BSB PREVIEW: #20/21 Vols Host Spartans for Midweek Battle on Rocky Top

March 23, 2026 | Baseball

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Fresh off an SEC series win over Missouri, No. 20/21Tennessee welcomes USC Upstate to Rocky Top on Tuesday evening for the only home game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this week.

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Game & Broadcast Info

Opponent: USC Upstate Spartans
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 24 / 6 p.m.
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (8,012)
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: Vol Network/UT Athletics App
Live Stats: UTStats.com

#20/21 Tennessee (17-7 | 3-3 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats

USC Upstate (12-13 | 3-3 Big South)

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The Volunteers enter Tuesday's contest unbeaten in midweek action this season, boasting a perfect 6-0 record in such games.

THE NEW LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM

The new Lindsey Nelson Stadium now has the amenities to match its elite environment after undergoing a $100-plus million renovation to transform it into one of the nation's finest facilities. The updated capacity for Lindsey Nelson Stadium is 8,012 after the newly added premium seating areas and additional standing room only spaces.

The following is a list of new amenities that will be in place at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the 2026 season:
- NEW: Home plate entrance and plaza area
- NEW: Left field plaza entrance
- NEW: Third level suites and club space
- NEW: Additional chairback seats under a new mezzanine level
- NEW: First base line restrooms and concessions
- NEW: Left field bar on main concourse (behind the current 4Topps section)
- NEW: Kitchen, which will enhance the food offerings throughout Lindsey Nelson Stadium
- NEW: Ticket office and team merchandise shop inside the main entrance
- NEW: Player entry corridor
- NEW: Third base line restrooms, a mother's room and concessions which will open around SEC play
- NEW: Multiple elevators
- NEW: Permanent, programmable LED and stadium lighting
- Fully completed mezzanine level with a new press box and broadcast booths
- Renovated concessions on main concourse behind home plate
- MVP Room expansion

GAMEDAY INFO

Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS

All upcoming promotions for all home games during the season can be found HERE.

TICKET INFORMATION

Single-game tickets for non-conference home games can be purchased through AllVols.com.

BROADCAST INFO

Tuesday's contest against EKU will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app with Will Boling on the call.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990), as well via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

LHP Taylor Tracey (3 GS, 0-0, 1.54 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Hook (5 APP, 0-1, 8.10 ERA)

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. USC Upstate
Overall: UT leads, 5-2
in Knoxville: UT leads, 5-2
in Spartanburg: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: March 23, 2010 (W, 9-1 in Knoxville)

This will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 2010. In its five all-time wins against the Spartans, the Big Orange have scored nine or more runs in four of them.

NOTABLE

Vols Secure Much-Needed SEC Series Win
Tennessee snapped a six series losing streak in SEC play by winning the final two games of its weekend set against Missouri. It was the Vols' first conference series win since taking two of three games at Ole Miss in April of last year. Coincidentally, Sunday's rubber game victory was also UT's first since that series against the Rebels, snapping a streak of seven straight defeats in decisive game threes.

After dropping the series opener on Friday night, Tennessee outscored the Tigers 11-3 over the final two games, including a convincing 7-1 win in Sunday's rubber game.

Continuing Midweek Success
The Big Orange have been dominant in midweek games since Elander joined the staff in 2018, having compiled an 83-11 record in such contests during that span. Tennessee is off to a 6-0 start in midweeks this season.

Appenzeller Not Your Typical Freshman
The driving force behind UT's win over Missouri on Saturday night was the pitching performance of freshman left-hander Cam Appenzeller, who was dominant in a career-high 4.2 innings of relief against the Tigers.

The Chatham, Illinois, native allowed just two hits and didn't give up a run while striking out a career-best seven batters to earn his first SEC victory. Appenzeller entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the fifth inning and retired the next three batters in order to get the Vols out of the jam unscathed.

Levi Looking Like Himself
After an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, sophomore first baseball/catcher Levi Clark has started to look more like himself over the last two weeks. The Georgia native enters Tuesday's game on a four-game hit streak and is 5-for-11 with five RBIs and three walks in that span. Clark hit his second home run of the year in Sunday's victory against Missouri and led the team with three RBIs in the series win over the Tigers.

OPPONENT SCOUT

USC Upstate Spartans (12-13, 3-3 Big South)

2025 Record: 36-25 (19-5 Big South)
2025 Postseason: NCAA Clemson Regional (0-2)
2026 Big South Preseason Poll: 2^nd
Head Coach: Kane Sweeney
- Overall Record: 48-38 (2^nd year)
- Record at Upstate: Same
Preseason All-Conference Selections (5):
- OF Henry Zenor, C Preston Lucas, DH Johnny Sweeney, SP Chris Torres, RP Max Bianchini

The Spartans were picked to finish second in the 2026 Big South Preseason Poll after winning the league's regular season and tournament titles last year. Upstate went on to play in the NCAA Clemson Regional, where it went 0-2 with a pair of 7-3 losses to Clemson and Kentucky.

ON DECK

The Vols head west to Nashville this weekend for an in-state battle against rival Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field. The series begins Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU and all three games are slated to be televised.