Baseball Preview: #1 Vols Take On Tennessee Tech at Smokies Stadium; will use wood bats

Baseball Preview: #1 Vols Take On Tennessee Tech at Smokies Stadium; will use wood bats

Posted on April 11, 2022

KODAK, Tenn. – Tennessee will look to continue its historic winning streak on Tuesday night when the top-ranked Vols take on in-state foe Tennessee Tech at 6:30 p.m.

The game will be played at nearby Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee, home of the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokies.

UT Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for Tuesday’s contest can be purchased through the Tennessee Smokies website by clicking HERE.

BROADCAST INFO

Tuesday’s game will be streamed digitally on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. The online broadcasts 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.

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Tennessee leads, 72-30-1
In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 47-12
In Cookeville: Tennessee leads, 25-18-1
Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 10-8 (May 11, 2021)

The Vols and Golden Eagles met earlier this season in Knoxville, but the game was called in the fifth inning due to heavy rain with UT leading 5-4. That game will not be made up.

NOTABLE

Timber!
Tuesday’s game will be played with wood bats, marking the first time the Vols have played any game with wood bats in recent memory. The Vols and Smokies played an exhibition game back on April 4, 2006, which is believed to be the last time the team used wood bats in a game.
 
Chasing History
With last weekend’s sweep of Missouri, Tennessee became the first team in the history of SEC baseball to start conference play 12-0, surpassing the previous record of 11-0 held by LSU (1991), Ole Miss (1964) and Alabama (1940).
 
The Vols enter their meeting with Tennessee Tech on a 23-game winning streak. With a victory on Tuesday, UT would tie the 2015 Texas A&M Aggies for the most consecutive wins by any SEC team in a single season with 24.
 
Vols Cleaning Crew  
Tennessee recorded its seventh series sweep this season after taking care of business against Missouri this past weekend. UT’s seven series sweeps are tied for the most in a single season in program history (7 in 1994).
 
Not including tournaments, the Vols have recorded 19 series sweeps since 2018 when Tony Vitello took over as head coach.
 
Series Sweeps by Year Under Vitello
2022: 7 | 2021: 5 | 2020: 2 | 2019: 3 | 2018: 2

OPPONENT SCOUT

Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles

  • Record: 17-12 (2-4 OVC)
  • Head Coach: Matt Bragga  (16th year)
  • 2021 OVC Finish: 6th
  • 2022 OVC Preseason Poll: 8th
  • Preseason Honors: N/A
  • Stat Leaders:
    • Batting Avg: Ed Johnson (.400)
    • Runs: Ed Johnson (36)
    • Hits: Ed Johnson (52)
    • Home Runs: Jason Hinchman (15)
    • RBI: Jason Hinchman (41)
    • Stolen Bases: Ed Johnson (2)
    • Wins: Three players tied (3)
    • Saves: Jackson Berry (2)
    • ERA (min. 10 IP): Frankie Cresta (2.63)
    • Innings Pitched: Peyton Calitri (52.1)
    • Strikeouts: Peyton Calitri (39)

GAME PROMOTIONS

Special t-shirts for Tuesday’s game can be purchased at the game in the Smokies official team store or by visiting one of the UT Vol Shop locations on campus.

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.

ON DECK

The Vols jump back into SEC play with another important home series against Alabama this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Friday series opener is set for 6:30 p.m.

-UT Athletics

Baseball Preview: #1 Vols Take On Tennessee Tech at Smokies Stadium

Baseball Preview: #1 Vols Take On Tennessee Tech at Smokies Stadium

Posted on April 11, 2022

With Tennessee’s recent rise to the unanimous No. 1 spot across the national college baseball rankings, the Big Orange have accomplished an impressive and extremely rare feat.
 
Tennessee now stands alongside future Southeastern Conference member Texas as the only Division I schools ever to own the No. 1 national ranking in each of the following sports: football, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, softball and baseball.

University of Tennessee / Credit: UT Athletics

The Volunteers have ascended to No. 1 nationally in the major college football polls during four different seasons.
 
In women’s basketball—a sport in which the Lady Vols have claimed eight national championships—Tennessee has spent parts of 17 different seasons at No. 1 in the country.
 
