Opponent Preview: A Look Ahead to South Carolina Baseball’s Matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee Volunteers Set for Showdown with South Carolina Gamecocks After Dominant Start to 2025 Season

The Tennessee Volunteers have been on fire to start the 2025 season, with their preseason All-SEC position players leading the charge. But it’s not just the stars who are hitting well—virtually every Vol has contributed at the plate. Six players, including Curley, Kilen, and Fischer, have each blasted at least six home runs. As a team, Tennessee ranks second in the country for home runs and slugging percentage, and third in total runs scored. Additionally, eight of the ten players with 15 or more starts are sporting an OPS of 1.024 or higher.

On the mound, Tennessee’s pitching staff has been nothing short of dominant. Doyle has been exceptional, striking out 62 batters in just 31 innings. Fellow starter Marcus Phillips has posted a stellar 1.47 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The bullpen has been just as impressive, with 12 relievers (including Snead) maintaining an ERA under 4.00. These numbers have propelled the Vols to the top of the national charts, leading the country in ERA and WHIP, while also ranking first in K-BB ratio and second in H/9.

However, despite their stellar performance, Tennessee has only played three road games so far this season. Although they won their series against Alabama last weekend, they also suffered a loss. This weekend, they face a tough test on the road at South Carolina, a team that boasts a strong 14-3 record at Founders Park this season.

South Carolina head coach Paul Mainieri has yet to announce his weekend rotation. After the loss to North Carolina, he mentioned the possibility of getting Dylan Eskew back after he was scratched from his Sunday start due to a head injury caused by a batting practice home run. Brandon Stone, who has been the team’s typical Friday night starter, didn’t pitch on Tuesday, but did warm up in the bullpen. Brendan Sweeney, who usually closes, made a one-inning appearance on Tuesday, making him likely available for the weekend.

The much-anticipated series between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Tennessee Volunteers will kick off at Ray Tanner Field on Friday at 7:00 p.m. The second game of the series will be on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., with both games available for streaming on SEC Network+. The series finale on Sunday will start at 5:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network, with the ESPN app offering streaming options.