Tennessee baseball is off to the best start in program history.
The Vols are 16-0 after sweeping St. Bonaventure this weekend in Knoxville, breaking the 2019 team’s previous record of a program-best 15-0 start.
Tennessee has dominated non-conference competition, sweeping series against Hofstra, Samford and St. Bonaventure while earning midweek wins over UNC Asheville, North Alabama, Radford and Xavier.
Additionally, Tennessee went 3-0 at the Astros Foundation College Classic in Houston, beating Preseason Top 25 teams Oklahoma State and Arizona along with Rice.
The Vols have been great in all facets but pitching has been the highlight 16 games into the season.
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Tennessee entered the St Bonaventure series finale with a 1.86 team ERA, and the Vols have only given up more than four runs in a game once (Radford).
Starting pitcher Liam Doyle has led Tennessee’s pitching staff, posting a 0.44 ERA through four starts. The Ole Miss transfer has struck out a whopping 47 batters in 20.1 innings and has allowed just six hits and one earned run.
Doyle had arguably his best outing of the season Friday against St. Bonaventure, allowing no hits and two walks while striking out 13 batters in a season-long 5.2 innings. Doyle was one of five Tennessee arms that combined to throw a no-hitter in the series opener against the Bonnies, the ninth no-hitter in program history.
Marcus Phillips has also been great in a game two starter role, giving up three earned runs in 19.0 innings across four starts.
Offensively, the Vols have picked up right where they left off a year ago, displaying plenty of power with 49 home runs in 16 games. That’s an average of just over three blasts a game.
Louisville transfer Gavin Kilen leads the team with eight long balls while Dean Curley, Levi Clark and Andrew Fischer are tied at second with six.
What’s even more impressive than the home run numbers is the grand slam numbers. The Vols have tallied eight grand slams in 16 games, just six shy of the NCAA record (14). Seven Vols have recorded one, with Reese Chapman having hit two.
Outside of Tennessee’s trip to Houston, competition has been weak, but out-scoring opponents 199-35 isn’t easy.
Backed by an incredibly talented, deep pitching staff and powerful offense, Tennessee has proved it’s a sure-fire National Championship contender once again with conference play right around the corner.