Men’s basketball, meanwhile, has twice stood atop the national polls, most recently for a four-week span during the 2018-19 season.
 
Tennessee softball also has spent parts of two seasons—2007 and 2014—ranked No. 1 nationally.
 
Each of the five sports have risen to the top of the national rankings within the last 24 years, with three claiming the No. 1 spot during the last decade.
 
Other Tennessee varsity programs that have been ranked No. 1 in their sports’ respective major polls are men’s golf, men’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s indoor track & field. Additional Tennessee teams—men’s cross country, men’s swimming & diving and women’s outdoor track and field—won national championships before those sports had national polls.
 
As Tennessee seeks to build on its championship tradition across all sports, the ongoing My All Campaign is fueling the pursuit of enhanced championship resources to support student-athletes’ academic and competitive pursuits.
 
Fans interested in “giving their all” in support of the Vols and Lady Vols are encouraged to visit IwillGiveMyAll.com to learn more about the potential impact they can make through participation in the My All Campaign.
  
RANKED NO. 1 NATIONALLY
Football (4) – 1939, 1951, 1956, 1998
 
Men’s Basketball (2) – 2007-08, 2018-19
 
Women’s Basketball (17) – 1977-78, 1978-79, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08
 
Baseball (1) – 2022
 
Softball (2) – 2007, 2014
 
Men’s Golf (2) – 2004-05, 2018-19
 
Men’s Tennis (1) – 2011, 2022
 
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field (1) – 2001
 
Women’s Indoor Track & Field (1) – 2009

-UT Athletics

Rankings Royalty: Tennessee in Rare Company

Rankings Royalty: Tennessee in Rare Company

Posted on April 11, 2022

With Tennessee’s recent rise to the unanimous No. 1 spot across the national college baseball rankings, the Big Orange have accomplished an impressive and extremely rare feat.
 
Tennessee now stands alongside future Southeastern Conference member Texas as the only Division I schools ever to own the No. 1 national ranking in each of the following sports: football, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, softball and baseball.

University of Tennessee / Credit: UT Athletics

The Volunteers have ascended to No. 1 nationally in the major college football polls during four different seasons.
 
In women’s basketball—a sport in which the Lady Vols have claimed eight national championships—Tennessee has spent parts of 17 different seasons at No. 1 in the country.
 
Men’s basketball, meanwhile, has twice stood atop the national polls, most recently for a four-week span during the 2018-19 season.
 
Tennessee softball also has spent parts of two seasons—2007 and 2014—ranked No. 1 nationally.
 
Each of the five sports have risen to the top of the national rankings within the last 24 years, with three claiming the No. 1 spot during the last decade.
 
Other Tennessee varsity programs that have been ranked No. 1 in their sports’ respective major polls are men’s golf, men’s tennis, men’s outdoor track & field and women’s indoor track & field. Additional Tennessee teams—men’s cross country, men’s swimming & diving and women’s outdoor track and field—won national championships before those sports had national polls.
 
As Tennessee seeks to build on its championship tradition across all sports, the ongoing My All Campaign is fueling the pursuit of enhanced championship resources to support student-athletes’ academic and competitive pursuits.
 
Fans interested in “giving their all” in support of the Vols and Lady Vols are encouraged to visit IwillGiveMyAll.com to learn more about the potential impact they can make through participation in the My All Campaign.
  
RANKED NO. 1 NATIONALLY
Football (4) – 1939, 1951, 1956, 1998
 
Men’s Basketball (2) – 2007-08, 2018-19
 
Women’s Basketball (17) – 1977-78, 1978-79, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2007-08
 
Baseball (1) – 2022
 
Softball (2) – 2007, 2014
 
Men’s Golf (2) – 2004-05, 2018-19
 
Men’s Tennis (1) – 2011, 2022
 
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field (1) – 2001
 
Women’s Indoor Track & Field (1) – 2009

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: #11 Lady Vols Come Up Short In Series Finale At #16 Georgia

Stats/Story: #11 Lady Vols Come Up Short In Series Finale At #16 Georgia

Posted on April 11, 2022

Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats (PDF) | Updated Season Stats (PDF) | Update SEC-Only Stats (PDF)

ATHENS, Ga. — The 11th-ranked Tennessee softball team jumped out to an early lead in Sunday’s series finale at No. 16 Georgia, but the Bulldogs stormed back to take game three and win the series with a 12-4 run-rule victory in five innings at Jack Turner Softball Stadium.

