SCORE: Tennessee 7, Florida 4 | FINAL

***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***

Second-ranked Tennessee baseball (19-0) is set to host the seventh-ranked Florida Gators (16-4) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 1:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

The Vols won the series opener, 5-3, in an exciting Friday night game. Liam Doyle did his part as the starter and Nate Snead shoved in a relief outing while Hunter Ensley delivered in a big moment.

In game two, Tennessee clinched the series with a 10-0 run-rule win in seven innings. Marcus Phillips turned in a career-best outing in a complete game shutout while the Vols’ offense plated a whopping nine runs in the seventh inning against Florida’s bullpen arms.

Read recaps of both wins below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Outlasts Florida in SEC Opener

GAME TWO RECAP: Marcus Phillips, Nine-Run 7th Inning Lead Tennessee Baseball to Series-Clinching Run-Rule Win Over Florida

For a full preview of the Florida series, including information on how to watch all three games and a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee is still the only undefeated team in the country. The Vols’ midweek win over West Georgia Tuesday coincided with Florida beating then-unbeaten Florida State, leaving Tennessee as the lone perfect team in the sport.

Prior to the midweek win over West Georgia, Tennessee swept St. Bonaventure, outscoring the Bonnies 36-3. Tennessee made history twice in the series sweep, The Vols combined to throw a no-hitter in the series opener for the fourth time in program history, and it marked the ninth Tennessee no-hitter overall.

Additionally, Tennessee’s win in the series finale to improve to 16-0 put the 2025 Vols atop the record books as having the best start to a season in program history.

HISTORIC START: Tennessee Baseball Off to Best Start in Program History

Tennessee has been dominant in its 19-0 start. The Vols’ pitching staff has a 1.76 team ERA while the offense has recorded 51 home runs. Overall, Tennessee has outscored opponents 218-40 this season.

The Vols have scored 10 or more runs in 12 of 19 games. In all 12 of those games, Tennessee also won by 10 or more runs. UT has recorded nine run-rule wins, and it would be 11 had Xavier and St. Bonaventure agreed to it.

In addition to the pair of wins over Florida, Tennessee also got tested in Houston, beating Preseason Top 25 teams Oklahoma State and Arizona two weeks ago at the Astros Foundation College Classic.

UT also owns series sweeps over Hofstra and Samford along with midweek wins over UNC Asheville, North Alabama, Radford, Xavier and West Georgia this season.

After the series sweep of St. Bonaventure, Tennessee did not change in any of the five Top 25 polls. The Vols are still the No. 2 team according to D1 Baseball and No. 1 in the other four polls (NCBWA, Perfect Game, Baseball America, USA Today Coaches).

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Various Rankings Entering SEC Play

Tennessee’s freshman slugger Levi Clark and starting pitcher Liam Doyle earned conference honors following their respective performances against St. Bonaventure. Doyle won SEC Pitcher of the Week, and Clark won SEC Co-Freshman of the Week.

The worst part of Tennessee’s undefeated season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge last Monday.

In response, Osuna penned a letter to the NCAA requesting they make things right and grant him eligibility.

Read more about the court’s decision and its impact on Osuna HERE.

Tennessee fans have been showing extra support for Osuna as of late. The Rock on UT’s campus had Osuna’s face painted on it Monday with a message saying “#FreeBerto.”

Additionally, during a meeting of the House of Representatives, East Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett used his one minute, 53 second general speech to inform people about Osuna’s case while imploring the NCAA to grant the transfer slugger immediate eligibility.

Infielder Dean Curley also showed support for Osuna Saturday during the series-clinching win over Florida, displaying a “Free Berto” tank top after hitting a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning.

FREE BERTO: Dean Curley Shows Support for Alberto Osuna With Double Celebration

With Osuna still ineligible, Andrew Fischer figures to get the vast majority of reps at first base. With Fischer playing first instead of third base, his natural position, Manny Marin and Dalton Bargo will get the majority of opportunities at third.

Injury/Availability Notes

Tennessee is basically at 100%, but some players are still unavailable.

• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
• LHP Andrew Behnke hasn’t pitched since the Hofstra series but should make his return soon.
• RHP AJ Russell is fine and did not suffer a setback after making his return from UCL surgery against North Alabama, but Tennessee is exercising caution and likely won’t ramp up his action until April.
• Infielder Alex Perry, who was in competition to start at first base before Osuna’s arrival, left the program in January to tend to a personal matter. It remains to be seen when or if Perry will return. He is in his second season at Tennessee.

