEC Fan Fest
Starting with the SEC opener on March 18 against South Carolina, an exciting new area will be in place for fans this season. “Friday SEC Fan Fest” will take place for ticketed fans on Pat Head Summitt Street for every Friday SEC contest.
Friday Fan Fests will feature music, giveaways, food/beverage options, VolShop sales locations and Vol Network Sponsor activations. Additionally, VFL Sterl the Pearl will join various SEC weekend games to add to the electricity in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
ON DECK
The Vols host Rhode Island for a three-game series this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET. All three games will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
Tickets all three of this weekend’s home games are available at AllVols.com.
-UT Athletics
