KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Another important weekend is on deck for No. 8/15 Tennessee as it hosts in-state rival No. 10/11 Vanderbilt at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in a series with major postseason implications.
The Vols and Commodores enter this weekend’s Volunteer State showdown with identical 14-10 records in league play and tied for fifth in the SEC standings, one game behind Georgia and LSU for third place.
IMPORTANT GAMEDAY INFO & REMINDERS
Lindsey Nelson Stadium is undergoing extensive renovations that will make it one of the best college baseball stadiums in the nation upon completion. Renovations will be ongoing throughout the season, so be sure to be on the lookout for updated information throughout the course of the year when it comes to seating, stadium entry, parking, etc.
Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.
Any pertinent updates regarding this weekend’s series can be seen HERE.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office. Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, 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 transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.
BROADCAST INFO
Tom Hart (PxP), Kyle Peterson (analyst) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (analyst) will call the action as all three games are slated to be televised this weekend. Friday’s series opener will be broadcast on the SEC Network while games two and three will air on ESPN2.
Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (5:30 pm):
UT: LHP Liam Doyle (12 GS, 8-2, 2.39 ERA)
VU: LHP JD Thompson (12 GS, 4-4, 3.95 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (5 pm):
UT: RHP Marcus Phillips (12 GS, 3-3, 3.02 ERA)
VU: RHP Cody Bowker (12 GS, 2-4, 4.50 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (3 pm):
UT: TBD
VU: RHP Connor Fennell (6 GS, 5-0, 3.20 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. Commodores
Overall: Vols lead, 188-167-2
in Knoxville: Vols lead, 100-60-1
in Nashville: Commodores lead, 103-81-1
at Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 7-4
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 8-2
Last Meeting: W, 6-4 on May 25, 2024 (SECT Semifinals – Hoover, Ala.)
Tennessee has dominated the series against its in-state rival over the past three seasons, having won 10 of the 12 meetings between the two in that span, including nine consecutive victories prior to dropping the series finale in Nashville last season.
The Vols and Commodores faced off five times last year, including twice in Hoover. UT went 3-2 in those games, including a 6-4 win in the SEC Tournament semifinals en route to winning its second conference title in three years.
NOTABLE
Doyle Making His Case for National Pitcher of the Year
Tennessee ace Liam Doyle is having an All-American caliber junior season for the Vols and has arguably been the most dominant starting pitcher in the country through 12 weeks.
For the season, Doyle boasts an 8-2 record and a 2.39 ERA in 13 appearances (12 starts) while leading the country in strikeouts (115) and ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (15.3). The Derry, New Hampshire, native, has reached double-digit strikeouts five times this season, including twice in SEC play. His 2.39 ERA ranks third in the league while his eight victories are tied for second in the SEC and 11th nationally. Doyle’s 268 career strikeouts are eighth among active Division I pitchers while his 13.47 strikeouts/nine innings rank second.
Doyle was nearly unhittable in the month of April, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched over four starts while holding opposing hitters to a .087 average. In last weekend’s start at No. 3/7 LSU, the lefthander allowed just one hit in 6.2 shutout innings.
Vols Littered with 2025 MLB Draft Prospects
Tennessee leads all college programs with eight current players listed among the top 150 prospects for the 2025 MLB Draft, according to the latest MLB Pipeline rankings that were released on April 29. The Vols also have five current commits who were included on that list.
Top 150 MLB Draft Prospects (As of April 29)
#10 – Liam Doyle (LHP)
#16 – Gavin Kilen (2B)
#35 – Andrew Fischer (1B/3B)
#54 – Dean Curley (SS/3B)
#55 – AJ Russell (RHP)
#69 – Marcus Phillips (RHP)
#106 – Tanner Franklin (RHP)
#113 – Nate Snead (RHP)
Jersey Shore’s Finest
Andrew Fischer has been an on-base machine for the Big Orange this season, leading the team with a .500 on-base percentage and an SEC-high 51 walks. Fischer (49 games) is the only player in the SEC to have reached base in every game this season. Dating back to his time at Ole Miss last season, Fischer has reached base safely in 52 consecutive contests.
The New Jersey native leads the Vols, is tied for 16th nationally and second in the SEC with 17 homers this season. Fischer also leads the team with 110 total bases and ranks second with 45 RBIs.
The Century Mark in Homers
The Vols have reached the 100-homer mark for the fourth consecutive season. UT’s 107 long balls rank second in the nation while their 2.18 homers per game are fourth nationally.
Tennessee is just the second SEC program to ever hit 100 or more home runs in four straight seasons, joining LSU, who did so from 1996-99. The Big Orange have homered in all but five games this year and has hit multiple home runs 30 times, posting a 29-1 record when doing so.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Vanderbilt Commodores (34-15, 14-10 SEC)
- 2024 Record: 38-23 (13-17 SEC)
- 2024 Postseason: NCAA Clemson Regional (0-2)
- 2025 SEC Preseason Poll: 7th
- Highest Ranking: No. 10 (USA Today)
- D1Baseball.com Ranking: No. 11
- Head Coach: Tim Corbin
- Overall Record: 1.061-596-1 (29th year)
- Record at Vandy: 955-458-1 (23rd year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (3):
- OF RJ Austin (2nd Team)
- SP JD Thompson (2nd Team)
- RP Miller Green (2nd Team)
ON DECK
The Vols close out their regular-season home slate next Tuesday, May 13 against Belmont. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. and Senior Day ceremonies will be held prior to the game.
