Tennessee baseball is back in action this weekend when they host Missouri for a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville. The Vols are looking to rebound from last weekend’s series loss at Georgia with their first series victory of SEC play.
Here’s how to watch the three games and more details on the SEC weekend series in Knoxville.
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How To Watch: No. 22 Tennessee baseball (15-6, 1-2 SEC) vs. Missouri (15-6, 0-3 SEC)
Game one: 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20
Announcers — PxP: Andy Brock. Analyst: Redmond Walsh
Streaming — SEC Network+
Game two: 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 21
Announcers — PxP: Andy Brock. Analyst: Redmond Walsh
Streaming — SEC Network+
Game three: 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22
Announcers — PxP: Andy Brock. Analyst: Redmond Walsh
Streaming — SEC Network+
Pitching Matchups
Friday:
Vols RHP Tegan Kuhns (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 28 IP, 35 K, 4 BB) vs. Tigers LHP Javyn Pimental (2-0, 3.52 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23 IP, 23 K, 11 BB)
Saturday:
Vols RHP Landon Mack (3-2, 3.21 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 28 IP, 34 K, 13 BB) vs. Tigers RHP Josh McDevitt (3-0, 2.49 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 36. K, 17 BB)
Sunday:
Vols LHP Evan Blanco (1-2, 3.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 39 K, 13 BB) vs. Tigers LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (3-1, 4.67 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 27 IP, 38 K, 6 BB)
How Will Tennessee Handle Levi Clark?
Levi Clark was struggling entering SEC play so Josh Elander kept him on the bench the first two games of the Georgia series. Clark started at catcher in the series finale and had a fantastic day at the plate, going two-for-three with two walks. In the midweek against Eastern Kentucky, Clark again started at catcher and went two-for-three at the plate.
The sophomore seems to be figuring things out at the plate but it is still a small sample size. How will Josh Elander decide to handle things? One important note— Clark has been much better at the plate which catching as opposed to playing first base. Elander acknowledged that they were aware of that and are monitoring that moving forward.
If Clark starts at first base, how does that affect the rest of the lineup? Blake Grimmer could move to either designated hitter or left field with Garrett Wright sliding to centerfield. That would keep all of Clark, Grimmer, Wright and Blaine Brown in the lineup.
A Quick Prediction
Tennessee’s first home series in SEC play will be its easiest series of the season. Missouri picked up wins against an extremely weak non conference series, but immediately came back down to earth when Auburn swept them in the opening weekend of conference play.
Can the Vols play solid baseball like they have as of late? Play good defense. Don’t give free bases and make Missouri beat them. Tennessee has been doing a solid job of that. If that continues this weekend then the Vols should be in business.
It’s hard to expect a sweep in SEC play. But that’s what the Vols should strive for this weekend.
Tennessee sweeps the series