Opponent Scout

Florida has been among the best teams in the nation so far this season. The Gators return a bunch of key pieces from last year’s squad that reached the CWS Semifinals and boast plenty of talented freshmen.

The Gators own series sweeps over Air Force, Dayton and Harvard along with midweek wins over Top-5 Florida State, FAU, North Florida, Stetson and Jacksonville. Florida also won two-of-three games in a series against Miami in Gainesville two weeks ago. UF’s second loss of the season came in a 13-3 midweek defeat at the hands of UCF.

Florida was picked to finish 5th in the SEC in the preseason. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan’s 18th team in Gainesville has three Preseason All-Conference selections in second baseman Cade Kurland, catcher Luke Heyman and shortstop Colby Shelton.

However, Kurland is still dealing with an injury and hasn’t played since March 1.

Tennessee is 7-3 against Florida in the last 10 meetings counting Saturday. In 2024, the two sides met in a three-game series in Gainesville. The Vols won two-of-three games, exacting revenge from the 2023 series in which Florida won in Knoxville.

The road team had won the series each of the past three years, but that changed this year.

While Tennessee is coming off a run-rule win, expect Florida to not go quietly on Sunday as the Vols aim to pull off the sweep. Pitching depth favors the Vols, which will bode well, but the Gators are plenty capable to hand Tennessee its first loss of the season.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Series-Clinching Run-Rule Win Over Florida

For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, including how Dean Curley supported Alberto Osuna Saturday with his double celebration, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep of St. Bonaventure and updates on the status of AJ Russell and Andrew Behnke, click here.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Recaps Series-Clinching Win Over Florida

THREAD: Tennessee Baseball vs. Florida Game Two THREAD

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

SS Dean Curley (R)

2B Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

DH Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

3B Manny Marin (R)

LF Jay Abernathy (L)

C Stone Lawless (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Stone Lawless behind the plate again over Cannon Peebles. First weekend he has gotten two starts.
  • Lawless was tremendous defensively Saturday.
• Manny Marin continues to operate as Tennessee’s primary third baseman. Started all three games this weekend.
• Jay Abernathy gets another start in left field. He’s started every game there this weekend.
• No starts for Dalton Bargo this series but he’s been Tennessee’s top pinch-hitter.
• Top seven of the order the seem to be set.
• Same lineup as Saturday, just swapped Abernathy and Lawless in the 8 and 9 hole.

FLORIDA STARTING NINE: 

LF Justin Nadeau (L)

3B Bobby Boser (R)

SS Colby Shelton (L)

DH Brody Donay (R)

2B Brendan Lawson (L)

RF Ty Evans (R)

1B Landon Stripling (L)

C Luke Heyman (R)

CF Hayden Yost (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Blake Cyr, who has started the first two games of the series in the outfield, is out today. Was questionable on Florida’s injury report.

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-0, 1.59 ERA, 4 app., 1 start, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 3 XBH, .238 opp. batting avg., 1.24 WHIP)

vs.

Gators R-So. RHP Jake Clemente (1-0, 3.86 ERA, 3 app., 3 starts, 14.0 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 21 K, 0 XBH, .128 opp. batting avg., 0.86 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Kuhns gets his second start of the season. Also started against Arizona in an opener role in Houston.
  • We’ll see if Kuhns is used as an opener again. Arvidson, Combs, Hunley, Loy, Franklin are all fresh and able to pitch today if needed.
  • Kuhns has been solid in his appearances but not perfect. Gave up two hits in 2.0 innings against Arizona and looked really good out of the gate, retiring his first five batters.
• Clemente was a weekend guy the first three weekends of the season but didn’t pitch last weekend because of injury.
  • Clemente has been mostly solid in his starts but was shaky in his lone tough start against Miami (4 ER in 4.0 innings)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Sunday creams

Florida: Grey shirts and pants with blue caps

---

*NOTES*

• Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC games. If Tennessee or Florida leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
• Tennessee’s No. 2 ranking and Florida’s No. 7 rankings refers to D1 Baseball’s poll.
  • Tennessee is No. 1 in all other polls (USA Today Poll, NCBWA, Baseball America and Perfect Game).

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Justin Nadeau flies out to LF.

• An unusual two-pitch at-bat for Nadeau. He had seen 57 of Tennessee’s 204 pitches on the weekend entering today.

-Bobby Boser strikes out looking.

-Colby Shelton strikes out swinging.

• Great first inning from Kuhns.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley grounds out to SS after a seven-pitch at-bat.

-Gavin Kilen strikes out looking.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.

