Tennessee baseball is back in action this weekend when they travel to Arlington for the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series. The Vols play three games in three days, facing No. 1 UCLA, Arizona State and Virginia Tech.
Here’s a look at the pitching matchups for all three games including what you need to know about the Vols’ opponents starting pitchers.
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Game One — UCLA
Matchup: Tennessee RHP Tegan Kuhns vs. UCLA RHP Logan Reddemann
Kuhns stats: 1-0, 0.73 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, 12.1 IP, 12 K, .075 BAVG
Reddemann stats: 2-0, 3.60 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 10 IP, 17 K, .256 BAVG
Kuhns is off to a strong start to his sophomore season after a shaky close to his freshman campaign. He was stellar in his debut against Nicholls before struggling with his command a bit against Kent State. Still, Kuhns worked around trouble and was effective against the Golden Flashes. The challenge gets much greater for Kuhns this week.
Reddemann is UCLA’s Friday night ace after transferring in from San Diego after his sophomore season. He’s pitched five innings in both his first two starts of the season allowing three runs against UC San Diego and then just one run, while striking out 10, against a good TCU team.
Game Two — Arizona State
Matchup: Tennessee RHP Landon Mack vs. Arizona State RHP Colin Linder
Mack stats: 1-1, 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 20 K, .174 BAVG
Linder stats: 0-0, 2.08 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 8.2 IP, 8 K, .186 BAVG
Mack was one of the top prizes of Tennessee’s transfer class, choosing the Vols over LSU after a standout freshman season at Rutgers. He’s off to a strong start to his Tennessee tenure, throwing six innings agaisnt Nicholls and 6.2 innings against Kent State. Like Kuhns, he had some walk issues against the Golden Flashes but was still good. Mack has allowed one run in each outing.
Linder redshirted his freshman year at Texas A&M before spending last season at a junior college. The right-handed pitcher is not very stretched out yet, throwing just four and 4.2 innings in appearances against St. John’s and Omaha, respectively. The challenge gets greater for Linder this weekend, we’ll see if the Sun Devils give him a longer leash.
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Game Three — Virginia Tech
Matchup: Tennessee LHP Evan Blanco vs. TBD
Blanco stats: 1-1, 2.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 9 IP, 17 K, .235 BAVG
Blanco’s numbers are strong but he’s been a tad disappointing early this season, in my opinion. Oddly, his command has alluded him with two walks against Nicholls and four against Kent State. We’ll see if he can regain his command and work deeper into the game against a tougher foe.
While Virginia Tech has not announced its starting pitcher, right-handed pitcher Ethan Grim has started the first two Sundays of the season for the Hokies. Grim has posted a 3.52 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched against Rutgers and William & Mary. He allowed one run in four innings against the Tribe and two runs in 3.2 innings against the Scarlett Knights.
More to follow: College Baseball Betting Sites