Lady Vol All-American Kiki Milloy stood out for Tennessee at the plate, crushing a leadoff home run in the first and roping a go-ahead double in the second as part of a two-for-three performance. The junior from Woodinville, Washington, has reached base in 31 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Lady Vol since 2018. She also stood out defensively in center field with a pair of leaping grabs that saved extra bases for the Bulldogs.

Lady Vols Softball / Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee (26-12, 8-6 SEC) drew first blood in the top of the first with a leadoff moon shot by Milloy, who belted a 3-1 pitch high and deep to left for her team-high 12th home run of the year and fourth leadoff bomb of the season.

Georgia (33-8, 7-5 SEC) responded with back-to-back homers in the bottom of the first to gain a 3-1 lead on the Lady Vols. After leadoff hitter Savana Sikes reached on a walk, junior infielder Sydney Kuma lined a pitch over the left field wall for a two-run blast before senior DP Lacey Fincher launched a ball over the scoreboard for a solo shot. Rogers ended the first with back-to-back strikeouts, looking and swinging, to strand Bulldog runners on first and second and prevent any further damage.

The Lady Vols took the lead right back in the top of the second on two consecutive RBI doubles. Super senior shortstop Ivy Davis roped a two-bagger to left center that brought home Rylie West and McKenna Gibson, before Milloy rocketed her double off the wall in right center to trade places with Davis and make it a 4-3 Tennessee edge.

Kuma continued her powerful performance with a solo shot in the bottom of the second to tie it up, then junior first baseman Jaiden Fields brought in two more with a double to deep center that put the Bulldogs on top 6-4. After a Tennessee pitching change, rookie catcher Lyndi Rae Davis roped an RBI single to left that put UGA up 7-4 through two.

Georgia added four more in the third, with senior outfielder CJ Landrum scoring on a wild pitch before Fincher tanked her second homer of the ballgame to right field for a three-run blast.

After a scoreless fourth for both sides, the Lady Vols were sat down in order in the top of the fifth to set up a run-rule opportunity for the Bulldogs. With runners on the corners and one out, Fields stepped in and delivered the game-ending single to right center as Kuma crossed the plate to secure UGA’s series win.

UP NEXT: Tennessee’s four-game road swing concludes Wednesday with a trip to the Appalachian Mountains for a midweek non-conference matchup at Western Carolina. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be broadcasted online via ESPN+.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: #1 Vols Sweep Missouri, Make History with 12-0 Start to SEC Play

Stats/Story: #1 Vols Sweep Missouri, Make History with 12-0 Start to SEC Play

Posted on April 11, 2022

Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats vs. Mizzou (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – #1/1 Tennessee swept Missouri with a 4-3 victory Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, and made history as the first team to ever begin SEC play 12-0.

The Vols (31-1, 12-0 SEC) notched their seventh sweep of the season with the win, tying a program record and have now won 23 games in a row. That ties LSU for the second-most consecutive wins by an SEC team ever.

Vols 1B Luc Lipcius & team / Credit: UT Athletics

Drew Beam threw 6.1 innings Sunday and fanned a career-high seven batters as he earned his seventh victory of the season. The freshman allowed two runs on six hits before giving way to Will Mabrey. Mabrey tossed 1.1 innings in relief and was followed by Redmond Walsh out of the bullpen.

Walsh also threw 1.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits as he secured the win for UT and picked up his fifth save of the year.

Luc Lipcius started the scoring in the bottom of the third as he rocketed a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center field for his eighth long ball of the year. With a runner on in the home half of the fifth, the graduate senior belted his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot deep to right to give the Vols a 3-0 lead.

UT tacked on another run in the fifth courtesy of a Drew Gilbert double to left. With Jordan Beck on first, Gilbert laced a 2-1 pitch to left-center as Beck raced around to score the Vols’ fourth run of the game.

Mizzou (18-11, 3-9) battled back with a pair of runs in the top half of the seventh, cutting the Vols’ lead to 4-2. Junior Nander De Sedas doubled to right-center to drive home Mike Coletta for the Tigers’ first run of the game. In the next at-bat, Josh Day hit an RBI groundout to short that allowed Ty Wilmsmeyer to score from third.

The Tigers threatened to tie the game in the top of the ninth as they put two runners on first and second with nobody out. After a De Sedas groundout advanced Wilmsmeyer to second and Lovich to third, Day hit a sac fly to center to score Lovich and cut UT’s lead to 4-3.

Walsh battled back and shut down the rally as he got Mizzou’s Trevor Austin to hit a game-ending groundout to third.

Austin Marozas got the start on the mound for Mizzou and threw 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. The right-hander suffered the loss and is now 1-1 on the year.

UP NEXT

Tennessee will play Tennessee Tech in a neutral-site game at Smokies Stadium in nearby Kodak, Tennessee, next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET before hosting Alabama at Lindsey Nelson Stadium next weekend.

NOTABLES

ANOTHER QUALITY START: Drew Beam had another quality outing Sunday and has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in his last four starts.

REDMOND SAVES THE DAY: With Redmond Walsh’s save on Sunday, he now has 21 career saves. The graduate senior is now two behind VFL Todd Helton for the most in program history.

LUC’S BOMBS: Luc Lipcius’s two home runs against Missouri on Sunday is the second multi-home run game of his career. His last multi-home run game came against Liberty on June 5, 2021.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: #1 Vols Sweep Missouri, Make History with 12-0 Start to SEC Play

Stats/Story: #1 Vols Sweep Missouri, Make History with 12-0 Start to SEC Play

Posted on April 11, 2022

Box Score (PDF) | Series Stats vs. Mizzou (PDF)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – #1/1 Tennessee swept Missouri with a 4-3 victory Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, and made history as the first team to ever begin SEC play 12-0.

The Vols (31-1, 12-0 SEC) notched their seventh sweep of the season with the win, tying a program record and have now won 23 games in a row. That ties LSU for the second-most consecutive wins by an SEC team ever.

Vols 1B Luc Lipcius & team / Credit: UT Athletics

Drew Beam threw 6.1 innings Sunday and fanned a career-high seven batters as he earned his seventh victory of the season. The freshman allowed two runs on six hits before giving way to Will Mabrey. Mabrey tossed 1.1 innings in relief and was followed by Redmond Walsh out of the bullpen.

Walsh also threw 1.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits as he secured the win for UT and picked up his fifth save of the year.

Luc Lipcius started the scoring in the bottom of the third as he rocketed a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center field for his eighth long ball of the year. With a runner on in the home half of the fifth, the graduate senior belted his ninth homer of the season, a two-run shot deep to right to give the Vols a 3-0 lead.

UT tacked on another run in the fifth courtesy of a Drew Gilbert double to left. With Jordan Beck on first, Gilbert laced a 2-1 pitch to left-center as Beck raced around to score the Vols’ fourth run of the game.

Mizzou (18-11, 3-9) battled back with a pair of runs in the top half of the seventh, cutting the Vols’ lead to 4-2. Junior Nander De Sedas doubled to right-center to drive home Mike Coletta for the Tigers’ first run of the game. In the next at-bat, Josh Day hit an RBI groundout to short that allowed Ty Wilmsmeyer to score from third.

The Tigers threatened to tie the game in the top of the ninth as they put two runners on first and second with nobody out. After a De Sedas groundout advanced Wilmsmeyer to second and Lovich to third, Day hit a sac fly to center to score Lovich and cut UT’s lead to 4-3.

Walsh battled back and shut down the rally as he got Mizzou’s Trevor Austin to hit a game-ending groundout to third.

Austin Marozas got the start on the mound for Mizzou and threw 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. The right-hander suffered the loss and is now 1-1 on the year.

UP NEXT

Tennessee will play Tennessee Tech in a neutral-site game at Smokies Stadium in nearby Kodak, Tennessee, next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET before hosting Alabama at Lindsey Nelson Stadium next weekend.

NOTABLES

ANOTHER QUALITY START: Drew Beam had another quality outing Sunday and has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in his last four starts.

REDMOND SAVES THE DAY: With Redmond Walsh’s save on Sunday, he now has 21 career saves. The graduate senior is now two behind VFL Todd Helton for the most in program history.

LUC’S BOMBS: Luc Lipcius’s two home runs against Missouri on Sunday is the second multi-home run game of his career. His last multi-home run game came against Liberty on June 5, 2021.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: Beck’s Grand Slam Blasts #1/1 Vols to Series Win

Stats/Story: Beck’s Grand Slam Blasts #1/1 Vols to Series Win

Posted on April 11, 2022

Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE – No. 1/1 Tennessee homered four times to clinch a series victory over Missouri with a11-4 win Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee (30-1, 11-0 SEC) scored seven of its 11 runs by way of the home run Saturday night on Rocky Top. The Vols cranked back-to-back-to-back shots out of the park in the third inning, the first time in exactly three years UT has mashed three homers in a row, last done on April 9, 2019 against Lipscomb.

Four innings later, Jordan Beck collected the hit of the game, a laser-beam grand slam to put the Vols ahead by three in the sixth. It marked Beck’s first-career grand slam and the third hit by the Big Orange this season.

Vols OF Jordan Beck / Credit: UT Athletics

Chase Dollander won his sixth game of the season and struck out 10 batters over 6.2 innings of work. Dollander retired the last 10 batters he faced and currently leads the SEC in strikeouts with 70.

Missouri (18-10, 3-8 SEC) got on the board first, hitting back-to-back long balls in the first inning. The Vols quickly answered, smashing three straight long balls to left field in the bottom of the second. Trey Lipscomb started it off with a leadoff shot, followed by Jorel Ortega, then Evan Russell. Mizzou struck right back with two runs in the top of the third to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3, after three innings.

Both pitchers locked into a groove in the middle innings until Beck came to the plate with the bases loaded. With the crowd of 4,249 on its feet, feeling the intensity of the moment, the three-hole hitter got a thigh-high fastball and did not miss, sending a rocket out of Lindsey Nelson Stadium that came off the bat at 105 mph, giving the Vols a 7-3 lead after six innings.

UT added on three more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth. The first three batters of the seventh inning walked, then a Jared Dickey liner to center pushed Russell and Luc Lipcius home. In the eighth, Cortland Lawson doubled to the wall in left to put runners on second and third before Lipcius scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring for the Vols.

Sunday’s series finale will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

NOTABLE

SERIES SECURED: Tennessee captured its ninth series victory in a row Saturday night. The Volunteers could tie a program record for sweeps in a season with a win tomorrow, and would have a sweep in every series this season (not including tournaments).

HISTORIC RUN: Tennessee has tied the best start all-time in SEC history with its 11th consecutive victory to start the conference slate. The Vols already own the longest win-streak to start SEC play since the league expanded (for the first time) in 1992. LSU in 1991, Ole Miss in 1964 and Alabama in 1940 all started SEC play 11-0, as well.

4 JACKS TO THE POWER OF 10!: For the 10th time this season, the Vols blasted four home runs. The Vols went back-to-back-to-back for the first time since April 9, 2019 and hit their third grand slam of the year. Tennessee is averaging 2.48 homers through 31 games this season, which is on pace to be the third highest in NCAA history.

-UT Athletics

Stats/Story: Beck’s Grand Slam Blasts #1/1 Vols to Series Win

Stats/Story: Beck’s Grand Slam Blasts #1/1 Vols to Series Win

Posted on April 11, 2022

Box Score (PDF)

KNOXVILLE – No. 1/1 Tennessee homered four times to clinch a series victory over Missouri with a11-4 win Saturday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Tennessee (30-1, 11-0 SEC) scored seven of its 11 runs by way of the home run Saturday night on Rocky Top. The Vols cranked back-to-back-to-back shots out of the park in the third inning, the first time in exactly three years UT has mashed three homers in a row, last done on April 9, 2019 against Lipscomb.

Four innings later, Jordan Beck collected the hit of the game, a laser-beam grand slam to put the Vols ahead by three in the sixth. It marked Beck’s first-career grand slam and the third hit by the Big Orange this season.

Vols OF Jordan Beck / Credit: UT Athletics

Chase Dollander won his sixth game of the season and struck out 10 batters over 6.2 innings of work. Dollander retired the last 10 batters he faced and currently leads the SEC in strikeouts with 70.

Missouri (18-10, 3-8 SEC) got on the board first, hitting back-to-back long balls in the first inning. The Vols quickly answered, smashing three straight long balls to left field in the bottom of the second. Trey Lipscomb started it off with a leadoff shot, followed by Jorel Ortega, then Evan Russell. Mizzou struck right back with two runs in the top of the third to put the Tigers ahead, 4-3, after three innings.

Both pitchers locked into a groove in the middle innings until Beck came to the plate with the bases loaded. With the crowd of 4,249 on its feet, feeling the intensity of the moment, the three-hole hitter got a thigh-high fastball and did not miss, sending a rocket out of Lindsey Nelson Stadium that came off the bat at 105 mph, giving the Vols a 7-3 lead after six innings.

UT added on three more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth. The first three batters of the seventh inning walked, then a Jared Dickey liner to center pushed Russell and Luc Lipcius home. In the eighth, Cortland Lawson doubled to the wall in left to put runners on second and third before Lipcius scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring for the Vols.

Sunday’s series finale will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

NOTABLE

SERIES SECURED: Tennessee captured its ninth series victory in a row Saturday night. The Volunteers could tie a program record for sweeps in a season with a win tomorrow, and would have a sweep in every series this season (not including tournaments).

HISTORIC RUN: Tennessee has tied the best start all-time in SEC history with its 11th consecutive victory to start the conference slate. The Vols already own the longest win-streak to start SEC play since the league expanded (for the first time) in 1992. LSU in 1991, Ole Miss in 1964 and Alabama in 1940 all started SEC play 11-0, as well.

4 JACKS TO THE POWER OF 10!: For the 10th time this season, the Vols blasted four home runs. The Vols went back-to-back-to-back for the first time since April 9, 2019 and hit their third grand slam of the year. Tennessee is averaging 2.48 homers through 31 games this season, which is on pace to be the third highest in NCAA history.

-UT Athletics

Cole Swindell is Ready for the Rush of Energy by Singing “Never Say Never” with Lainey Wilson

Cole Swindell is Ready for the Rush of Energy by Singing “Never Say Never” with Lainey Wilson

Posted on April 11, 2022

Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson‘s “Never Say Never” is at number-5 (and climbing) on the Billboard airplay chart.

“Never Say Never” is one of the 13 tracks on Cole’s recently released album, Stereotype.

The song is also nominated at this year’s CMT Music Awards for Video Of The Year.

Cole and Lainey will be singing “Never Say Never” during the show, and Cole can’t wait, “I’m very excited, I mean to have a song doing that’s this well at radio, and just the response has been, at to have never sang it live together, I think people are gonna love that. I’ve certainly been waiting on it, and I know she is too. So, I’m ready to perform live…gosh, I’ve missed that feeling and that rush of energy knowing you’re on live television.”

Tune into CBS TV to watch Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson perform “Never Say Never” on the CMT Music Awards Monday April 11th.

Photo Courtesy of Cole Swindell

Caitlyn Smith Feels Like the Cool Mom at the CMT Music Awards

Caitlyn Smith Feels Like the Cool Mom at the CMT Music Awards

Posted on April 11, 2022

Caitlyn Smith is happy just to be nominated, “”I’m so pumped it’s crazy!”

Caitlyn’s “I Can’t” – with Old Dominion – is up for Breakthrough Video Of The Year at the CMT Music Video Awards this year.

Caitlyn says “You know I grew up watching all these awards shows and really dreaming like maybe someday I can do that that’d be so fun. It just feels so cool to be now like a 35 year old mom (laugh) getting to play on the CMT Awards! I feel just so dang grateful (laugh)”

Caitlyn just released her latest album, High.

High includes “Downtown Baby” – Caitlyn Smith’s current single at country radio.

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

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