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The Sultan Of Swat
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Wright State Raiders
(4-6) Overall (0-0) Horizon
@
Tennessee Volunteers
(10-3) Overall (0-0) SEC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Winners of four straight, No. 17/19 Tennessee will look to keep building momentum in its final non-conference weekend series of the year as Wright State comes to town for a three-game set beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
After winning its final two games of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington and a pair of comprehensive midweek wins over ETSU and Oakland, the Volunteers enter this weekend's series against the Raiders with plenty of confidence.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (3 GS, 1-1, 2.45 ERA)
WSU: RHP Cam Allen (3 GS, 0-2, 13.50 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (3 GS, 2-1, 2.04 ERA)
WSU: LHP Griffen Paige (3 GS, 0-2, 6.17 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: LHP Evan Blanco (3 GS, 1-1, 1.88 ERA)
WSU: TBD
Overall: UT leads, 3-2
in Knoxville: UT leads, 3-2
in Dayton: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: June 4, 2021 (W, 9-8 – NCAA Regional)
The last meeting between the Vols and Raiders featured arguably the most iconic ending in Tennessee baseball history, with Drew Gilbert hitting a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Big Orange to a thrilling 9-8 victory in their opening game of the 2021 Knoxville Regional, which kickstarted a run to the program's first Men's College World Series appearance since 2005.
The Vols' pitching staff has been a strikeout machine up to this point in the season, ranking ninth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (12.1). UT's 153 total strikeouts also rank ninth in the country while its 4.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fifth among Division I schools.
Tennessee has racked up nine or more punchouts as a team in all but one game this year and has totaled double-digit strikeouts 10 times, including five contests with 15 or more.
The weekend rotation of Kuhns, Mack and Blanco combined to strike out 21 batters during last weekend's Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, led by a career-high 10 from Kuhns on Friday against No. 1 UCLA. Overall, UT's pitching staff racked up 30 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .237 average during its three games in Arlington.
Abernathy Always On Base
Leadoff man Jay Abernathy has lived on base this season, having reached safely in all 13 games heading into this weekend's series. The sophomore center fielder leads the team with 11 walks and a .473 on-base percentage. Abernathy has also scored a run in nine of his last 10 contests, including seven straight, and ranks third on the squad with a .326 batting average, as well.
Brown Bringing the Boom
Sophomore slugger Blaine Brown blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season in Wednesday's midweek win over Oakland and leads the Vols with a .745 slugging percentage entering this weekend. The Houston native also leads the team with six doubles, 15 RBIs and 38 total bases. Brown has recorded a double in four consecutive contests.
Bullpen Buckling Down
The Vols' bullpen has been a major strength for the team early on this year, having posted a 3.53 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 58.2 innings of work. During its four-game winning streak, Tennessee's relievers have an impressive 0.79 ERA and have allowed just two earned runs over 22.2 innings while striking out 32 batters and surrendering just four walks.
(4-6) Overall (0-0) Horizon
@
Tennessee Volunteers
(10-3) Overall (0-0) SEC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Winners of four straight, No. 17/19 Tennessee will look to keep building momentum in its final non-conference weekend series of the year as Wright State comes to town for a three-game set beginning on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
After winning its final two games of the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington and a pair of comprehensive midweek wins over ETSU and Oakland, the Volunteers enter this weekend's series against the Raiders with plenty of confidence.
BROADCAST INFO
Zack Nelson (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app for all three contests against the Raiders this weekend.Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (6:30 pm):UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (3 GS, 1-1, 2.45 ERA)
WSU: RHP Cam Allen (3 GS, 0-2, 13.50 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (3 GS, 2-1, 2.04 ERA)
WSU: LHP Griffen Paige (3 GS, 0-2, 6.17 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: LHP Evan Blanco (3 GS, 1-1, 1.88 ERA)
WSU: TBD
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. Wright StateOverall: UT leads, 3-2
in Knoxville: UT leads, 3-2
in Dayton: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: June 4, 2021 (W, 9-8 – NCAA Regional)
The last meeting between the Vols and Raiders featured arguably the most iconic ending in Tennessee baseball history, with Drew Gilbert hitting a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Big Orange to a thrilling 9-8 victory in their opening game of the 2021 Knoxville Regional, which kickstarted a run to the program's first Men's College World Series appearance since 2005.
NOTABLE
Strikeouts GaloreThe Vols' pitching staff has been a strikeout machine up to this point in the season, ranking ninth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (12.1). UT's 153 total strikeouts also rank ninth in the country while its 4.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fifth among Division I schools.
Tennessee has racked up nine or more punchouts as a team in all but one game this year and has totaled double-digit strikeouts 10 times, including five contests with 15 or more.
The weekend rotation of Kuhns, Mack and Blanco combined to strike out 21 batters during last weekend's Amegy Bank College Baseball Series, led by a career-high 10 from Kuhns on Friday against No. 1 UCLA. Overall, UT's pitching staff racked up 30 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .237 average during its three games in Arlington.
Abernathy Always On Base
Leadoff man Jay Abernathy has lived on base this season, having reached safely in all 13 games heading into this weekend's series. The sophomore center fielder leads the team with 11 walks and a .473 on-base percentage. Abernathy has also scored a run in nine of his last 10 contests, including seven straight, and ranks third on the squad with a .326 batting average, as well.
Brown Bringing the Boom
Sophomore slugger Blaine Brown blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season in Wednesday's midweek win over Oakland and leads the Vols with a .745 slugging percentage entering this weekend. The Houston native also leads the team with six doubles, 15 RBIs and 38 total bases. Brown has recorded a double in four consecutive contests.
Bullpen Buckling Down
The Vols' bullpen has been a major strength for the team early on this year, having posted a 3.53 ERA and 71 strikeouts over 58.2 innings of work. During its four-game winning streak, Tennessee's relievers have an impressive 0.79 ERA and have allowed just two earned runs over 22.2 innings while striking out 32 batters and surrendering just four walks.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Wright State Raiders (4-6)- 2025 Record: 40-21 (25-5 Horizon)
- 2025 Postseason: NCAA Nashville Regional (2-2)
- 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll: 1st
- Head Coach: Alex Sogard
- Overall Record: 228-140 (8th year)
- Record at WSU: Same
- Preseason All-Conference Selections: No Team Selected
ON DECK
The Vols cap their six-game homestand with another midweek showdown against an in-state foe as Tennessee Tech visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m.
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