KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ready to for its final weekend series of the nonconference slate, the No. 2/3 Tennessee Volunteers host Morehead State for a three-game set beginning Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers (11-3) look to bounce back after an extra-innings defeat against Boston College in the midweek. Tennessee battled back-and-forth with the Eagles all night long, but couldn’t get ahead in the ballgame, falling, 7-6, in 10 innings.
Now, with a new challenge on the horizon, the Big Orange looks to continue the success of the homestand where it has won 10 of 11 games.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE/PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday, March 10 (6:30 p.m.)
RHP Chase Dollander (2-1, 2.20 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Helton (2-1, 5.28 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday, March 11 (6 p.m.)
RHP Chase Burns (1-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Herron (2-0, 3.00 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday, March 12 (1 p.m.)
RHP Drew Beam (2-0, 1.76 ERA) vs. LHP John Bakke (1-0, 1.23 ERA)
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the games are available in very limited quantities at AllVols.com.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games of the weekend series will stream on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Andy Brock (PxP) and Cody Hawn (Analyst) on the call. The online broadcast can be accessed on any mobile device through WatchESPN. WatchESPN can be accessed through the ESPN App, or online at espn.com/watch.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball, John Wilkerson, and Vince Ferrara call the action for all three games on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) or via a free audio stream on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics Gameday App.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Tennessee leads, 35-4
in Knoxville: 35-4
in Morehead: 0-0
at Neutral Sites: 0-0
Last Meeting: W, 3-1 (April 16, 2019, in Knoxville)
NOTABLE
BOUNCING BACK
Tennessee will be looking to rebound from a rare midweek loss on Tuesday vs. Boston College. The Vols are 25-4 coming off a loss since the start of the 2020 season.
NON-CON DOMINATION
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 105-20 record in that span. The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 10 of their 12 regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020. In 2022 and 2021, the Vols posted a 53-10 record against out-of-conference opponents, going 28-4 a season ago after posting a 25-6 non-conference record in 2021.
WELCOME BACK TO THE WEEKEND
Tennessee and Morehead State were common opponents in weekend series during the mid-2000s but have not faced each other in a three-game weekend series since 2008. The Vols are 14-1 when facing the Eagles during a three-game series.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Morehead State Eagles
- 2023 Record: 9-4 (0-0 OVC)
- 2022 Record: 27-27 (14-10 ACC)
- 2022 Postseason: –
- 2023 OVC Preseason Poll: 2nd (2 first-place votes)
- Head Coach: Mik Aoki (Fourth season)
- Preseason Conference Awards
- OVC Player of the Year: Jackson Feltner
- OVC Pitcher of the Year: John Bakke
- Preseason All-OVC Team
- Jackson Feltner (1B), Nick Gooden (2B), John Bakke (SP)
- Stat Leaders:
- Average: Jackson Feltner (.381)
- OBP: Jackson Feltner (.518)
- SLG: Jackson Feltner (.786)
- Hits: Jackson Feltner (16)
- Runs: Ryley Preece (13)
- RBIs: Jackson Feltner (16)
- Doubles: Jackson Feltner, Colton Becker (3)
- Triples: Ryley Preece (2)
- Home Runs: Ryley Preece (5)
- ERA: John Bakke (1.23)
- WHIP: Riley Bradshaw (1.00)
- BAA: Jarrett Miller (.100)
- Innings Pitched: Luke Helton (15.1)
- Strikeouts: Grant Herron (19)
- Wins: Joe Rotkis (3)
- Saves: Jarrett Miller (3)
ON DECK
Tennessee finishes its homestand, welcoming Lipscomb to Rocky Top for midweek action on Tuesday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game marks UT’s final contest before the start of Southeastern Conference play next weekend.
Tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased at AllVols.com.
-UT Athletics
