Courtest / UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After a solid opening weekend in Arlington, Texas, No. 7/9 Tennessee returns to Knoxville for its home opener on Tuesday afternoon against UNC Asheville, followed by an in-state battle with ETSU on Wednesday at the newly-renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

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GAME & BROADCAST INFO

• Opponents: UNC Asheville | ETSU
• Dates: Feb. 20 & Feb. 21
• Location: Knoxville, Tenn.        
• Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium
• Watch: SEC Network+       
• Listen: UTSports.com/UT Athletics App
• Live Stats: UTSports.com
• Game 1: Tuesday, February 21 – 4:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
• Game 2: Wednesday, February 22 – 4:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)

#7/9 TENNESSEE (2-1 | 0-0 SEC)

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UNC ASHEVILLE (0-3 | 0-0 BIG SOUTH)

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ETSU (3-0 | 0-0 SOCON)

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The Vols were declared tournament champions of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field to open the season after snagging victories over No. 18/21 Texas Tech and Baylor.

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

Both midweek games this week will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Andy Brock handling play-by-play duties. Former Tennessee softball player Caylan Arnold will join Brock for Tuesday’s contest as an analyst.

Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.  

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. UNC Asheville
Overall: 31-7
in Knoxville: 27-7
in Asheville: 4-0
at Neutral Sites: 0-0
Last Meeting: W, 5-0 in Knoxville (March 28, 2023)

UT has won nine straight against the Bulldogs dating back to 2015.

Vols vs. ETSU
Overall: 69-20
in Knoxville: 39-10
in Johnson City: 29-10
at Neutral Sites: 1-0
Last Meeting: W, 4-1 in Knoxville (March 1, 2022)

Seven of the last eight meetings between the Vols and Bucs have been decided by four runs or fewer. UT is 4-3 in those contests.

NOTABLE

Vols in Home Openers
Tuesday’s game will mark the 113^th home opener in Tennessee baseball history. The Vols are 90-20-2 all-time in home openers, including a 5-1 mark under head coach Tony Vitello with five straight wins (2019-23).

Rocky Top Round Trippers
UT has been the nation’s most prolific home run hitting team over the past three seasons, leading all NCAA Division I programs with 386 long balls during that span (2021-pres). In the previous decade before that (2010-2020), the Volunteers totaled just 376 home runs. The Vols have surpassed the 100-homer mark in each of the past two years, including a program record 158 in 2022, which ranks fourth in NCAA Division I history and is the most by any team in the BBCOR bat era (since 2011).

The Big Orange blasted four homers last weekend and hit 126 home runs in 2023, which is the second highest tally in program history and ranked sixth in the country. Tennessee also hit 98 long balls in 2021. The Vols went deep in 53 of their 66 games last season with 36 multi-homer performances on the year.

Billy Barrels
Highly-touted transfer newcomer Billy Amick’s Tennessee career is off to a hot start after a successful opening weekend where he batted .308 with four hits and led the Vols with four runs, two homers and five RBIs. Amick homered in both of UT’s wins over No. 18 Texas Tech on Friday and Baylor on Sunday.

The Batesburg, South Carolina, native went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and two RBIs in a season-opening 6-2 win over the Red Raiders. His two-run home run in the fourth inning opened the scoring. He capped the weekend with another 2-for-4 performance against the Bears, scoring twice and driving in three runs with a solo home run and a two-run triple.  

OPPONENT SCOUT

UNC Asheville Bulldogs

• 2023 Record: 26-26 (12-15 Big South)
• 2023 Postseason: N/A
• 2024 Big South Preseason Poll: T-4^th
• Head Coach: Scott Friedholm (10^th season)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (3):
  • OF Robbie Burnett (Preseason Player of the Year)
  • OF Dylan Bacot
  • RP Justin Honeycutt

ETSU Buccaneers

• 2023 Record: 26-29 (10-11 SoCon)
• 2023 Postseason: N/A
• 2024 SoCon Preseason Poll: 5^th
• Head Coach: Joe Pennucci (7^th season)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (5):
  • 1B Cameron Sisneros (1^st Team)
  • SS Ashton King (2^nd Team)
  • 3B Cody Miller (2^nd Team)
  • OF Tommy Barth (2^nd Team)
  • DH Nick Iannanton (2^nd Team)

ON DECK

The Vols continue their 15-game homestand with their first weekend series in Knoxville this season as they host Albany for a three-game series Friday through Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.