March 5, 2007

The Tennessee baseball team will play its first midweek game of the season Tuesday when it faces intrastate foe Lipscomb at 3 p.m. at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Volunteers (7-7) are looking to rebound from a disappointing weekend that saw them lose two of three games to Illinois-Chicago.

True freshman left-hander Jeff Lockwood is slated to make his pitching debut Tuesday for the Vols. The Knoxville native and former Halls High School standout set career records at Halls for both wins (31) and batters struck out (351) while carrying a 1.33 career ERA and throwing three no-hitters. He was named the 2006 District Pitcher of the Year.

Lipscomb (11-5) has yet to name announce its starting pitcher. The Bisons are coming off a weekend-series win against Southeastern Conference stalwart LSU in Baton Rouge, La. After winning the first two contests of that series, Lipscomb is now 3-1 against SEC teams this season. The Bisons also defeated Auburn 4-3 last month.

Leading Lipscomb at the plate is sophomore catcher Caleb Joseph, who is hitting a team-high .368 with 21 hits, 12 runs, 11 doubles and 13 RBIs.

The Vols are 4-0 all-time against the Bisons, with the last three meetings coming in Knoxville.

Last year, UT was a perfect 5-0 on Tuesdays.