University of Tennessee Athletics
2017 Vol Baseball Countdown: 16 Days
February 01, 2017 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Baseball Time in Tennessee is just 16 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 continues today and will run up until UT’s season opener on February 17 against Memphis at FedEx Park.
TENNESSEE BASEBALL'S NO. 16
- 1979 | Eddie Agnew (Away)
- 1976-78 | Billy Aldridge
- 2011 | Blake Berger
- 2008 | Brian Bibee
- 1991-92 | D.D. Cannon
- 1980-83 | Curt Cornwell
- 1996-98 | Sonny Cortez
- 2006-07 | Scott Dean
- 1966 | Larry Fielder
- 2009-10 | Mason Forbis
- 1965 | Bill Gould
- 1988-89 | Rick Hartman
- 1993-94 | Bronson Heflin
- 1990 | Jeff Hostetler
- 1999 | Bobby Huddleston
- 1969 | Jimmy Lee (Away)
- 1984-85 | Eric Opron
- 1979 | Joel Schroeder (Home)
- 2003-05 | Alex Suarez
- 1964 | Corky Terhune (Home)
- 1967 | David Tiller
- 2015-Present | Jacob Westphal
- 1969 | Steve Wieland (Home)
- 2002 | Dan Wilson
- 2012-13 | Andy Yates
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: 16 Days
Redshirt sophomore Jacob Westphal returns this season as the 25th Vol to ever wear No. 16 in Tennessee history.
As a freshman in 2015, Westphal appeared in 12 games for the Vols, going 1-1 with a 3.79 ERA in 19.0 innings of work. Over the course of the season, he recorded 13 strikeouts. His first mound appearance in Orange and White came against Belmont, Westphal tossed a perfect inning of work versus the Bruins.
He earned his first collegiate win over ETSU while throwing 3.2 innings in relief that season, tallying four strikeouts in the victory.
This year, Westphal looks to make a strong return to the mound after missing the entire 2016 while recovering from elbow surgery.
Getting to Know Jacob
#16 Jacob Westphal
2015-17 | RHP | 6-0 | R/R | Sioux City, Iowa.
Fun Fact: I can clap with one hand.
Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump
Name Your ‘Go-To’ Karaoke Song: “A-B-C” – Jackson 5
List One Item on Your ‘Bucket List’: Go to the World Series
Name One fashion Trend You Just CANNOT Get On-Board With: Chacos
If you were stranded on an island, which teammate would you want with you and why?: Max Bartlett because he understands the outdoors.
Next On the Countdown
Come by tomorrow as the countdown continues with Knoxville native and sophomore righty No. 15 Will Neely.
