Tennessee Vols Dominant in Season Opener, Face UNC Asheville Midweek
KNOXVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Volunteers kicked off their 2025 season in dominant fashion, sweeping their opening series against the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Vols’ offense was on fire, scoring 27 runs over the three-game series, while the pitching staff allowed just six runs.
The Vols’ dominant performance was led by sophomore outfielder Kyle Booker, who hit .500 with two home runs and five RBIs. Junior shortstop Maui Ahuna also had a strong series, hitting .429 with a home run and four RBIs.
On the mound, the Vols’ pitching staff was equally impressive. Sophomore right-hander Drew Beam tossed six shutout innings in the series opener, striking out seven and allowing just two hits. Junior left-hander Chase Dollander followed suit, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on three hits.
The Vols’ dominant performance has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season. With a strong offense and pitching staff, Tennessee is poised to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re excited about the way we played this weekend,” said Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello. “Our offense was clicking, and our pitching staff was outstanding. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum and seeing where the season takes us.”
The Vols will face their next test on Tuesday, when they host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in a midweek matchup. The Bulldogs are coming off a strong 2024 season, in which they won 30 games and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
“UNC Asheville is a tough opponent, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Vitello. “We’ll need to come out and play well, both offensively and defensively, if we want to come out on top.”
The Vols will send sophomore right-hander Camden Sewell to the mound to face the Bulldogs. Sewell had a strong freshman season, going 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 13 appearances.
“Camden is a talented young pitcher, and we’re excited to see him take the mound on Tuesday,” said Vitello. “He’s got a lot of potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop into a top-notch starter.”
The Vols’ matchup against UNC Asheville will be a great test for the team, and will provide a good indication of where they stand heading into the heart of their schedule.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of facing UNC Asheville,” said Vitello. “It’s going to be a tough game, but we’re confident in our abilities and are looking forward to coming out on top.”
The Vols’ game against UNC Asheville is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and will be streamed live on SEC Network+.
_Upcoming Games:_
– _Tuesday, February 19th:_ Tennessee vs. UNC Asheville (6:00 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
– _Friday, February 22nd:_ Tennessee at Indiana (4:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
– _Saturday, February 23rd:_ Tennessee at Indiana (2:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
– _Sunday, February 24th:_ Tennessee at Indiana (1:00 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)
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