NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt baseball team returns home this weekend as the Commodores are set to welcome top-ranked Tennessee to Hawkins Field for a top-10 matchup.
Friday’s series opener is set for 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. first pitch Saturday. The series finale between the two in-state rivals is set for 1 p.m. Sunday. The first two games of the weekend will appear on national television with Friday’s matchup airing on ESPN2 and Saturday’s contest being televised on SEC Network. Sunday’s finale will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Probable Starting Pitching Matchups
FRIDAY: Vandy – Chris McElvain (Jr., RHP) vs. Tennessee – Chase Burns (Fr., RHP)
SATURDAY: Vandy – Carter Holton (Fr., LHP) vs. Tennessee – Chase Dollander (So., RHP)
SUNDAY: Vandy –TBA vs. Tennessee – Drew Beam (Fr., RHP)
Trending
• Vanderbilt is set to return home this weekend for a top-10 matchup with top-ranked Tennessee after a five-game stretch away from Hawkins Field.
• Vandy got back into the win column on Tuesday with a win 7-1 midweek win over cross-town foe Lipscomb. With the victory, the Commodores have won seven consecutive midweek contests, dating to last season.
• Vanderbilt dropped its second weekend series of the year at South Carolina, falling in the final two games of the three-game set.
Working From Home
• The Commodores have been tough to beat at Hawkins Field since the facility opened its gates in 2002.
• Vanderbilt is 522-174-1 (.750) all-time at Hawkins Field, including a 414-115-1 (.782) mark since 2007.
• The Commodores have won 20 of their last 22 regular season home series. Vandy has won 67-of-81 three-game sets at The Hawk since 2011.
Series History
• Friday’s series opener will mark the 340th time that Vanderbilt and Tennessee have met in the all-time history between the two programs.
• The Commodores trail in the all-time series, with 160-177-2 record against the Volunteers.
• Vanderbilt took two of three from the Volunteers in their most recent matchup in 2021 in Knoxville. The Commodores won the bookend games of the three-game set.
• This weekend marks the second consecutive season that Vanderbilt and Tennessee have crossed paths in a top-10 matchup. The two teams met for a top-five battle last season.
Middle Innings Matter
• The Commodores have done damage across the middle innings of their contests this season, which have proved to be a real difference.
• Vanderbilt is outscoring its opponents 85-31 across the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
• Vandy has outscored opponents 34-9 in the fifth inning, marking its largest run differential in any inning.
Military Appreciation Weekend
• This weekend marks Military Appreciation Weekend for Vanderbilt.
• Vanderbilt Athletics will hold the Tour De Hawkins 5K on Saturday as part of Military Appreciation Weekend.
• The Tour De Hawkins 5K is meant to honor the nation’s fallen heroes and all who serve. The course will give participants an opportunity to run through several of the athletic facilities on Vanderbilt’s campus.
What’s Next
• Following the series with Tennessee, the Commodores will remain home to face another in-state opponent in the midweek, as the team welcomes Austin Peay to town on Tuesday.
• Vanderbilt will hit the road next weekend for an SEC road series, traveling to Auburn.