Baseball Weekend Preview: Vols visit #20 Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Tennessee Volunteers (19-15, 4-11 SEC) look to begin the second half of Southeastern Conference play this weekend, visiting the No. 20-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (26-12, 8-7 SEC) for a three-game set in College Station, Texas (Friday, April 21 – Sunday, April 23).

The weekend series marks the third-ever SEC series between the schools and Tennessee’s first trip to College Station, with the Aggies holding a 6-1 advantage in their all-time contests against Tennessee.

The Volunteers enter the weekend looking to building off a 5-2 win over UNC Asheville. UT’s pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts en route to the win, while Texas A&M dropped their Tuesday night matchup against UT Arlington, 3-2.

This season, Tennessee is playing 15 of their 55 regular season games against five 2016 NCAA postseason participants, including 2016 SEC Tournament Champion and this week’s opponent, Texas A&M.

Weekend Rotation

• Fri. April 21 at 3 p.m. ET – RHP Hunter Martin (4-3, 3.47 ERA) vs. RHP Brigham Hill (5-3, 3.29 ERA)
• Sat. April 22 at 3 p.m. ET – RHP Garrett Stallings (2-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Corbin Martin (4-2, 3.83 ERA)
• Sun. April 23 at 2 p.m. ET – LHP Zach Warren (2-4, 5.92 ERA) vs. RHP Stephen Kolek (2-2, 4.11 ERA)

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M All-Time

• All-time vs. Texas A&M: TAMU leads, 6-1
• In Knoxville: TAMU leads, 5-1
• In College Station: First Meeting
• Last Meeting: TAMU won, 8-7 (5/3/2015)

In the last conference series between UT and TAMU, the Aggies captured a three-game sweep against the Vols from May 1-3, 2015 on Rocky Top. Two of those three games were decided by one run.

Analyzing the Aggies

• The Maroon and White look to improve upon a 26-12, 8-7 SEC record, which includes series wins over No. 6-ranked LSU, No. 11-ranked Auburn and a sweep over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
• In his 12th season at the helm of Texas A&M Baseball, Head Coach Rob Childress enters the weekend with a 484-250-2 overall record.
• This week (April 17), Texas A&M is ranked in three national media polls: D1Baseball.com (20), Baseball America (23) and the NCBWA (25).
• Braden Shewmake leads the Aggies with a .350 average over 38 games, including a team-best 42 RBI. His four home runs are tied for most on the club and he leads TAMU with 13 doubles on the year.
• TAMU’s bullpen has shut down opponents during the month of April, combining for a 5-0 record with four saves over the Aggies’ last 10 games.
• The Aggies own a .431 on-base percentage, batting .356 (16-for-45) and seven walks with bases loaded.
• Aggie catchers are hitting a combined .362 (51-for-141) on the season with 23 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 30 RBI.

Quick Hits: 2017 Volunteers

• Walk This Way: Pete Derkay has a team-leading 27 walks on the season, which ranks T-5th in the SEC through 34 games.
• Rodger(s) That: Senior Jordan Rodgers has reached base safely in every game started this year (33), while his .375 batting average currently ranks third-best in the SEC. Rodgers also leads the Volunteers with 13 multi-hit games and 21 RBI this season.
• More on Moberg…: D1Baseball.com Midseason All-American Jeff Moberg owns 12 multi-hit games on the season. His six home runs rank tops on the Vols’ squad in 2017.
• The Vols have combined for 86 extra-base hits this year, including 22 home runs (surpassing 2016’s complete season total).
• The Vols’ 2017 roster boasts 17 newcomers including 14 true freshmen, two JUCO transfers and one graduate transfer.

Tennessee on [Rocky] Top

UT on NCAA charts (as of April 19):

• Pete Derkay: .479 OBP (38th)
• Jordan Rodgers: 1.55 hits per game (33rd)
• Hunter Martin: nine games started (T-31st), 6.22 SO/BB Ratio (34th) and 1.42 walks allowed per nine innings (T-48th)

As a team, Tennessee ranks among the SEC’s Top 10 in the following categories (as of April 19):

• Batting Average: 7th (.283)
• On-Base Percentage: 6th (.376)
• Slugging Percentage: 10th (.402)
• Hits: T-10th (332)
• Team Triples: 3rd (10)
• Walks: 7th (153)
• Stolen Bases: 8th (36)
• Batters Stuck Out Looking: 10th (94)
• Runners Picked Off: 8th (5)
• Fewest Walks Allowed: 5th (114)
• Fewest Doubles Allowed: T-5th (51)
• Fewest Home Runs Allowed: 4th (20)
• Fielding Percentage: 10th (.971)
• Double Plays Turned: T-5th (30)

Vols rank among the SEC’s Top 10 in the following categories (as of April 19):

• Jordan Rodgers: .375 average (3rd), .559 SLG (10th), .438 OBP (10th), 51 hits (10th)
• Pete Derkay: .479 OBP (3rd), 27 walks (T-5th) and 1.000 fielding percentage (T-1st)
• Benito Santiago: three triples (T-2nd), two runners picked off (T-7th) and eight runners caught stealing (T-5th)
• Andre Lipcius: 288 putouts (5th) and 27 double plays fielded (2nd)
• Jeff Moberg: 8 hit by pitch (T-8th), 22 double plays fielded (T-9th)
• Dom Thornton: 1.000 fielding percentage (T-1st)
• Hunter Martin: 57.0 innings pitched (T-5th), 21 batters struck out looking (T-6th) and fewest walks allowed (9 – T-8th)
• Garrett Stallings: fewest walks allowed (7 – T-2nd)
• Zach Warren: fewest doubles allowed (4 – T-3rd)
• Zach Linginfelter: two runners picked off (T-7th), fewest hits allowed (34 – 9th) and fewest doubles allowed (4 – T-3rd)
• Jon Lipinski: 15 games finished (T-3rd)

Wednesday Recap

• Tennessee’s pitching staff threw a combined 13 strikeouts and allowed just three hits against UNC Asheville, leading the Vols to a 5-2 victory.
• Redshirt junior reliever Eric Freeman (1-0) earned the win for the Vols in relief, striking out four batters over 2.2 innings.
• Designated hitter Luc Lipcius and second baseman Jeff Moberg led the way offensively for UT, each going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
• Wednesday’s lineup featured twin brothers Andre Lipcius (1B) and Luc Lipcius (DH) both starting for the first time this season since Feb. 17 at Memphis.
• Luc Lipcius drew his first career start as designated hitter for Tennessee, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. He also became the third true freshman to start in the clean-up spot of the order this year (also, Pete Derkay and brother Andre Lipcius).

Smoky Mountain Challenge (April 26)

• Tennessee and ETSU will compete in the Smoky Mountain Challenge on Wednesday, April 26 at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tenn.
• First pitch for the game will be at 6:00 pm and gates will open at 5:00 pm.
• Multiple ticket options are available for fans planning to attend the April 26 game at Smokies Stadium. Field level seating prices will be $10 for adults, $8 for children and seniors and $5 for current UT and ETSU students.
• The Smokies will also offer “All You Can Eat” options ranging from $19 for adults, $17 for children, and $15 for students.
• For more ticket information, fans are encouraged to call (865) 286-2300, visit smokiesbaseball.com, or visit the Smokies Box Office Monday – Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET.

On Deck for the Vols

• The Volunteers return to Tennessee and take on ETSU in the Smoky Mountain Challenge, a single-game matchup slated for 6 p.m. ET at Smokies Stadium – home of the Tennessee Smokies.
• For ticket and gameday information, head to smokiesbaseball.com.

-UT Athletics