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This Week in Baseball - April 1

The Vols are looking to rebound after dropping this past weekend's series against #2 South Carolina (24-3), the second consecutive weekend series loss for Tennessee. This was the first time this season that the Vols have been swept. Tennessee had placed themselves in position to win in 2 of this past weekends games, but a combination of sloppy fielding and sub-par pitching at times helped South Carolina stay alive.

The Vols host ETSU in a midweek matchup, then Vanderbilt as their second consecutive top 5 ranked weekend opponent. Tennessee has won 3 in a row against ETSU, and have dropped 5 in a row to Vanderbilt.

The SEC is incredibly deep this year, with Missouri (3 weekends ago), Georgia(next weekend), and LSU being Tennessee's lone non-ranked SEC opponents.

Tennessee in the Polls: Perfect Game #25 (Last week 20), National Collegiate Baseball Writers #28 (23)

What the Vols are Doing Well:
Fielding Percentage - .982. 6th Nationally. 2nd SEC.
Stolen Bases - 50 total. 8th Nationally. 2nd SEC.
Triples - 10 total. 24th Nationally. 1st SEC.
WHIP - 1.20. 37th Nationally. 8th SEC.
Fallen out of top 40: ERA, Runs, On Base Percentage

Last Week: 0-3

  • Friday March 28, 2014 vs South Carolina: South Carolina 3, Vols 2 in 14 Innings. After an hour and a half rain delay, the Vols and Gamecocks took the field. Tennessee managed to take a 1 run lead twice in the game, in the 4th and the 8th, but blew both leads. The Vols managed to load the bases in the 10th after ending regulation tied, but were unable to capitalize. The game was suspended due to weather in the 12th. The Vols came back on Saturday and got 2 runners on in the 14th, but were thrown out at home on bunt. South Carolina hit a walk off home run in their half of the 14th to win.
  • Saturday March 29, 2014 vs South Carolina: South Carolina 9 - Vols 6. Tennessee responded fast on Saturday after finishing game 1, and put up 6 runs through the first 4 innings. Carolina responded with 3 of their own prior to the 9th, cutting the lead to 3. Tennessee got a quick 2 outs to start the 9th, but then gave up a single and 2 run homer. The next batter popped out to right field, which should have ended the game. The ball was dropped however, and a walked batter and hit batter loaded the bases for Carolina. With a 0-1 count, Greiner hit a grand slam to end the game, South Carolina's 2nd walkoff of the day.
  • Sunday March 30, 2014 vs South Carolina: South Carolina 8 - Vols 0. After a disappointing Saturday, the Vols' bats fell silent Sunday, with only 1 batter (Schultz) getting multiple hits. The Gamecocks punished Andrew Lee, who had previously been undefeated. He gave up 7 earned runs on 10 hits and 4 walks.

This Week: ?-?

  • #25 Tennessee ( 19-7) (3-6) vs ETSU (13-13) (4-2)

    April 1, 2014
    First pitch: 6 p.m. ET at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, TN
    Live Audio: via The Sports Animal
    Internet Video: via UT Sports
    Live Stats: Gametracker
    Probable Starting Pitchers
    : UT LHP Andy Cox (3-0, 1.27 ERA) vs ETSU RHP Griffin Krieg (0-0, 4.50)

  • #25 Tennessee ( 19-7) (3-6) vs #5 Vanderbilt (23-6) (5-4)

    April 4-6, 2014
    First pitch: 6 p.m. ET Friday, 7 p.m. ET Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, Knoxville, TN
    Television: Saturday on CSS
    Live Audio: Saturday via UT Sports
    Internet Video: Friday and Sunday via UT Sports
    Live Stats: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
    Probable Starting Pitchers:
    UT RHP Nick Williams (3-2, 1.96 ERA) vs VU RHP Tyler Beede (4-3, 2.47)
    UT RHP Hunter Martin (2-1, 1.14) vs VU LHP Jared Miller (6-1, 1.73)
    UT RHP Andrew Lee (3-1, 5.25) vs VU RHP Tyler Ferguson (5-0, 1.36)

    Saturday is Tennessee's 2nd televised game of the year, the previous being a 4-2 loss to Auburn on March 22nd.

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