Tennessee baseball coach Dave Serrano, center, talks with pitcher Zach Warren as catcher Tyler Schultz looks on during a home game against Ole Miss last season. Warren took the loss Saturday as Auburn defeated the Vols 8-1 to win a three-game series in Knoxville. Tennessee lost 3-2 Thursday and won 5-4 Friday. BELOW: Tennessee junior Benito Santiago takes a swing during Thursday’s game against Auburn in Knoxville. Santiago had a hit and drove in a run in the loss.THE BLUEPRINT
Tennessee has five SECseries remaining in theregular season:› at Texas A&M (April 21-23) › at Vanderbilt (April 28-30) › vs. No. 15 Arkansas (May 4-6)› at No. 10 Kentucky (May 12-14)› vs. Missouri (May 18-20)
KNOXVILLE – Halfway through its Southeastern Conference slate, Tennessee still is clawing to rediscover the mixture of pitching and offensive punch that propelled it to a 9-1 start and a No. 25 ranking from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
The 8-1 loss to Auburn on Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium clinched the series for the Tigers and dropped the Volunteers to 18-15 (4-11 SEC), derailing some of the momentum gained from a series victory at then-No. 7 Florida last weekend.
Still, coach Dave Serrano said Friday night, after a 5-4 Tennessee win over the No. 10 Tigers, that his team’s goals remain in reach as the second half of the SEC schedule looms.
“It is on the table still,” said Serrano, who is in the last year of his contract. “We have a lot of work to do, and we know that. That’s what we created ourselves. But this coaching staff, led by me, the belief is we can do that.”