Tennessee Vols at the Tony Gwynn Classic

Tonight Tennessee continues their season opening road trip as they play a double header at the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego against Seton Hall and San Diego State. Tomorrow they’ll face UC Irvine in their final game of this trip.

The Vols opened the season this past weekend in Memphis for a three game series against the Tigers, where they won two of three. UT started the season fast, scoring two runs in the first on Friday on a throwing error and RBI single by Andre Lipcius. Memphis responded with a two out double and RBI triple to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame. Tennessee added five more runs in the fourth, including a two run homer by Jordan Rodgers, as well as one run in the fifth on a Jeff Moberg RBI single. The Tigers would strike back with two runs in the fifth and runs in the 6th and 8th but the Vols held on to the 8-5 lead to win the opener.

Game two saw the Vols again get off to the early lead on Jeff Moberg’s solo home run in the first. The lead would not last as Zach Warren gave up two runs in the fourth on an RBI ground out and a wild pitch. Memphis would add two more in the eighth inning on a two run homer to give the Tigers the 4-1 win.

Tennessee's bats came back to life on Sunday as the Vols had 18 hits in their 10-0 victory. The scoring started early with seven Vols scoring in the second inning (six of which scored with two outs). The Vols were led by Andre Lipcius who went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Jordan Rodgers who was 4 for 5 with two runs and one RBI. Will Neely had a great outing, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out two in six innings.

After Memphis the Vols traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Loyola Marymount Lions Wednesday night. For the fourth straight game the Vols got on the board first, with Rodgers driving one home in the first on an RBI sacrifice fly. Justin Ammons added an RBI ground out in the second which, along with a two RBI single by Rodgers, gave the Vols the 4-0 lead. LMU would strike back scoring three in the bottom of the second after three errors, a hit batter, and an RBI single. The game would be tied back up after a solo homer by LMU in the fourth. Tennessee would again take a four run lead after three runs in the seventh and one in the top of the 9th. LMU would load the bases twice in the final three innings but were unable to get a run across and the Vols would hold on to the 8-4 win.

The Vols lead the all-time series with Seton Hall 3-0 after sweeping them in a series in 2012. Tennessee and San Diego State have not met before in baseball. The Vols and Anteaters are tied 3-3 all-time, having met the past two seasons in a home-and-home series. The Vols took two of three last year in Knoxville.

Seton Hall opened the season in Florida where they split a four game series against Michigan. The Pirates won the opening and closing games while dropping both games of the double header on Saturday. The Pirates were picked by the Big East coaches to finish fourth in the seven team conference.

SDSU started the season at home against Pacific, winning two of three. They then traveled this week to UC Irvine where they lost 7-5 and Cal State Fullerton where they won 5-4. The Aztecs were picked to finish fourth as well in their seven team conference by the Mountain West coaches in their preseason poll.

UC Irvine opened the season at home against Minnesota, splitting two games after the first game of the series was postponed. As mentioned before they then hosted San Diego State on Tuesday and won 7-5. Last night saw the Anteaters crush Notre Dame to open the Tony Gwynn Classic 18-4.

After this weekend the Vols will return to Knoxville where they will play eleven of their next thirteen games. First on the slate for them will be Norfolk State for a three game series starting next Friday.

The Tony Gwynn Classic 2017

Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) vs Seton Hall Pirates (2-2)

Date: Friday, February 24, 2017
First Pitch: 4 p.m. ET at Tony Gwynn Stadium, San Diego, CA
Live Audio: Seton Hall
Probable Starting Pitchers: UT RHP Hunter Martin (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs SHU RHP Shane McCarthy (0-0, 8.31 ERA)

Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) at San Diego State Aztecs (3-2)

Date: Friday, February 24, 2017
First Pitch: 9 p.m. ET at Tony Gwynn Stadium, San Diego, CA
Internet Video: SDSU
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Probable Starting Pitchers: UT LHP Zach Warren (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs SDSU LHP Brett Seeburger (1-0, 1.59 ERA)

Tennessee Volunteers (3-1) vs UC Irvine Anteaters (3-1)

Date: Saturday, February 25, 2017
First Pitch: 5 p.m. ET at Fowler Park, San Diego, CA
Live Audio: UC Irvine
Live Stats: GameTracker
Probable Starting Pitchers: UT RHP Will Neely (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs UCI TBA