The SEC released its 2022 conference baseball schedules, Wednesday. Tony Vitello’s Tennessee team will face seven NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago as well as defending National Champion Mississippi State
The reigning SEC East champion Vols will open up conference play March 18-20 when Tennessee hosts South Carolina to Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols won two out of three in Columbia a season ago, clinching the division crown. The Gamecocks were eliminated in the Columbia Regional.
Tennessee goes on the road on March 25-27 for a three game series at Ole Miss. The Vols and Rebels didn’t face each other last season. Mike Bianco’s squad lost to Arizona in the Super Regional.
The Vols stay on the road the third week of conference play, traveling to Nashville to face rival Vanderbilt. The Commodores won two out of three in Knoxville last season before losing in the National Championship series.
After a two week hiatus, Tennessee returns to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on April 18-20 to host Tony Vitello’s alma mater Missouri. The Vols swept Missouri in Columbia last season as the Tigers finished last in the SEC.
Tennessee will host Alabama for a three game series on April 15-17. The Vols won two out of three in the regular season a year ago against the Crimson Tide, before splitting a pair of games in the SEC Tournament. Alabama was eliminated in the Ruston Regional in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
After the two week homestand, Tennessee travels to Gainesville for three games with Florida on April 22-24. The Vols won three of their four games against Florida last year and the Gators lost the Gainesville Regional.
Tennessee will host Auburn to Lindsey Nelson Stadium the final weekend of April. The two teams didn’t face last season and the Tigers missed the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee will travel north on Interstate-75 to face Kentucky on May 6-8. The Vols won two out of three against the Wildcats a season ago.
The Vols will host Georgia for the final home SEC series on May 13-15. Tennessee won two out of three in Athens last season as the Bulldogs narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee will end its regular season on the road, facing defending National Champion Mississippi State in Starkville. The Vols run-ruled Mississippi State in their one meeting a season ago.
Tennessee is coming off its best baseball season in at least 20 years and the Vols have kept the momentum this offseason, signing the nation’s fifth ranked recruiting class.
The Vols lost a handful of major contributors from last season’s team but returned super seniors Luc Lipcius, Redmond Walsh and Evan Russell while bringing in big time transfers Seth Halvorsen, Matt McCormick and Chase Dollander.
