SCORE: Tennessee 8, Kentucky 2 | FINAL (Vols lead series 1-0)

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No. 4 Tennessee baseball (32-5, 11-4 SEC) is set to battle the Kentucky Wildcats (20-14, 6-9 SEC) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

For a full preview of the series, including pitching matchups, storylines and a prediction, click here.

Tennessee enters the series coming off a 13-3 run-rule midweek win over Bellarmine that followed a series win last weekend at (then) No. 6 Ole Miss.

The Vols used a career-best outing from Liam Doyle to win game one before taking the series rubber match, 10-8, on Sunday. Reese Chapman hit a go-ahead two-run bomb in the ninth, allowing the Big Orange to claim a pivotal victory in the high-scoring affair.

The Vols lost game two due to a subpar Marcus Phillips start and poor situational hitting.

With the series win, Tennessee moved up one spot in this week’s D1 Baseball Top 25 rankings. See where Tennessee landed in all five major polls below.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Rankings After Series Win Over Ole Miss

The Ole Miss series win was a massive one for Tennessee, as it prevented back-to-back series losses for the Vols. Tennessee dropped its first series of the season and first since early March of 2024 two weeks ago against Texas A&M.

After no-hitting the Aggies in game one, Tennessee pitchers were rocked in games two and three, giving up 11 total home runs as Texas A&M swept a doubleheader to win the series.

But the A&M series is an outlier on Tennessee’s otherwise dominant season so far. The Vols own road series wins over Top 15 teams Alabama and Ole Miss as well as series sweeps over Florida and South Carolina.

NOTEBOOK: Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Where The Vols Stand At The Halfway Point In SEC Play

Tennessee is the healthiest they’ve been in a while this weekend. Star junior infielder Gavin Kilen returned to the starting lineup last weekend and remains in the lineup Friday. With Kilen still working his way back to 100% from a hamstring injury, he will stay as the designated hitter for the time being.

Additionally, RHP AJ Russell is back firmly in the weekend pitching fold for the Vols. Expect Russell to get a clean inning out of the bullpen at some point this weekend and potentially pitch multiple frames.

While Russell and Kilen are full goes, as well as Chris Newstrom who was out all three games of the Ole Miss series with an illness, talented freshman reliever Brayden Krenzel is out for the entirety of the Kentucky series with an illness.

Krenzel’s absence is a blow to the bullpen, specifically for Sunday. Read more about Krenzel’s status HERE.

The worst part of Tennessee’s season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge at the beginning of March.

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.

Injury/Availability Notes

• RHP Brayden Krenzel is OUT for the entirety of the series with an illness.
• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
• Infielder Alex Perry, who was in competition to start at first base in fall ball, 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

Kentucky was an Omaha team last year but has come back down to Earth a bit in 2025.

The Wildcats are 6-9 so far in league play and own just one SEC series win (Texas A&M). However, Kentucky has played every opponent in its grueling schedule tough thus far and is just a handful of runs away from being a Top 10 team.

This will be an extremely hard-fought series, and a Tennessee sweep would be very impressive for the Vols.

Prediction: Tennessee wins two of three.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Following Midweek Win Over Bellarmine

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, featuring a discussion of where Tennessee baseball is at halfway through SEC play, click here.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Talks Midweek Win Over Bellarmine, AJ Russell Role

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

2B Dean Curley (R)

DH Gavin Kilen (L)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

3B Dalton Bargo (L)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

SS Manny Marin (R)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

LF Chris Newstrom (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Cannon Peebles behind the plate to begin the series.
• Manny Marin gets the nod at shortstop over Ariel Antigua.
• Dean Curley remains at second base for the second straight game. He has struggled defensively so far this season on the left side of the infield.
• With Curley at second, Dalton Bargo starts at third.
• Chris Newstrom gets the left field start over Jay Abernathy to open the series. Newstrom has been red-hot at the plate.

KENTUCKY STARTING NINE: 

3B Patrick Herrera (R)

SS Tyler Bell (S)

DH Kyuss Gargett (S)

C Devin Burkes (R)

RF Ryan Schwarts (R)

LF Cole Hage (R)

2B Luke Lawrence (L)

CF James McCoy (S)

1B Dylan Koontz (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (6-1, 2.47 ERA, 9 app., 9 starts, 51.0 IP, 27 H, 15 R, 14 ER, 16 BB, 95 K, 8 XBH, .153 opp. batting avg., 0.84 WHIP)

vs.

