KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/8 Tennessee carries a seven-game winning streak into this weekend’s series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium against Bowling Green.
The Vols also boast a perfect 6-0 record at home this season after going 5-0 last week before picking up another victory on Rocky Top on Tuesday against High Point.
TICKET INFORMATION
Limited single-game tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased through AllVols.com.
If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make it to a baseball game this season, you now have the option to donate your non-conference tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All non-conference ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
As we prepare for the next phase in renovations, please pardon our progress… and our dust. Once completed, Lindsey Nelson Stadium will offer fans an unrivaled experience and be among the nation’s finest college baseball venues. We appreciate your support and patience when you enter Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. Please be advised changes may occur from game to game.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games will be streamed online via SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Andy Brock (PxP) and Caylan Arnold (analyst) on the call.
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network with all three games this weekend airing on AM 990. A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
GAME 1: RHP AJ Causey (1-0, 1.17 ERA) vs. RHP DJ Newman (1-1, 3.60 ERA)
GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (1-0, 2.53 ERA) vs. LHP Nic Good (0-0, 8.59 ERA)
GAME 3: TBD vs. TBD
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 6-1
in Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 6-1
in Bowling Green: N/A
at Neutral Sites: N/A
Last Meeting: W, 5-2 in 8 inn. (Feb. 23, 2003, in Knoxville)
UT swept a doubleheader the last time the two programs met back in 2003. The Vols’ only loss to the Falcons was a 15-11 setback in the series finale of a weekend series on Feb. 17, 2002.
NOTABLE
Tennessee Under Tony V
During head coach Tony Vitello’s tenure (2018-pres.), Tennessee has emerged into a national power with four straight NCAA regional appearances, three consecutive super regionals and two trips to Omaha. UT is the only SEC program and one of just four teams nationally (Stanford, Texas & Virginia) to have appeared in the Men’s College World Series in two of the last three seasons (2021 & 2023).
Tennessee’s 159 victories since the start of the 2021 season are the most of any team in the country, 13 wins more than the second place Texas, which has 146 in that same span. The Vols are the only team in the country to record multiple seasons of 50 or more wins in the last three years.
Canada’s Finest
Quebec native Robin Villeneuve burst onto the scene with some impressive showings at the plate last week and has emerged as yet another weapon for Tennessee’s loaded lineup. The junior slugger hit his first two homers at the Division I level last week after leading the junior college ranks with 28 long balls last season at Weatherford College in Texas. Villeneuve’s tape-measure blast in Saturday’s victory over UAlbany traveled an estimated 448 feet according to Trackman, which is UT’s longest home run this season.
Villeneuve continued his hot hitting with two more hits and three more RBIs in Tuesday’s midweek win over High Point. Entering this weekend, Villeneuve leads the team with a .563 batting average, 1.063 slugging percentage, .696 on-base percentage and a 1.750 OPS while ranking 12th nationally in batting average and third in on-base percentage.
Tears on a Tear
Redshirt sophomore outfielder Kavares Tears has been red-hot to open the 2024 season, batting .462 with 11 RBIs while leading the team with four home runs and 15 runs scored. The Lewisburg, Tennessee, native, posted career highs with three hits and three runs in Tuesday’s midweek victory over High Point.
Non-Conference Dominance
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 128-24 record in that span. The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 12 of their 14 regular-season non-conference weekend series since the start of the 2020 campaign. Under Vitello, Tennessee is also an impressive 67-10 overall in midweek games.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Bowling Green Falcons (2-4, 0-0 MAC)
Head Coach: Kyle Hallock (4th season)
2023 Record: 20-30 (13-17 MAC)
2023 Postseason: N/A
2024 Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll: 8th
Players to Watch:
– RHP/OF DJ Newman: Two-way player than was named to the All-MAC Team as well as the league’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2023. Leads team with a .423 batting average.
– OF Nathan Archer: Led team with nine homers in 2023 and has a team-high 10 RBIs this season.
– UTL Leighton Banjoff: Batting .375 and is tied for team lead with two home runs.
ON DECK
The Vols will play two midweek games next week, starting with Tuesday’s matchup against Kansas State at 6 p.m. UT will then host Southern Indiana on Wednesday night before welcoming Illinois to Knoxville over the weekend.
Source: University Of Tennessee
