Jan. 25, 2017

2017 Schedule

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 23 days away! To count down to the start of the 2017 season, UTSports.com will profile a player each day on the Vols' 2017 squad. The countdown began January 18 and will run up until UT's season opener on February 17 against Memphis at FedEx Park.

TENNESSEE BASEBALL'S NO. 23

1999-2001 | Wyatt Allen
1976 | Mark Batchko
1998 | Shawn Bennett
1984-87 | Jamie Bolinger
2014 | Forrest Bramlett
1992-93 | Fred Carr
2012 | Richard Carter
1982-83 | David Chennault
1974 | Jimmy Gaylor (Home)
2008-10 | Cody Grisham
1977-79 | Randy Helton
1991 | Brody Hendrix
1970 | Pat Lenahan (Away)
2007 | Jeff Lockwood
1965 | Jim McBride
2011 | Hunter Mitchem
2003 | John Parscal
1990 | Casey Simpson
1994-95 | Lance Smith
1973 | Carl Sutter (Home)
2015-17 | Zach Warren
2004-06 | Sean Watson
1974-75 | Tommy West (Away)
1981 | Mike Wise

Need to Know

In February, Tennessee will travel to Memphis to open their 2017 season with a three-game set (Feb. 17-19) against the University of Memphis at FedEx Park, home of the Tigers. The Big Orange then heads west during their second week of the season for a single-game matchup at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. (Feb. 22) before travelling to San Diego to participate in the Tony Gwynn Classic on Feb. 24-26.

Following the four-game stint in California, the Volunteers will return to Knoxville for their first home series of the season on March 3-5. The series also signifies the first-ever meeting between Norfolk State and UT.

The Orange & White open their 2017 Southeastern Conference schedule with the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville on March 17-19, marking the second consecutive year for UT to begin conference play at home. Tennessee later plays host to SEC rivals Georgia (March 31-April 2), Auburn (April 13-15) and Arkansas (May 4-6) before closing out regular season play against Missouri (May 18-20) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

This year, the Volunteers' SEC road schedule includes trips to Mississippi State (March 24-26), Florida (April 7-9), Texas A&M (April 21-23), Vanderbilt (April 28-30) and Kentucky (May 12-14).

On the season, the Volunteers, led by Head Coach Dave Serrano and his staff, are scheduled to play 15 of their 55 regular season games against five 2016 NCAA postseason participants, including 2016 SEC Tournament Champion Texas A&M.

Countdown to Baseball: 23 Days

Junior left-handed pitcher Zach Warren returns this season donning his No. 23 for the Volunteers. Entering his junior campaign on Rocky Top, he is listed as No. 64 on Baseball America's Top 100 Draft Prospects list, as well as the No. 31-overall college junior in the country by Perfect Game.

The Vineland, N.J. native made 14 starts for the Vols in his sophomore season with a 5-5 record, tallying a 4.04 ERA with a team-leading 58 strikeouts through 75.2 innings. He recorded a career-high in strikeouts against No. 8 Ole Miss on March 18, 2016, when he fanned eight batters with just one hit allowed through 6.1 innings.

Following the Vols' 2016 season, Warren accepted an invitation to compete with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team and pitched in three games for Team USA in Taiwan.

During his freshman campaign, he picked up his first collegiate win against Austin Peay on March 17, 2015. Through 5.0 innings of work in the 3-0 win, he struck out five batters and allowed just three hits. He holds an overall ERA of 4.29 heading into this season.