Wildcats Fr. RHP Nate Harris (3-1, 3.94 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 29.2 IP, 25 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 10 BB, 21 K, 7 XBH, .218 opp. batting avg., 1.18 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Kentucky does their starting pitching rotation differently. The strongest arm starts in the series finale rather than in game one, so actually an easier matchup for the Tennessee offense tonight than it will be on Sunday.
• Doyle will look to follow up a career outing last week at Ole Miss (3 H, 2 R, 14 K in 8.1 IP)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Friday Whites

Kentucky: Black hats, black jerseys, grey pants

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*NOTES*

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Kentucky leads by 10 or more runs after the 7th inning, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Patrick Herrera hits a bloop single to left field.

-Tyler Bell flies out to left field.

-Kyuss Gargett flies out to left field.

-Devin Burkes smokes a two-run homer off the video board in right field.

-Ryan Schwartz bloops a single to left field.

-Cole Hage strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley singles to left field.

-Gavin Kilen beats the shift with a bunt single. Curley to second.

Runners advance on a wild pitch that hits home plate umpire Hank Himmanen. Tennessee trainer Jeff Wood comes out to look at Himmanen.

Umpire injury delay. An umpire change has been made.

-Andrew Fischer works a walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Hunter Ensley.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Dalton Bargo chops an RBI single to 2B. Curley scores.

-Reese Chapman sends a two-run single up the middle to score Fischer and Kilen.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Wildcats 2

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Luke Lawrence grounds out to 2B.

-James McCoy doubles down the LF line.

-Dylan Koontz grounds out to 1B unassisted. McCoy to third.

-Patrick Herrera fouls out to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Cannon Peebles drives a single to right field.

-Chris Newstrom pops up to 2B along the right-field line.

-Dean Curley works a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat.

-Gavin Kilen grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Wildcats 2

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Tyler Bell strikes out swinging.

-Kyuss Gargett flies out to RF.

-Devin Burkes grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Andrew Fischer works a leadoff walk.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

-Dalton Bargo reaches on a 1-6 fielder’s choice. Fischer out at second.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Wildcats 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-Ryan Schwartz strikes out swinging.

-Cole Hage grounds out to SS.

-Luke Lawrence grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Manny Marin flies out to RF.

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to P.

• 5-pitch inning for Harris.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Wildcats 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-James McCoy strikes out looking.

-Dylan Koontz HBP.

-Patrick Herrera HBP. Koontz to second.

Frank Anderson calls a mound meeting.

-Tyler Bell works a walk after a long at-bat.

• Bases loaded with one out for Kyus Gargett

Tanner Franklin and Brandon Arvidson are warming up in the bullpen.

-Kyus Gargett infield fly to SS.

-Devin Burkes strikes out swinging.

• HUGE K to strand the bases loaded.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Dean Curley smokes a solo homer to center.

• Curley’s 11th HR of the season.
• 396 feet, 106 mph.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 3B through the right side.

• Shift caused the third baseman to be in the 3.5 hole.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Wildcats 2

6th Inning: 

T6

-Ryan Schwartz flies out to RF.

-Cole Hage strikes out swinging.

-Luke Lawrence strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Dalton Bargo works a walk.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Evan Byers (2-1, 4.76 ERA) on to pitch for Harris*

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Manny Marin singles through the right side.

-Cannon Peebles launches a three-run towering homer to left field.

• Moonshot Just got out of the park.
• 336 feet, 99 mph.
• Peebles’ 6th HR of the season.

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Robert Hogan (0-1, 13.50 ERA) on to pitch for Byers*

-Chris Newstrom flies out to CF.

-Dean Curley works a walk.

-Gavin Kilen fouls out to C.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Wildcats 2

7th Inning: 

T7

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Chris Newstrom*

*Bargo to LF*

*Marin to 3B*

-James McCoy flies out to RF.

-Dylan Koontz strikes out swinging.

-Patrick Herrera strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF in left-center.

-Dalton Bargo doubles to left-center.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Wildcats 2

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 4.09 ERA) on to pitch for Doyle*

-Tyler Bell grounds out to 2B.

-Kyuss Gargett grounds out to SS.

• Just a tremendous play by Ariel Antigua.
• Laid out to get to the ball. Gets up, fires the throw in time to first.
• A SportsCenter Top 10 worthy play.

-Devin Burkes strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Cannon Peebles ropes a solo homer off the scoreboard.

• Peebles’ 7th HR of the season.
• 373 feet, 103 mph.

-Ariel Antigua works a walk.

• Ball four was due to a pitch-clock violation.

-Dean Curley flies out to RF.

-Gavin Kilen strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 2

9th Inning: 

T9

-Ryan Schwartz grounds out to SS.

-Cole Hage grounds out to SS.

• Another really nice play by Antigua. Defensive clinic to end the game here.

-Luke Lawrence singles up the middle.

-James McCoy strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 8, Wildcats 2

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 8, Kentucky Wildcats 2