Chris Newstrom is back with the Tennessee baseball team after missing the Vols’ series victory at Mississippi State due to an internal issue, first-year head coach Josh Elander told the media on Tuesday night.
“Newy is back with the team,” Elander said. “Just had an internal matter with him. Completely behind us now, so he’ll be available in any capacity, and I know he’s excited to contribute to this team and help us win when his name is called upon.”
Tennessee has not often called Newstrom’s name since the start of SEC play. He has fallen out of the starting lineup and has not had an at-bat since March 31 against Austin Peay. Newstrom’s last SEC at-bat was on March 22 against Missouri. He’s started only two games in SEC play.
Newstrom entered his sophomore season with sizable expectations but has failed to make a consistent impact to this point in the season. He’s played in 23 games and started 15 but is hitting just .180 with one home run, three additional extra-base hits and six total RBIs.
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Last season as a true freshman, Newstrom started 13 games, played in 33 games and hit .351 with four home runs and nine total extra-base hits.
Tennessee turned in its best weekend of the series at Mississippi State, never trailing while sweeping the Bulldogs in the three-game series. The Vols’ offense was much more consistent and executed at a high clip when it had scoring opportunities.
The Vols’ run prevention was terrific, allowing just nine total runs thanks to stout pitching and strong defense. Tennessee committed just one error and had zero wild pitches.
Now at the halfway point in SEC play, Tennessee is 7-8 in conference play and is a part of a nine-team log jam between 8-7 and 7-8 in conference play.
Tennessee is back in action this weekend when they host Ole Miss in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. First pitch for the weekend series is at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday night. The SEC Network+ is broadcasting the game.
