(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)
This weekend, Packard Stadium will be the site of the battle between the No. 24 Arizona State Sun Devils (6-4) and the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers (12-0). ASU is coming off the Sanderson Ford Surprise Classic, where they went 3-0. Tennessee will leave Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the first time this season to come to Tempe.
Friday, 6:30pm MST
Projected Starters: LHP Brett Lilek (1-0) v RHP Nick Williams (3-0)
Southpaw Brett Lilek will get his first Friday start of the season. Lilek has been ASU’s best starter and has the lowest ERA of the Sun Devil starters with a 1.29. In 14 innings, Lilek has struck out 17 batters while walking four. The sophomore has only given up five hits in three appearances.
The Vols lineup has only two players with 30 or more at-bats are batting under .300, led by Taylor Smart and his .412 average and 14 hits. Scott Price supplements the lineup with 13 RBIs and the Vols are collectively batting .318.
Nick Williams, a senior, boasts a 1.00 ERA. In 18 innings, Williams has struck out 13, walked four, and given up five hits. Opposing batters are hitting just .091 against the right-hander. As a team, ASU is batting .292, led by R.J. Ybarra’s .375 and 12 hits.
Saturday, 6:30pm MST
Projected Starters: LHP Ryan Kellogg (1-1) v RHP Andrew Lee (2-0)
Ryan Kellogg will get the start on Saturday, and Canada’s finest has 14 strikeouts in 16 innings. The sophomore has a 4.50 ERA, but he’s been getting closer to regaining his freshman form where he threw a no-hitter and went 20 consecutive innings, including two starts, without issuing a walk.
Facing off against Kellogg is Andrew Lee. The right-hander has a 3.60 ERA in his 15 innings. He’s struck out eight while walking three. Opponents are batting .250 against the sophomore.
Sunday, 12:30pm MST
Projected Starters: RHP Darin Gillies (1-1) v RHP Kyle Serrano (3-0)
Darin Gillies will take the mound with a 6.75 ERA, though his performances have been better than his ERA shows. ASU’s junior has struck out 13 in his 13.1 innings and walked five. Gillies has given up 17 hits, second on the team to Kellogg’s 18.
Kyle Serrano will be on the bump for the Vols. Serrano owns a 3.29 ERA from his 13.2 innings of work, which include 11 strikeouts but also nine walks. The freshman has held opponents to a .191 batting average.
