Tennessee Baseball Reveals Opening Weekend Pitching Plans Against Hofstra

The Tennessee Volunteers are set to begin their 2025 baseball season with a weekend series against Hofstra, marking their first games since winning the NCAA National Championship last summer. Head coach Tony Vitello announced that Ole Miss transfer Liam Doyle will start on Friday's opener, while junior right-hander Marcus Phillips will take the mound on Saturday. The Sunday starter has yet to be disclosed, following Vitello's strategy of not announcing it ahead of time to keep options open. Doyle, who had a strong offseason, was expected to be the Friday starter, while Phillips is transitioning from a closer role to starting pitcher after a season marked by inconsistency. The games will be played at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, with the first pitch on Friday scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET. Tennessee, ranked No. 4 in preseason polls, is looking to continue its successful run from last season.