Baseball Preview: #2 Vols Face Lipscomb to Close Homestand

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Closing out its 15-game homestand and playing its final game before the start of SEC play, the second-ranked Tennessee Volunteers host Lipscomb for an in-state midweek battle at Lindsey Nelson Stadium at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday afternoon.

Tennessee (14-3) looks to keep its momentum rolling from a weekend sweep of Morehead State. The Vols will come off a pair of off-days after playing a doubleheader on Saturday. Griffin Merritt was the star of the two-game day, crushing three homers, one in the first game and two in the second. The weekend got off to a bang when the Big Orange dropped the Eagles, 23-4, Friday night. Zane Denton etched his name into the UT history books, completing the fifth cycle in program history in the series opener.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the games are available in very limited quantities at AllVols.com.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Projected Starters: LHP Zander Sechrist (0-0, 0.93 ERA) vs. LHP Noah Thompson (2-0, 2.31 ERA)

BROADCAST INFO

Tuesday’s game will stream on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Zack Nelson (PxP) on the call. 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, call the action on the Vol Network (AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.  

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Tennessee leads, 12-2
in Knoxville: 9-1
in Nashville: 2-1
at Neutral Sites: 1-0
Last Meeting: Tennessee won, 5-1 (April 5, 2022)

NOTABLE

Volunteer State Battle
Tennessee hosts Lipscomb on Tuesday night in the first of seven games this season against in-state foes. UT is 29-13 against teams from the Volunteer State under head coach Tony Vitello, including a 6-1 record in 2022

Griff is Getting Hot
Impact transfer Griffin Merritt is starting to swing a hot bat for the Vols. The outfielder now ranks second on the team with six home runs after going yard three times in last weekend’s series vs. Morehead State. In the series sweep of the Eagles, the Cincinnati transfer and 2022 AAC Player of the Year batted .455 with three homers and seven RBIs, including a multi-homer game with four RBIs in the series finale. Merritt enters the week on a nine-game hitting streak and a 15-game on-base streak

OPPONENT SCOUT

Lipscomb Bisons

  • 2023 Record: 5-11 (0-0 ASUN)
  • 2022 Record: 36-22 (20-10 ASUN)
  • 2022 Postseason: 
  • 2023 ASUN Preseason Poll: 4th
  • ASUN Preseason Honors
    • Michael Dunkelberger (SP), Matthew Bohnert (RP), Caleb Ketchup (SS)
  • Head Coach: Jeff Forehand (17th season)
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Average: Mason Lundgrin (.333)
    • OBP: Mason Lundgrin (.423)
    • SLG: Alex Vergara (.654)
    • Hits: Mason Lundgrin (20)
    • Runs: Caleb Ketchup (14)
    • RBIs: Trace Willhoite (15)
    • Doubles: Alex Vergara (5)
    • Triples: Mason Lundgrin, Austin Kelly (1)
    • Home Runs: Five tied (4)
    • ERA: Joey Mitchell (0.77)
    • WHIP: Joey Mitchell (0.43)
    • BAA: Joey Mitchell (0.56)
    • Innings Pitched: Braydon Tucker (21)
    • Strikeouts: Logan Van Treeck (22)
    • Wins: Noah Thompson (2)
    • Saves: Three tied (1)

ON DECK

Tennessee heads on the road for SEC Opening Weekend to take on Missouri in Columbia Friday night. First pitch for Game 1 of the series is slated for 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

-UT Athletics

Vols P Jacob Bimbi / Credit: UT Athletics

Country News

Dan + Shay Reveal Why They’ve Been Quiet On Social Media

Dan + Shay Reveal Why They’ve Been Quiet On Social Media

Dan + Shay recently revealed the reason why they have been quiet on social media. In an Instagram post last week, the country duo said they were busy in the process of creating a new album. “Hi, we’ve been quiet on social media lately but wanted to check in and let y’all know we’re alive,”…

Morgan Wallen To Headline ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Concert

Morgan Wallen To Headline ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Concert

Morgan Wallen is set to headline an ACM Lifting Lives benefit concert on Wednesday, May 10. The all-star benefit concert, titled “ACM Lifting Lives LIVE: Morgan Wallen & Friends,” will take place on the golfing green at Topgolf The Colony, a day ahead of the 58th annual ACM Awards show, set to be held at…

Luke Combs, Wife Nicole Expecting Second Child

Luke Combs, Wife Nicole Expecting Second Child

Luke Combs recently took to Instagram to announce that his wife Nicole is pregnant with their second child. Combs posted some shots showing him and Nicole cuddling their firstborn, 9-month-old Tex Lawrence, who’s sporting a “Big Brother” t-shirt. “Joining the 2 under 2 club!,” Combs captioned the photos. “Baby boy #2 coming this September!!” “I…

Megan Moroney Announces Fall 2023 ‘The Lucky Tour’

Megan Moroney Announces Fall 2023 ‘The Lucky Tour’

Megan Moroney has announced the dates for her upcoming “The Luck Tour” to promote her debut album Lucky, which is due out on May 5. “THE LUCKY TOUR!?!? well this is gonna be fuunnnnn,” Moroney shared on Instagram. Moroney will commence her 22-city tour with a show at New York City’s The Bowery Ballroom on…

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner