NO SIR EEE
The Sultan Of Swat
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Tennessee Volunteers
(23-2) Overall (5-1) SEC
@
South Carolina Gamecocks
(17-9) Overall (1-5) SEC
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Top-ranked Tennessee heads to the Palmetto State this weekend for the second of back-to-back road series as it takes on South Carolina Friday through Sunday at Founders Park.
The Volunteers will look to remain in good form after having won three straight contests entering this weekend's series against the Gamecocks, including an impressive series win at No. 10/12 Alabama last weekend in Tuscaloosa.
Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
UT: LHP Liam Doyle (6 GS, 3-1, 2.03 ERA)
SC: LHP Jake McCoy (6 GS, 2-2, 6.57 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (4 pm):
UT: RHP Marcus Phillips (6 GS, 2-0, 1.47 ERA)
SC: LHP Jarvis Evans Jr. (5 GS, 3-0, 3.42 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (5 pm):
UT: TBD
SC: TBD
Overall: Gamecocks lead, 67-48
in Knoxville: Vols lead, 28-24
in Columbia: Gamecocks lead, 40-18
at Neutral Sites: Gamecocks lead, 3-2
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 9-1
Last Meeting: W, 4-1 on May 18, 2024, in Knoxville
Tennessee will look to continue its recent dominance in the series, having won four straight and nine of the last 10 entering this weekend. The Vols swept the Gamecocks in the final series of the regular season last year to clinch a share of the SEC regular season title before going on to win the SEC Tournament and National Championship.
Dating back to last season, the Vols have won 11 straight SEC regular-season series, which is a program record. The previous record was eight, which occurred twice (2021-22 & 1993-94). UT lost is opening conference series at Alabama in 2024 and has since reeled off 11 straight series wins in league play, four of which have been sweeps.
Road Success Under Vitello
A consistent theme with Vitello's Tennessee teams has been their success away from home in conference play. After going 3-12 on the road with no series wins in his first season at the helm in 2018, the Vols have won multiple SEC road series four times since 2019 including four or more series victories in 2021 (5), 2022 (4) and 2024 (4). UT has a 48-45 overall record on the road in SEC play under Vitello with 17 series wins in that span.
Ensley's Big Week
Hunter Ensley led the offensive charge for Tennessee last week, helping lead the Vols to a top-10 road series win at No. 10/12 Alabama. The Huntingdon, Tennessee, native hit .550 and posted multiple hits in all four of UT's games, totaling 11 for the week, which ranked second in the conference. Ensley also finished tied for third in the league with nine RBIs, including six in the Vols' series win against the Crimson Tide.
The veteran outfielder started the week by tying career highs with four base hits and two doubles to go along with three RBIs in UT's midweek game against ETSU. Ensley went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a career-best three stolen bases in Friday's 10-7 victory over Alabama to even the series before capping his week with another multi-hit outing that included a double and three RBIs to help the Big Orange win Saturday's rubber game against the Tide.
Freshmen Arms Shine in Tuscaloosa
The true freshman duo of Tegan Kuhns and Brayden Krenzel were dominant on the mound during last Saturday's series-clinching victory over No. 10/12 Alabama, combining for 8.2 innings of two-run ball against a dangerous Crimson Tide lineup that scored 13 runs over the first two games of the series.
Kuhns made his third start of the year and set down the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk in the fourth inning. The Pennsylvania native allowed just one hit over 4.1 shutout frames while striking out five on the day.
Krenzel followed with 4.1 innings of his own, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while posting a career-high six strikeouts to earn his first-career win.
(23-2) Overall (5-1) SEC
@
South Carolina Gamecocks
(17-9) Overall (1-5) SEC
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Top-ranked Tennessee heads to the Palmetto State this weekend for the second of back-to-back road series as it takes on South Carolina Friday through Sunday at Founders Park.
The Volunteers will look to remain in good form after having won three straight contests entering this weekend's series against the Gamecocks, including an impressive series win at No. 10/12 Alabama last weekend in Tuscaloosa.
BROADCAST INFO
Games one and two of the series will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Dave Weinstein (PxP) and Grayson Greiner (analyst) calling the action. Tom Hart (PxP) and VFL Chris Burke (analyst) will have the call on the SEC Network for Sunday's series finale.Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (7 pm):UT: LHP Liam Doyle (6 GS, 3-1, 2.03 ERA)
SC: LHP Jake McCoy (6 GS, 2-2, 6.57 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (4 pm):
UT: RHP Marcus Phillips (6 GS, 2-0, 1.47 ERA)
SC: LHP Jarvis Evans Jr. (5 GS, 3-0, 3.42 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (5 pm):
UT: TBD
SC: TBD
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. GamecocksOverall: Gamecocks lead, 67-48
in Knoxville: Vols lead, 28-24
in Columbia: Gamecocks lead, 40-18
at Neutral Sites: Gamecocks lead, 3-2
Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 9-1
Last Meeting: W, 4-1 on May 18, 2024, in Knoxville
Tennessee will look to continue its recent dominance in the series, having won four straight and nine of the last 10 entering this weekend. The Vols swept the Gamecocks in the final series of the regular season last year to clinch a share of the SEC regular season title before going on to win the SEC Tournament and National Championship.
NOTABLE
SEC Series Win StreakDating back to last season, the Vols have won 11 straight SEC regular-season series, which is a program record. The previous record was eight, which occurred twice (2021-22 & 1993-94). UT lost is opening conference series at Alabama in 2024 and has since reeled off 11 straight series wins in league play, four of which have been sweeps.
Road Success Under Vitello
A consistent theme with Vitello's Tennessee teams has been their success away from home in conference play. After going 3-12 on the road with no series wins in his first season at the helm in 2018, the Vols have won multiple SEC road series four times since 2019 including four or more series victories in 2021 (5), 2022 (4) and 2024 (4). UT has a 48-45 overall record on the road in SEC play under Vitello with 17 series wins in that span.
Ensley's Big Week
Hunter Ensley led the offensive charge for Tennessee last week, helping lead the Vols to a top-10 road series win at No. 10/12 Alabama. The Huntingdon, Tennessee, native hit .550 and posted multiple hits in all four of UT's games, totaling 11 for the week, which ranked second in the conference. Ensley also finished tied for third in the league with nine RBIs, including six in the Vols' series win against the Crimson Tide.
The veteran outfielder started the week by tying career highs with four base hits and two doubles to go along with three RBIs in UT's midweek game against ETSU. Ensley went 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a career-best three stolen bases in Friday's 10-7 victory over Alabama to even the series before capping his week with another multi-hit outing that included a double and three RBIs to help the Big Orange win Saturday's rubber game against the Tide.
Freshmen Arms Shine in Tuscaloosa
The true freshman duo of Tegan Kuhns and Brayden Krenzel were dominant on the mound during last Saturday's series-clinching victory over No. 10/12 Alabama, combining for 8.2 innings of two-run ball against a dangerous Crimson Tide lineup that scored 13 runs over the first two games of the series.
Kuhns made his third start of the year and set down the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk in the fourth inning. The Pennsylvania native allowed just one hit over 4.1 shutout frames while striking out five on the day.
Krenzel followed with 4.1 innings of his own, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while posting a career-high six strikeouts to earn his first-career win.
OPPONENT SCOUT
South Carolina Gamecocks (17-9, 1-5 SEC)- 2024 Record: 37-25 (13-17 SEC)
- 2024 Postseason: NCAA Raleigh Regional (1-2)
- Highest Ranking: RV (NCBWA)
- D1Baseball Ranking: N/A
- 2025 SEC Preseason Poll: 14th
- Head Coach: Paul Mainieri
- Overall Record: 1522-786-8 (40th year)
- Record at SC: 17-9 (1st year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (1):
- OF Ethan Petry (1st team)
- OF Ethan Petry (1st team)
ON DECK
The Vols will be home for all four games next week starting with an in-state midweek showdown against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday before taking on Texas A&M in a rematch of last season's College World Series finals beginning on Friday.
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