KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off a series sweep over South Carolina on SEC opening weekend, No. 1/5 Tennessee hosts Butler on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. to cap a 10-game homestand at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols are riding an 11-game winning streak entering Tuesday’s contest with the Bulldogs and going 4-0 last week.
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 all 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 for all games 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’s game will be streamed live on WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app as Andy Brock (PxP) calls 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 Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the game on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) as well as UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
LHP Zander Sechrist (2-0, 1.62 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Zmolik (0-0, 18.00 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: 0-0 (First Meeting)
In Knoxville: 0-0
In Indianapolis: 0-0
Neutral Sites: 0-0
Last Meeting: N/A
Tuesday will mark the first meeting between Tennessee and Butler on the diamond.
NOTABLE
Top-Ranked Vols
Tennessee rose to No. 1 in this week’s Perfect Game rankings, marking its first No.1 ranking by any poll in program history. The Vols also moved up to No. 5 in the D1Baseball.com rankings and No. 7 in Baseball America’s poll while staying at No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball News rankings and No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Lockdown on the Mound
UT’s pitching staff combined to throw two one-hitters last week – Tuesday vs. EKU and Sunday vs. South Carolina. Sunday’s one-hit shutout over the Gamecocks was Tennessee’s first one-hitter against an SEC opponent since March 18, 2005 in a 2-1 victory at Auburn. With Sunday’s shutout, the Vols moved into a tie for first nationally with five this season.
Freshmen Phenoms
Tennessee’s freshman class has been outstanding so far this season with a handful of major contributors on the mound and at the plate.
The Vols’ true freshman pitching duo of Chase Burns and Drew Beam were lights out once again last weekend. Burns struck out nine and allowed just one run on two hits over 6.2 innings to earn the win in his SEC debut on Friday night. Beam – who was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday – followed with an even better performance in Sunday’s series finale, tossing a career-high 7.2 shutout innings while allowing just one hit. Beam took a perfect game into the seventh inning before allowing a leadoff double. That double was the only baserunner that he allowed on the day as he struck out three and earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the year. For the season, Burns and Beam have combined to go 8-0 with a 0.88 ERA, 53 strikeouts and just 15 walks.
Fellow freshman Christian Moore continued his string of impressive performances at the plate, leading the team with a .500 batting average last week while blasting two more home runs. Moore ranks second on the team and tied for sixth in the SEC with seven homers this season despite having just 32 official at-bats.
Midweek Success
The Big Orange are a perfect 5-0 in midweek games this season and have posted a 44-7 overall record in such games under head coach Tony Vitello (2018-pres.).
Another Weekend, Another Sweep
Tennessee recorded its fourth series sweep already this season after opening SEC play with three wins over South Carolina last weekend. Since Vitello took over as head coach in 2018, the Vols have swept 16 weekend series (not including tournaments).
Series Sweeps by Year Under Vitello
2022: 4 | 2021: 5 | 2020: 2 | 2019: 3 | 2018: 2
OPPONENT SCOUT
Butler Bulldogs
- Record: 9-10 (0-0 Big East)
- 2021 Postseason: N/A
- 2022 Big East Preseason Poll: Sixth
- Head Coach: Dave Schrage (6th Season)
- Preseason Honors: N/A
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Travis Holt (.354)
- Runs: Gargano/Holt (17)
- Hits: Travis Holt (28)
- Home Runs: Galdoni/Holt/Steinhart (2)
- RBI: Aaron Steinhart (17)
- Stolen Bases: Travis Holt (11)
- Wins: Jon Vore (3)
- Saves: Derek Drees (3)
- ERA (min. 1 IP/G): Derek Drees (0.00)
- WHIP (min. 1 IP/G): Derek Drees (1.03)
- Innings Pitched: Cory Bosecker (22.2)
- Strikeouts: Cory Bosecker (25)
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.
ON DECK
Tennessee hits the road this weekend for a top-five showdown against No. 1/1 Ole Miss in Oxford. The series opener is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night and will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
-UT Athletics