• Hard-hit ball right to Shelton. Good defensive play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Gators 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Brody Donay grounds out to 2B.

-Brendan Lawson singles to right field.

-Ty Evans strikes out swinging.

Lawson steals second.

Dylan Loy is warming up in the bullpen.

-Landon Stripling grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Andrew Fischer reaches on a fielding error by 1B.

• Should’ve been a 3-1 putout but Stripling couldn’t field the chopper.

-Levi Clark grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Gators 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Luke Heyman flies out to CF.

-Hayden Yost lines out to LF.

• Very hard-hit ball. Nice catch by Abernathy.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*

-Justin Nadeau is hit by a pitch.

Nadeau caught stealing second, 2-4.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Jay Abernathy singles through the right side.

-Stone Lawless drives a single to left field. Abernathy to third.

• Abernathy showing off his speed getting to third there.

-Dean Curley sends an RBI groundout to 3B to score Abernathy. Lawless to second.

-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Gators 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Bobby Boser reaches on a fielding error by LF, advances to second on the error.

• Was a tough play to make for Abernathy but got his glove on it. Most guys wouldn’t have been able to reach the ball but Abernathy’s speed got him there, just couldn’t make the catch.

-Colby Shelton singles to SS.

• Dean Curley attempted to make a diving catch but couldn’t come up with it. Boser thinking he caught it kept him at second, though.

-Brody Donay strikes out swinging.

• Went around on the check swing for strike three.

-Brendan Lawson is walked on four pitches.

• Bases loaded with one out for Ty Evans.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-0, 3.48 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*

-Ty Evans rips a two-run double down the LF line.

-Landon Stripling HBP.

• Bases loaded with one out for Luke Heyman.

-Luke Heyman reaches on a fielder’s choice to RF. Stripling out at second, 9-6. Lawson scores on the RBI fielder’s choice.

Heyman gets caught in a pickle stealing second, 2-6-3 putout. Evans scores while Heyman is in the pickle.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Hunter Ensley HBP.

-Andrew Fischer works a walk.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Billy Barlow (1-0, 2.08 ERA) on to pitch for Clemente*

*Dalton Bargo pinch-hitting for Levi Clark*

-Bargo works a walk.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman works an RBI walk. Ensley scores.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Manny Marin.

-Manny Marin reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Fischer out at home.

• Bases loaded with one out for Jay Abernathy.

-Jay Abernathy grounds into a 6-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Gators 4

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: So. LHP Dylan Loy (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Franklin*

-Hayden Yost strikes out swinging.

-Justin Nadeau strikes out looking.

-Bobby Boser reaches on a fielding error by 1B.

• Fischer let the hard-hit ball get past him.

Boser steals second.

-Colby Shelton grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Cannon Peebles pinch-hitting for Stone Lawless*

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Dean Curley grounds out to P.

-Gavin Kilen smokes a solo homer to right field.

• 363 feet, 105 mph.
• Kilen’s team-leading 9th HR of the season.

-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielding error by RF, advances to second on the error.

• Ty Evans dropped the routine fly ball.

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Gators 4

6th Inning: 

T6

*Peebles to C*

-Brody Donay strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Brendan Lawson strikes out looking.

-Ty Evans fouls out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Dalton Bargo lines out to 2B.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

-Manny Marin works a walk.

-Jay Abernathy works a walk.

-Cannon Peebles ropes a two-run double to right field.

• Abernathy just beats the throw home. His speed is so dangerous.

-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Gators 4

7th Inning: 

T7

-Landon Stripling grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Luke Heyman HBP.

-Hayden Yost flies out to CF in right-center.

-Justin Nadeau strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 2B.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Gators 4

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Nate Snead (1-0, 0.53 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*

*Curley to 1B*

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Andrew Fischer*

-Bobby Boser out at first 1B to P.

-Colby Shelton flies out to CF.

-Brody Donay grounds out to 3B.

• Great play by Manny Marin. So smooth.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Dalton Bargo knocks a ground-rule double to right-center.

-Reese Chapman launches a two-run homer to left-center.

• 399 feet, 106 mph.
• Chapman’s 6th HR of the season.

-Manny Marin grounds out to P on a bunt.

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

-Cannon Peebles works a walk.

-Dean Curley strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Gators 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Brendan Lawson works a walk after a 9-pitch at-bat,

• Snead got squeezed a bit during that at-bat.

-Ty Evans singles up the middle.

-Landon Stripling flies out to RF.

-Luke Heyman strikes out swinging.

-Hayden Yost strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 7, Gators 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Florida Gators 4