Weekend Preview: Vols return home for SEC clash with Missouri
Tennessee baseball is back in action this weekend for Southeastern Conference play at Lindsey Nelson Stadium as they will host Missouri for a three-game set. Tony Vitello played, graduated and later coached at Missouri before spending time at TCU and Arkansas as an assistant prior to taking the head job in Knoxville.
The No. 3 Vols (34-7, 12-6 SEC) have won five-straight league series after taking two of three at Kentucky past weekend in the top-five showdown. The Tigers (19-23, 6-12 SEC) are last in the SEC East standings have been swept by Arkansas and Vanderbilt, while losing other series to LSU, Georgia and Kentucky. The lone bright spot for the Tigers this conference season to date was a three-game sweep of Florida at home, a team that sits just one spot better in the SEC East standings in sixth place.
Two of the three games this weekend will be televised via the SEC Network (Thursday, 7:30 pm ET and Saturday, 12 pm ET) while Friday’s game two will be streamed on the SEC Network+.
“I think it’s a real balanced lineup. Real similar to Kentucky,” Vitello said on Tuesday when asked about Missouri. “Two switch [hitter], two left [hitters], a handful of righties is their typical lineup. So, a similar look with that balance. They’ve been pitching it well in particular game twos. But overall, they’re playing the game the right way.”
TENNESSEE SEASON STATS
MISSOURI SEASON STATS
Projected Weekend Rotation
Thursday: LHP Chris Stamos (3-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Magdic (1-1, 2.84 ERA)
Friday: RHP Drew Beam (5-1, 3.40 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Lunceford (1-3, 7.44 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Zander Sechrist (1-0, 3.82 ERA) vs. LHP Javyn Pimental (2-2, 3.73 ERA)
Tennessee’s starting rotation will stay the same this weekend as the series is bummed up a day for back-to-back Thursday, Friday and Saturday tilts in SEC play. Chris Stamos got the early hook last Friday at Kentucky, but the Vols like the opener idea with the security blanket of an improved AJ Causey behind him. Same for game three with Zander Sechrist as the Vols will patchwork behind him after routinely the first few innings. Drew Beam will start game two on Friday as he’s completed at least five innings in eight of his 10 starts this season.
Logan Lunceford, a righty, has started each of the past six Friday nights after starting the season as the Sunday guy in the rotation for the Tigers – but he’ll shift to game two this weekend. The ERA (7.44) is high and that’s partially due to a rough start of the season. He’s rebounded much better the past month, but did get rocked for eight runs off seven hits in only 2.2 innings against LSU last weekend. Overall, the sophomore has made all 10 weekend starts this year, logging 42.1 innings with 39 strikeouts to 15 walks. He’s surrendered a team-high nine homers while opponents are hitting an impressive .291 against him.
Javyn Pimental, a lefty, moved into the weekend rotation week three of the campaign and will throw in game three this weekend. The junior has primarily been the Saturday guy in SEC play for Missouri and easily owns the best ERA of any starter (3.73) who qualifies on the team. He was picked apart by Georgia two weeks ago for seven runs over 3.1 innings, but has worked through five innings in half of his starts. The former Arizona Wildcat has an impressive batting average against (.205) and has struck out 43 batters with 13 walks this season.
Fellow southpaw Ian Lohse worked back into the starting rotation last weekend, tossing three scoreless innings against LSU. Lohse is a former starter that has been haggled by injuries throughout his career, but has made 13 appearances in 2024 with last week being his first start. He’ll had back to the barn this weekend as the lefty has an 0-2 record with a 5.40 ERA over 23.1 innings pitched with 23 strikeouts to 14 walks. Opponents are hitting .261 against him.
Righty Byrce Mayer (1-5, 6.30 ERA, 12 APP) was the Opening Day starter for Missouri this year, but has really struggled – as he was demoted after five starts. Fellow righty Carter Rustad (4-5, 5.87 ERA, 10 APP) also began the season in the starting rotation but was removed for a piggyback, long-relief role in the past few weeks.
Righty Jacob Peaden (3-1, 4.71 ERA) leads the team with three saves and 15 appearances. Southpaw Ryan Magdic (1-1, 2.84 ERA, 10 APP) is one of the more reliable arms used out of the bullpen and he’ second with a pair of saves. He’s getting the nod in game one as the Tigers try to throw their best punch right out of the gate.
The Tigers rank 11th in the SEC with a team ERA of 5.73. Missouri sports the fourth-worst opponent batting average (.259) on the mound, third-lowest strikeout total (353) and has given up the second-most hits (359).
The Missouri Offense
The Tigers rank last in the conference with a team batting average of .250. It ranks last in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, runs driven in, home runs and total bases while leading the league easily with 420 strikeouts at the plate. Missouri has stolen 53 bases on 67 attempts this year.
Designated hitter Jackson Lovich leads the way offensively with a team-best .282 batting average (for those qualifying) in the three-hole. The sophomore ranks second on the squad with seven home runs and 27 runs scored, third with 24 runs batted in and has stolen four bases on the year. Third baseman and usual cleanup hitter Trevor Austin is the power source in the order, registering a team-high nine home runs and 27 RBI.
First baseman and occasional outfielder Brock Daniels has moved into an everyday role hitting leadoff for the Tigers. He’s logging an impressive .351 average over 74 at-bats with four homers, 26 RBI and seven stolen bags. Catcher Jedier Hernandez has also impressed with a .287 clip in 108 at-bats with one home run, 21 RBI and 10 doubles, which is tied for the team-lead. Centerfielder Jeric Curtis has stolen a team-best 14 bags on 17 attempts while shortstop Drew Culbertson has swiped nine of 11 bases this season.
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