University of Tennessee Athletics
Thursday, April 25
Knoxville, Tenn.
7:30 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Missouri
BSB PREVIEW: #3 Vols Look to Stay Hot Against Missouri
April 24, 2024 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/3 Tennessee will look to keep things rolling in conference play as it plays host to Missouri for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium beginning on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Â
The Vols have won each of their last five SEC series after securing a top-five road series victory at previously No. 3 ranked Kentucky last weekend in Lexington. Â
Free parking is also available at Lots 65/66 (behind the Vet School) beginning at 4:30 p.m., as well as, the G17 Terrace Ave Garage (1800 Lake Ave), G12 White Ave Garage (1621 White Ave), Staff/C22 and on-street parking on Volunteer Blvd. West from Todd Helton Dr. to Andy Holt Ave.Â
More information as well as a parking map can be found HERE.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you're a season ticket holder and can't make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your 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 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.Â
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara 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 (10 GS, 5-1, 3.40 ERA)
GAME 3: TBD
in Knoxville: Tigers lead, 8-7
in Columbia: Tigers lead, 9-6
at Neutral Sites: N/A
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: L, 7-1 – March 19, 2023 in Columbia, Mo.
Tennessee will be looking to exact a little bit of revenge after being swept to begin SEC play last season at Missouri. The Vols had won six straight against the Tigers prior to last year's trip to CoMo after posting back-to-back series sweeps in 2021 and 2022.
The Big Orange have been extremely tough to beat at home over the past three-plus years thanks in large part to having one of the best home field advantages in college baseball. The Vols are 141-23 when playing at Lindsey Nelson Stadium since the start of the 2020 season, including a 27-2 mark this year after going 33-5 at home in 2023 with six series sweeps, marking the program's third consecutive season with 30 or more home victories.
UT's 27 home victories this season are tied for the most in the country while their .931 winning percentage at home ranks ninth nationally.
CMo Making Case for SEC Player of the Year
Christian Moore is having an SEC Player of the Year caliber season and proved yet again why he is one of the most complete hitters in all of college baseball with some massive performances in last weekend's top-five series win at No. 3 Kentucky.
The New York native had at least one hit and one RBI in each of the three games and was nearly impossible to get out in UT's back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday, combining to go 8-for-11 with five runs scored, four home runs and eight RBIs in those two contests. Moore tied his career high with four base hits in each of those games and set or tied career bests with four runs, three homers and six RBIs in Sunday's rubber game. His three long balls tied the single-game program record and also moved him into first place on Tennessee's career home runs list with 46, passing current teammate Blake Burke (44).
The junior infielder leads the team with a career-high 19 home runs entering this weekend and is second on the team with 45 RBIs. Moore has been especially productive in league play, leading the SEC in hits (33), home runs (13), RBIs (28) and total bases (78) while also ranking among the league leaders in batting average (.407), slugging percentage (.963) and runs (22). Moore was named the SEC Player of the Week for the second time in the last three weeks on Monday and was also tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
SEC Success Under Vitello
During the five-plus seasons in which Tennessee has played SEC games under head coach Tony Vitello, the Vols are 99-69 in league play. In the six full seasons prior to Vitello taking over (2012-17), UT was 81-120 in SEC play. Tennessee is 73-35 in SEC regular-season play since 2021, which is the best record in the league in that span, half a game better than Arkansas (72-36). Including postseason games, the Vols are 81-38 against SEC foes since 2021.
The Vols have posted 14 series sweeps in conference play under Vitello: 2024 (1), 2023 (3), 2022 (6), 2021 (2), 2019 (1), 2018 (1). In the six year's prior to Vitello taking over, (2012-17) UT swept just two SEC series.
MORE INFO
Game & Broadcast Info
- Opponent: Missouri Tigers
- Dates: April 25-27
- Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
- Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium
- Watch: SECN/SECN+Â
- Listen: Vol Network
- Live Stats: UTSports.com
- Game 1: Thursday, April 25 – 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
- Game 2: Friday, April 26 – 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- Game 3: Saturday, April 27 – 12 p.m. (SEC Network)
#3/3 Tennessee (34-7, 12-6 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats NotesMissouri (19-23, 6-12 SEC)
Roster Schedule Stats UT Baseball Record Book Tickets Gameday Central Follow @UTGameday Official Gameday App Buy Tennessee GearÂ
The Vols have won each of their last five SEC series after securing a top-five road series victory at previously No. 3 ranked Kentucky last weekend in Lexington. Â
PARKING ADVISORY
Fans attending Friday's game should plan on arriving early and expect heaving traffic on and around campus, specifically the areas surrounding Food City Center and Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Due to the Tim McGraw concert taking place inside the area on Friday night, as well as other events on campus throughout the day, the following lots will be pay-to-park only:- G16, S7 on Neyland, G10, Circle Park, S9 at Art & Arch, S30 Speech & Hearing, and G1 at McClung Tower ($20)
- The pre-paid lots are SOLD OUT – G5/30, G3 and G4
Free parking is also available at Lots 65/66 (behind the Vet School) beginning at 4:30 p.m., as well as, the G17 Terrace Ave Garage (1800 Lake Ave), G12 White Ave Garage (1621 White Ave), Staff/C22 and on-street parking on Volunteer Blvd. West from Todd Helton Dr. to Andy Holt Ave.Â
More information as well as a parking map can be found HERE.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office.Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you're a season ticket holder and can't make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your 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 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.Â
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
Clay Matvick (PxP) and Lance Cormier (analyst) will have the call on the SEC Network for Thursday's series opener and Saturday's finale while Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will broadcast Friday's contest on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara 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 (2 GS, 3-0, 3.38 ERA)GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (10 GS, 5-1, 3.40 ERA)
GAME 3: TBD
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tigers lead, 17-13in Knoxville: Tigers lead, 8-7
in Columbia: Tigers lead, 9-6
at Neutral Sites: N/A
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 6-4
Last Meeting: L, 7-1 – March 19, 2023 in Columbia, Mo.
Tennessee will be looking to exact a little bit of revenge after being swept to begin SEC play last season at Missouri. The Vols had won six straight against the Tigers prior to last year's trip to CoMo after posting back-to-back series sweeps in 2021 and 2022.
NOTABLE
Home Sweet Home Field AdvantageThe Big Orange have been extremely tough to beat at home over the past three-plus years thanks in large part to having one of the best home field advantages in college baseball. The Vols are 141-23 when playing at Lindsey Nelson Stadium since the start of the 2020 season, including a 27-2 mark this year after going 33-5 at home in 2023 with six series sweeps, marking the program's third consecutive season with 30 or more home victories.
UT's 27 home victories this season are tied for the most in the country while their .931 winning percentage at home ranks ninth nationally.
CMo Making Case for SEC Player of the Year
Christian Moore is having an SEC Player of the Year caliber season and proved yet again why he is one of the most complete hitters in all of college baseball with some massive performances in last weekend's top-five series win at No. 3 Kentucky.
The New York native had at least one hit and one RBI in each of the three games and was nearly impossible to get out in UT's back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday, combining to go 8-for-11 with five runs scored, four home runs and eight RBIs in those two contests. Moore tied his career high with four base hits in each of those games and set or tied career bests with four runs, three homers and six RBIs in Sunday's rubber game. His three long balls tied the single-game program record and also moved him into first place on Tennessee's career home runs list with 46, passing current teammate Blake Burke (44).
The junior infielder leads the team with a career-high 19 home runs entering this weekend and is second on the team with 45 RBIs. Moore has been especially productive in league play, leading the SEC in hits (33), home runs (13), RBIs (28) and total bases (78) while also ranking among the league leaders in batting average (.407), slugging percentage (.963) and runs (22). Moore was named the SEC Player of the Week for the second time in the last three weeks on Monday and was also tabbed the National Player of the Week by D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
SEC Success Under Vitello
During the five-plus seasons in which Tennessee has played SEC games under head coach Tony Vitello, the Vols are 99-69 in league play. In the six full seasons prior to Vitello taking over (2012-17), UT was 81-120 in SEC play. Tennessee is 73-35 in SEC regular-season play since 2021, which is the best record in the league in that span, half a game better than Arkansas (72-36). Including postseason games, the Vols are 81-38 against SEC foes since 2021.
The Vols have posted 14 series sweeps in conference play under Vitello: 2024 (1), 2023 (3), 2022 (6), 2021 (2), 2019 (1), 2018 (1). In the six year's prior to Vitello taking over, (2012-17) UT swept just two SEC series.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Missouri Tigers (22-12, 3-9 SEC)- Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson (1st season)
- 2023 Postseason: N/A
- Rankings: D1Baseball – NR | USA Today – NR | Baseball America – NR | NCBWA – NR | Perfect Game – NR
- 2024 SEC Preseason Poll: 7th in Eastern Division
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (0)
- Stat Leaders:
- Batting Avg: Jackson Lovich (.282)
- Runs: Trevor Austin (40)
- Hits: Trevor Austin (42)
- Home Runs: Trevor Austin (9)
- RBI: Trevor Austin (27)
- Stolen Bases: Jeric Curtis (14)
- Wins: Lucas / Rustad (4)
- Saves: Jacob Peaden (3)
- ERA (min. 15 IP): Brock Lucas (2.73)
- WHIP (min. 15 IP): Ryan Magdic (1.00)
- Innings Pitched: Carter Rustad (46.0)
- Strikeouts: Bryce Mayer (45)
- Opp. Avg (min. 15 IP): Brock Lucas (.200)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
THURSDAY:- Ceremonial First Pitch:Â Tennessee Football WR Bru McCoy
- Class of 2024 Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized in a pregame ceremony on the field.
ON DECK
Tennessee welcomes in-state foe Lipscomb to Knoxville for a midweek clash on Tuesday, April 30 before heading to Gainesville to take on Florida next Thursday through Saturday.
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballBSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.8.25)
Sunday, June 08
BSB | Tennessee Super Regional Postgame Presser at Arkansas (6.7.25)
Saturday, June 07
BSB | Tennessee Official Super Regional Preview Press Conference (6.6.25)
Friday, June 06
BSB | Tony Vitello Pre-NCAA Super Regional Media Availability (6.5.25)
Thursday, June 05
