University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, April 19
Lexington, Ky.
6:30 PM
University of Tennessee
at
Kentucky
BSB PREVIEW: #2 Vols Head North for Top-Five Showdown at #3 Kentucky
April 18, 2024 | Baseball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 2/4 Tennessee makes the short drive north to Lexington for a highly-anticipated top-five SEC East showdown this weekend against No. 3/3 Kentucky.
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The Vols enter this weekend's series having won seven in a row overall as well as four straight conference series, including their first SEC sweep last weekend against No. 25 LSU.
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson call the action all series long on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) and its participating affiliates throughout the state. A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App. Â
GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (9 GS, 5-1, 3.16 ERA) vs. LHP Dominic Niman (7-2, 3.40 ERA)
GAME 3: LHP Zander Sechrist (9 GS, 1-0, 3.34 ERA) vs. RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 3.45 ERA)
in Knoxville: Vols lead, 103-72
in Lexington: Wildcats lead, 81-74
at Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 4-2
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: L, 10-0 – May 14, 2023 in Knoxville
UT and UK have split the last two regular-season series, each winning at home over the past two years. The Vols have played and beaten the Wildcats more than any other team other than Vanderbilt. Friday's series opener will be the 337th meeting between the two programs. Tennessee is 11-5 against Kentucky under head coach Tony Vitello.
During the Vitello era, Tennessee has played 36 SEC series against ranked teams and is 21-15 in those series with a 59-49 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 16-6 in such series with a 43-23 overall record, including three series wins and an 8-4 overall record this season.
This weekend will mark the fifth time since 2021 that UT will be part of a top-five showdown. The Vols are 2-2 in the previous four series with a pair of road sweeps in 2022 against No. 1 Ole Miss and No. 3 Vanderbilt. Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, Tennessee has claimed seven series victories under Vitello while posting 25 total wins against top-10 SEC opponents in the regular season.
Burke Making His Case for SEC Player of the Year
Blake Burke has evolved into one of the most well-rounded hitters in all of college baseball this season. The California native enters this weekend's series tied for first in the country with a career-high 20 doubles after combining for just nine in his first two seasons. He ranks 10th nationally and second in the SEC with a .422 batting average this season, as well.
Burke enters this weekend's series on a career-long 27-game hit streak, which is the longest current streak in the country and tied for the longest in program history with Condredge Holloway, who hit safely in 27 straight contests 49 years ago in 1975.
His 43 career homers are 18th nationally among active Division I players and the junior first baseman ranks fourth in the SEC in slugging (.859), fourth in hits (57), tied for fourth in total bases (116) and tied for seventh in runs (43), all of which are on pace to be career bests. In SEC only games, Burke leads the league in batting average by 30 points (.444) and also has the most hits (28) and doubles (eight).
Feeling Grand
With another grand slam in Tuesday's midweek win over Bellarmine, Tennessee has hit 10 on the year, which is tied for the fifth most in a single season in NCAA history and tied for the most ever by an SEC team with the 1998 LSU Tigers, who played 67 games. The Big Orange have accomplished the feat in just 37 games and are chasing the NCAA single-season record of 14 by Arizona State in 2003 (68 games).Â
MORE INFO
Game & Broadcast Info
- Opponent: Kentucky Wildcats
- Dates: April 19-21
- Location: Lexington, Ky.
- Venue: Kentucky Proud Park
- Watch: SEC Network+/ESPN App Â
- Listen: Vol Network
- Live Stats: UTSports.com
- Game 1: Friday, April 19 – 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 2: Saturday, April 20 – 2 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 3: Sunday, April 21 – 1 p.m. (SEC Network+)
#2/4 Tennessee (31-6 | 10-5 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats Notes#3/3 Kentucky (31-5 | 14-1 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats UT Baseball Record Book Tickets Gameday Info Follow @UTGameday Official Gameday App Buy Tennessee GearÂ
The Vols enter this weekend's series having won seven in a row overall as well as four straight conference series, including their first SEC sweep last weekend against No. 25 LSU.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for this weekend's series can be purchased through Kentucky Athletics by clicking HERE.BROADCAST INFO
Dick Gabriel (PxP) and Doug Flynn (analyst) will have the call for all three contests this weekend as the entire series will be streamed online via SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson call the action all series long on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) and its participating affiliates throughout the state. A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App. Â
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
GAME 1: LHP Chris Stamos (1 GS, 3-0, 3.45 ERA) vs. RHP Trey Pooser (3-0, 4.11 ERA)GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (9 GS, 5-1, 3.16 ERA) vs. LHP Dominic Niman (7-2, 3.40 ERA)
GAME 3: LHP Zander Sechrist (9 GS, 1-0, 3.34 ERA) vs. RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 3.45 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Vols lead, 181-155in Knoxville: Vols lead, 103-72
in Lexington: Wildcats lead, 81-74
at Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 4-2
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: L, 10-0 – May 14, 2023 in Knoxville
UT and UK have split the last two regular-season series, each winning at home over the past two years. The Vols have played and beaten the Wildcats more than any other team other than Vanderbilt. Friday's series opener will be the 337th meeting between the two programs. Tennessee is 11-5 against Kentucky under head coach Tony Vitello.
NOTABLE
Vols vs. Ranked Foes in SEC SeriesDuring the Vitello era, Tennessee has played 36 SEC series against ranked teams and is 21-15 in those series with a 59-49 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 16-6 in such series with a 43-23 overall record, including three series wins and an 8-4 overall record this season.
This weekend will mark the fifth time since 2021 that UT will be part of a top-five showdown. The Vols are 2-2 in the previous four series with a pair of road sweeps in 2022 against No. 1 Ole Miss and No. 3 Vanderbilt. Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, Tennessee has claimed seven series victories under Vitello while posting 25 total wins against top-10 SEC opponents in the regular season.
Burke Making His Case for SEC Player of the Year
Blake Burke has evolved into one of the most well-rounded hitters in all of college baseball this season. The California native enters this weekend's series tied for first in the country with a career-high 20 doubles after combining for just nine in his first two seasons. He ranks 10th nationally and second in the SEC with a .422 batting average this season, as well.
Burke enters this weekend's series on a career-long 27-game hit streak, which is the longest current streak in the country and tied for the longest in program history with Condredge Holloway, who hit safely in 27 straight contests 49 years ago in 1975.
His 43 career homers are 18th nationally among active Division I players and the junior first baseman ranks fourth in the SEC in slugging (.859), fourth in hits (57), tied for fourth in total bases (116) and tied for seventh in runs (43), all of which are on pace to be career bests. In SEC only games, Burke leads the league in batting average by 30 points (.444) and also has the most hits (28) and doubles (eight).
Feeling Grand
With another grand slam in Tuesday's midweek win over Bellarmine, Tennessee has hit 10 on the year, which is tied for the fifth most in a single season in NCAA history and tied for the most ever by an SEC team with the 1998 LSU Tigers, who played 67 games. The Big Orange have accomplished the feat in just 37 games and are chasing the NCAA single-season record of 14 by Arizona State in 2003 (68 games).Â
OPPONENT SCOUT
Kentucky Wildcats (31-5, 14-1 SEC)- Head Coach: Nick Mingione (8th season)
- 2023 Postseason: NCAA Baton Rouge Super Regional (0-2)
- Rankings: D1Baseball – 3 | USA Today – 5 | Baseball America – 7 | NCBWA – 4 | Perfect Game – 7
- 2024 SEC Preseason Poll: 5th in Eastern Division
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (1)
- C Devin Burkes (2nd Team)
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Nick Lopez (.403)
- Runs: Nick Lopez (39)
- Hits: Nick Lopez (52)
- Home Runs: Ryan Nicholson (11)
- RBI: Ryan Nicholson (37)
- Stolen Bases: Emilien Pitre (19)
- Wins: Moore / Niman (7)
- Saves: Johnny Hummel (4)
- ERA (min. 15 IP): Johnny Hummel (0.96)
- WHIP (min. 15 IP): Johnny Hummel (0.60)
- Innings Pitched: Dominic Niman (53.0)
- Strikeouts: Dominic Niman (47)
- Opp. Avg (min. 15 IP): Robert Hogan (.074)
ON DECK
The Vols are home all next week, hosting Western Carolina on Tuesday, April 23 before taking on Missouri next weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
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