Things get real for Tennessee baseball (17-1) this weekend as they open up SEC play in Tuscaloosa against Alabama (15-2).

The Crimson Tide are off to a nice start to the Rob Vaughn era, earning wins over Indiana and Arizona in the non conference slate while falling to good Dallas Baptist and Southern Miss teams.

Tennessee enters the weekend on a 16-game winning streak and hopes its offense can keep putting up big numbers against stiffer competition while its new look pitching staff starts facing strong offenses.

The Vols got off to a horrible 4-11 start to conference play last season and are looking to avoid that fate this season. It starts for Tony Vitello’s seventh Tennessee team this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

More From RTI: What Tony Vitello Said About RHP AJ Russell’s Status Entering SEC Play

How To Watch — No. 5 Tennessee (17-1) at No. 14 Alabama (15-2)

Game One

• 7 p.m. ET
• Stream: SEC Network+
• PxP: Roger Hoover, CC: Lance Cormier

Game Two

• 8 p.m. ET
• Watch: SEC Network
• PxP: Dave Neal, CC: Chris Burke

Game Three

• 2 p.m. ET
• Watch: SEC Network
• PxP: Dave Neal, CC: Chris Burke

What Tony Vitello Said About The Crimson Tide

On his quick scout of Alabama

“A lot of times you guys ask me on Tuesday nights and Eastern Kentucky got all of our attention and that includes the players. I really liked the way they approached Spring Break, a contested weekend, a heated win on Sunday — a true sweep, which you know the first weekend we played mixed competition and they were all business. You could sense it well before the scoreboard started. That’s kind of where our focus was, but Alabama has a new coach so there will be new energy there and then we know some of the players that are returning. I’m sure they added a few, too.

We’ve got some people that truly earn their salary in our building that are digging into that, so we’ll connect and join forces. But they’re an SEC team, we have to go on the road, and like I said — I’m familiar with who their new coach is, he’ll do an excellent job over a long haul over there and I don’t see why that wouldn’t have already started now.”

Projected Pitching Matchups

RHP AJ Causey (3-0, 1.31 ERA, 20.2 IP, 30 K, 3 BB, .73 WHIP) vs. RHP Ben Hess (3-0, 2.65 ERA, 17 IP, 28 K, 6 BB, .94 WHIP)

Game Two

RHP Drew Beam (3-0, 2.08 ERA, 21.2 IP, 20 K, 2 BB, 1.11 WHIP) vs. LHP Greg Farone (2-0, 1.72 ERA, 15.2 IP, 21 K, 2 BB, .83 WHIP)

Game Three

TBD vs. RHP Hagan Banks (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.2 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, .82 WHIP)

Bats To Know

Tennessee:

3B Billy Amick — .369/.440/.877, 9 HR, 14 EBH, 21 RBI, 8 BB, 12 K

2B Christian Moore — .364/.468/.727, 6 HR, 12 EBH, 13 RBI, 13 BB, 10 K

1B Blake Burke — .371/.443/.839, 6 HR, 17 EBH, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 12 K

OF Kavares Tears — .426/.507/.759, 5 HR, 8 EB, 16 RBI, 10 BB, 11 K

LF Dylan Dreiling — .377/.507/.811, 6 HR, 11 XHB, 18 RBI, 13 BB, 15 K

Alabama: 

3B Gage Miller — .478/.548/.910, 8 HR, 13 XBH, 24 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K

2B Bryce Eblin — .397/.498/.690, 4 HR, 8 XBH, 15 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K

CF TJ McCants — .361/.447/.750, 6 HR, 15 XHB, 23 RBI, 10 BB, 17 K

RF Evan Sleight — .344/.456/.641, 4 HR, 10 XBH, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 16 K

SS Justin Lebron — .333/.493/.574, 4 HR, 5 XBH, 13 RBI, 11 BB, 14 K

Prediction

Alabama is improved this season and going on the road in SEC play is difficult. This is a series where I would be surprised if either team sweeps but I don’t have much confidence in who I believe will take two out of three.

With two manageable home series following this one, Tennessee can set itself up in prime position early in conference play by taking two of three. I say they get it done.

Tennessee wins two out of three