Baseball Preview: Top-Seeded Vols Set to Host NCAA Knoxville Regional

Baseball Preview: Top-Seeded Vols Set to Host NCAA Knoxville Regional

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 1 national seed Tennessee Volunteers begin their run to Omaha on Friday as they begin play in the NCAA Knoxville Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The Volunteers enter the tournament as the top overall seed for the first time in program history after winning both the SEC Regular Season Championship and SEC Tournament title for the first time since 1995.

For the most up-to-date scores, links and other information, visiting the NCAA Knoxville Regional Central Page.

NCAA KNOXVILLE REGIONAL SCHEDULE

Friday, June 3
Game 1 – Georgia Tech vs. Campbell | Noon ET | Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats
Game 2 – Tennessee vs. Alabama State | 6 p.m. ET | Watch (SEC Network) | Listen (Vol Network) | Live Stats

Saturday, June 4
Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 | Noon ET | Live Stats
Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET | Live Stats

Sunday, June 5
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 | 2 p.m. ET | Live Stats
Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 | 7 p.m. ET | Live Stats

Monday, June 6
Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 | 1 p.m. ET | Live Stats

TICKET INFO

Tickets for this weekend’s regional are sold out. A limited number of standing room only tickets will be made available at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office 90 minutes prior to each session.

PARKING INFORMATION & ROAD CLOSURES

In an effort to eliminate heavy traffic and promote a safe environment for all fans and staff attending this weekend’s regional, road closures will be in effect for the duration of the tournament. Closures will go into effect at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, June 3, and can only be accessed with a valid NCAA parking pass. 

Chamique Holdsclaw Dr. and Todd Helton Dr. will be closed from the intersection of Chamique Holdsclaw Dr. and Lake Loudon Blvd. to Todd Helton Dr. and the entrance of lot GF4.

Pat Head Summitt St. will also be closed after the entrance to G16 Garage. Fan parking will be located in the following areas: S23 behind the Haslam School of Music – as well as C8, C6, C22 and G16. Additional street parking is located along West Volunteer Blvd. Please plan to use alternative lots as needed during this event. 

An updated parking map for this weekend can be seen HERE (PDF).

BROADCAST INFO

TV/Stream: SEC Network & ESPN+
 
Talent: Mike Monaco (PxP) & Ben McDonald (Analyst)
 
Radio: Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) | Tennessee Athletics App | UTSports.com
 
Talent: John Wilkerson & Vince Ferrara
The Vol Network has added numerous radio affiliates to broadcast Tennessee baseball games this season. The complete list of new affiliates is below. Check your local listings as game coverage varies by station.  

Bristol: WOPI (FM 98.1, AM 1490)
Camden: WRJB (FM 95.9)
Chattanooga: WFLI (FM 97.7, FM 100.3, AM 1070)
Cleveland: The Buzz (FM 101.3)
Cookeville: WKXD (FM 104.7)
Johnson City: WKPT (FM 94.3, AM 1590)
Kingsport: WKTP (FM 97.7, AM 1400)
Lawrenceburg: WWLX (FM 106.1, FM 93.1, AM 590)
Muscle Shoals, Ala.: WSBM (FM 97.9, AM 1340)
Nashville: WGFX (FM 104.5 The Zone)
Oneida: WBNT (FM 105.5)
Pulaski: WKSR (FM 107.7, FM 100.9, AM 1420)
Wartburg: WECO (FM 101.3)

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Appearances: 11 (Most Recent: 2021)
 
Regional Record: 24-13 (.615)
 
Knoxville Regional Record: 17-5 (.773)
 
College World Series Appearances: 5 (1951, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2021)
 
This will be UT’s 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and mark the seventh time hosting a regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols have won all three of their regionals in Knoxville since it switched to the current four-team format in 1999. In those three regionals (2001, 2005, 2021), UT has posted a 9-1 overall record and has gone on to advance to the College World Series in each of those seasons.

NEED TO KNOW

  • Tennessee is coming off its first SEC Tournament Championship since 1995 and its first ever tournament title since the event started including both divisions in 1998. The Vols went 4-0 during their title run last week and never trailed while outscoring their opposition, 35-10.
  • The Vols also won their first SEC Regular Season Championship since 1995, winning the league by a record six games after posting a 25-5 record in conference play. Tennessee won its second straight Eastern Division title after not doing so since 1997 prior to last year.
  • To this point, Tennessee has posted one of the best seasons in college baseball history. UT’s 49-7 regular-season record was the best in program history and the Vols are the only SEC team in league history to enter NCAA Tournament play with 50-plus wins (53-7).
  • The Big Orange rank among the national leaders in numerous statistical categories, including:
    • Batting Avg: 308 (16th)
    • Runs/Game: 9.3 (3rd)
    • Total Runs: 561 (2nd)
    • Hits: 636 (10th)
    • Doubles: 143 (4th)
    • Triples: 23 (10th)
    • Home Runs: 141 (1st)
    • Slugging Pct: .604 (1st)
    • On-Base Pct: .421 (4th)
    • Walks: 358 (2nd)
    • ERA: 2.35 (1st)
    • WHIP: 0.96 (1st)
    • Shutouts: 8 (3rd)
    • Hits Allowed: 6.23 (1st)
    • K-to-BB Ratio: 4.36 (2nd)
    • Strikeouts/9 Inn: 10.7 (9th)
    • Walks Allowed: 2.45 (1st)
    • Fielding Pct: .982 (8th)
  • Tennessee racked up the SEC postseason honors as Chase Dollander was named SEC Pitcher of the Year, Drew Beam was named SEC Freshman of the Year and Tony Vitello was named SEC Coach of the Year. The Vols also had five honorees on the All-SEC teams, which marked the second most in a single season in program history, just one behind the 1994 squad, which had six. UT had three players named to the All-Freshman Team, as well.
  • UT’s 141 home runs are the most by any team since the NCAA switched to BBCOR bats in 2011. The Vols have 13 more home runs than Old Dominion, who ranks second nationally.
  • This weekend’s NCAA Knoxville Regional will feature three of the nation’s leaders in home runs: Tennessee (141 – 1st), Campbell (111 – 7th) and Georgia Tech (110 – t-8th).
  • The Big Orange have eight players that have hit double-digit homers this season, which is the most of any team in the country. With one more long ball, Drew Gilbert would join that group to give the Vols nine players with 10-plus dingers.
  • Tennessee’s pitching staff has racked up a program record 641 strikeouts this season. The Vols rank third nationally in strikeouts and ninth in Division I with 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings. UT also ranks second in the nation with a 4.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
  • Entering regional play, Evan Russell needs just one more long ball to take over sole possession of Tennessee’s career home runs record. He is currently tied with VFL Todd Helton with 38 career round trippers. Luc Lipcius is hot on his heels, entering the weekend with 37 career bombs.
  • Veteran reliever Redmond Walsh needs one more save to claim sole possession of first place in program history. He is currently tied with Helton with 23 career saves after tying the record last Friday night in a win over LSU in the SEC Tournament.

ON DECK FOR THE VOLS

Should Tennessee win the Knoxville Regional, it would host an NCAA Super Regional at Lindsey Nelson Stadium next weekend against the winner of the NCAA Statesboro Regional.

-UT Athletics

Vols C Evan Russell / Credit: UT Athletics

Country News

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner