TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following a dominant doubleheader sweep of Bellarmine on Tuesday afternoon, the No. 21 Tennessee softball team returns to SEC play for a three-game weekend series with the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
BROADCAST INFO
Friday and Sunday’s games will be broadcasted live on ESPNU, while Saturday’s matchup can be seen online on SEC Network+. All three games can be streamed through WatchESPN through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
All three contests can also be heard on your local Vol Network affiliate and online on UTsports.com. Brian Rice will be heard describing the action.
QUICK HITS SHIP, SHIP, HOORAY
Junior catcher Ally Shipman found her offensive footing in Tuesday’s victories over Bellarmine. The Valencia, California native went 4-for-6 at the dish with five RBIs and five runs scored and blasted a two-run homer in game one to put the Lady Vols up 19-0.
BOMBS AWAY
Through 23 games the Lady Vols rank second in the SEC in home runs with 38 long balls (1.65 HR/game), behind only this weekend’s opponent, Alabama.
Their 1.65 homers per contest currently outpaces the HR/game ratio of the stellar 2015 squad that sent 100 pitches yard on its way to the 2015 Women’s College World Series.
SHE’S ONE TOUGH COOKIE
Redshirt-senior third baseman Chelsea Seggern was plunked with a pitch during Tuesday’s doubleheader, marking the sixth time she’s been hit by a pitch this season and the 35th time in her career. That number places her in a tie for first on UT’s all-time HBP list with LVFL Cheyanne Turango.
SCOUTING ALABAMA Record: 22-1 Overall, 3-0 SEC Series Record: Alabama Leads, 25-37 Last Outing: A 4-0 win for the Crimson Tide on April 23, 2018 in Tuscaloosa. Key Player/Stat: Alabama is off to a flying start to begin the 2020-21 season, holding a sparkling 22-1 overall record, while being fresh off a three-game sweep of in-state rival Auburn to open SEC play. Entering this weekend’s series, the Lady Vols and Crimson Tide hold the top two spots in the SEC in stolen bases, combining for 89 taken bags. Alabama also leads the SEC in team ERA (0.97) and ranks second in the league in strikeouts as a pitching staff, fanning 195 total batters through 23 games.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend’s series, Tennessee will return home for a mid-week twin bill with Kennesaw State on Wednesday night. First pitches for those contests are slated for 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET from Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
ATHENS, Ga. – Fresh off a walk-off win over in-state rival ETSU, No. 10 Tennessee enters conference play on a high note as the Volunteers head south to take on the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend in Athens.
The Big Orange have won four straight entering their SEC opening series while the Bulldogs have won six in a row coming into the matchup between SEC East rivals. The Vols and Dawgs open their three-game series on Friday at 6 p.m.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games between Tennessee and Georgia will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus and the ESPN app with Matt Stewart and Jason Jacobs on the call.
Fans can also listen live as the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson calls the action on the UT Gameday App and UTSports.com. Friday’s series opener will also be broadcast on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) following the conclusion of the men’s basketball game against Oregon State. Radio broadcasts for Saturday and Sunday’s contests will depend on men’s and women’s basketball coverage.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1: RHP Chad Dallas (2-0) vs. LHP Luke Wagner (3-0) Game 2: LHP Will Heflin (2-1) vs. LHP Ryan Webb (2-0) Game 3: RHP Blade Tidwell (2-1) vs. RHP Jonathan Cannon (1-0)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Georgia leads, 120-119
In Knoxville: UT leads, 66-51
In Athens: UGA leads, 69-50
Neutral Sites: UT leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: L, 7-1 (April 13, 2019)
Georgia leads the all-time series by the slimmest of margins with a 120-119 record against UT. The Vols are 3-3 in their last six games played in Athens.
NOTABLE
One More for 100
Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello needs just one more victory to earn his 100th career win. If Vitello is able to secure that victory in the Vols’ next 10 games, he would become the fastest head coach in program history to reach 100 wins, eclipsing Rod Delmonico (1990-2007), who did it in 163 games.
Bats Come Alive
After some early-season inconsistencies at the plate, Tennessee seems to have found its stroke heading into conference play. The Vols have scored nine or more runs in their previous three games and have recorded double-digit hits in three of their last four.
UT had its best offensive series of the season in last weekend’s sweep of UNC Greensboro. The Vols scored 29 runs on 38 hits while batting .373 as a team. UT recorded a new season high with 20 hits in Saturday’s 14-9 victory to clinch the series and scored nine more runs on 10 hits in Sunday’s series finale.
Vols in the Top 10
Tennessee is ranked No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches’ Top 25, marking its first appearance in the top 10 of any poll since March 13, 2006 when the Vols were ranked as high as No. 5 by Baseball America. UT is ranked in the Top 25 in five of the six major college baseball polls this week: USA Today (No. 10), NCBWA (No. 11), D1Baseball.com (No. 13), Baseball America (No. 18), Perfect Game (No. 19).
Walk-Off Wins
The Vols recorded their second walk-off win on Tuesday night vs. ETSU. Sophomore outfielder Jordan Beck hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to give UT a 9-6 win. It was his second home run of the night after also hitting a solo shot in the second.
The walk-off homer was the first for the Vols since April 25, 2010 in a 4-2 win vs. Vanderbilt, when VFL Blake Forsythe hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning. Tennessee’s other walk-off win this season came against Indiana State on Feb. 28. Luc Lipcius scored on a throwing error in the 11th to give the Vols a 6-5 win over the Sycamores.
Walsh’s Impressive Streak Continues
Redshirt senior closer Redmond Walsh has not allowed an earned run in his last 13 appearances, a total of 27.0 innings pitched. The last earned run Walsh allowed was against Liberty on June 2, 2019 in the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. He also leads all active pitchers in NCAA Division I baseball with a 1.13 career earned run average.
The Louisville, Tennessee, native struck out five of the six batters he faced in 1.2 shutout innings to record his third save of the season last Friday against UNCG, moving him into sole possession of third on the Vols’ career saves list with 14. He needs four more saves to tie Sean Watson, who had 18 from 2004-06, for second all-time at UT.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Georgia Bulldogs
2021 Record: 13-3 (0-0 SEC)
2019 Postseason: NCAA Athens Regional
Head Coach: Scott Stricklin (8th season) // Led Georgia to top eight national seeds in the past two NCAA Tournaments (2018 & 2019).
Georgia was picked to finish fifth in the SEC Eastern Division in the preseason coaches’ poll.
The Bulldogs enter the series on a six-game winning streak after sweeping Lipscomb at home last weekend and are ranked No. 7 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll.
Georgia has been strong offensively and, on the mound, so far this season, ranking fourth in the SEC with a .300 team batting average and second in the league with a 2.35 team ERA.
Connor Tate leads the Dawgs with a .410 batting average and 11 runs scored while Corey Collins leads the team with four homers and 16 RBI.
LHP Noah Webb has been one of the top weekend starters in the SEC. He has yet to allow a run in three starts and boasts a 2-0 record with 19 strikeouts in 12.2 innings pitched.
ON DECK
The Vols kick off a five-game homestand next Tuesday night against Eastern Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus and the ESPN app.
This Sunday, March 21st, actor Matthew McConaughey will be hosting the We’re Texas – A Virtual Benefit.
Matthew posted, “We’re Texas, a virtual revival where we can all come together to help Texas recover from the winter storm. Join me, Camila McConaughey, J.K. Livin Foundation and an ALL-STAR Texas lineup. You can watch the concert on March 21 at 7pm CST on YouTube.com/MatthewMcConaughey — 100% of all the donations will benefit so many organizations on the ground now and in the months to come. To donate or learn more go to jklivinFoundation.org“
Matthew also stopped by the Kelly Clarkson show to talk about the Benefit…
Check out the We’re Texas – A Virtual Benefit for appearances from Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, Clint Black, Randy Rogers, Kelly Clarkson, Parker McCollum, Post Malone, Don Henley, Leon Bridges, Khalid, Gary Clark, Jr. and many, many more.
Priscilla Block shared with fans a video recap of her 2020.
Filled with powerfully emotional moments, and an incredible success story, Priscilla says, “The past year has been life changing for me and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I can’t wait to see what is to come and I am so thankful that I get to bring each of you along with me for this journey!”
Check out the video recap of Priscilla’s 2020 right here…
And you can also see the music video for “Just About Over You” right here…
Carly Pearce recently shared a video that features part of the her life story with narration from Grand Ole Opry legend Jeannie Seely.
Carly and Jeannie have not only been friends for years, but they are also neighbors. Jeannie was more than happy to add her voice track to the video sharing Carly’s highlights, she says, “Oh I’m so proud to share this amazing young lady’s story…a success story based on talent, truth, hard work, perseverance and a humble, healthy sense of pride! Be inspired by her.”
Carly added, “What an honor to have my gal Jeannie Seely tell part of my story. Thank you sister… I can’t wait for our next wine night!”
Check out the video here…
Carly will be making another return appearance to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry this weekend — where she’ll likely be treating fans to this song. From her collection of music titled 29, this is the music video for Carly Pearce’s “Next Girl.”
99.1 THE Sports Animal Knoxville hosts Vince Ferrara, Josh Ward, Tyler Ivens and Joel Silverberg had a roundtable discussion about the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the Lady Vols in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Note: Vince was looking at another camera at the beginning that wasn’t being used, but he adjusted. We are aware of that.
Niko Moon was definitely having a “Good Time” when a trip to the Gibson Guitar offices resulted in him being presented with a custom guitar!
Niko says, “Today was a EPIC! I got to hangout with my friends at Gibson & they surprised me with my custom guitar!”
Niko shared, “I’ve been working with them on creating this one of a kind beauty for about a year now and I can’t believe it’s finally here!!”
Of course, now Niko only wants to do one thing with his new custom guitar, “Can’t wait to get out and play this LIVE!!!”
Which it looks like if things go to plan, he’ll have a few dates coming up over the next couple of months! For date and venue info, head to NikoMoon.com
When he does get out on stage, we’re sure Niko Moon will be playing this one — it’s his number-one song “Good Time”…
It turns out that “Girl In a Country Song” had it’s 7th Anniversary yesterday.
Maddie & Tae shared, “When we sat down on St. Patrick’s Day 2014 to write a song, we never could have imagined how it would change our lives! Happy Birthday, “Girl In A Country Song”! You are the song that started it all for us maybe a little luck but for sure all God and His cool plans.”
Check out the video of the song that started it all for Maddie & Tae…
Thanks to his grandfather, Brett Eldredge listened to the music of Frank Sinatra growing up and developed a love for his music.
Brett says, “You know, all my other friends are listening to Backstreet Boys, or Garth Brooks or whatever…not that I wasn’t listening to whatever was on the radio at that time, but I just feel the world is more colorful and magical when I hear his music, and I think that’s always a beautiful thing…it definitely strikes my brain.”
In his own career, Brett has used Ole Blue Eyes as an influence…and now he’s even included him in the lyrics to his new song.
“Good Day” starts with Brett singing how listening to Sinatra will kick off a good day…listen, and watch for yourself…
