SCORE: Tennessee 10, Cincinnati 6 | FINAL (Vols advance to Regional Final)

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

14-seed Tennessee baseball (44-16, 16-14 SEC) is set to battle Cincinnati (33-14, 16-14 Big 12) Saturday in game four of the Knoxville Regional.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium will be at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Mike Monaco (PxP) and Kyle Peterson (Analyst) are calling the game.

For a full preview of the game including a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee comes into Saturday’s game 1-0 in the Knoxville Regional. The Vols picked up a stress-free 9-2 win over Miami (OH) on Friday to advance in the winner’s bracket. Cincinnati beat Wake Forest 11-6.

The winner of Tennessee-Cincinnati will move on to await the winner of the loser of today’s game and Wake Forest, who eliminated Miami (OH) earlier today.

VIDEO RECAP: Instant Reaction: Tennessee Baseball Earns Stress-Free Victory to Open NCAA Tournament

GAME STORY: Tennessee Baseball Coasts Past Miami (Ohio) For NCAA Tournament Opening Win

Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament coming off a 2-1 run in the SEC Tournament. The Vols dominated Alabama in game one in Hoover, tallying a season-high 20 hits in a 15-10 victory. UT then claimed arguably its biggest win of the season with a 7-5 extra innings win over 1-seed Texas to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Tennessee’s run would end there in a disappointing 10-0 run-rule loss to eventual tournament champions Vanderbilt.

While the Vols ended their tournament run with a whimper, Tennessee’s pair of wins were massive. They are the reason Knoxville was named a host site, as Tennessee wasn’t projected to host before the tournament began.

UT ended the regular season losing its last five SEC series and six of its last seven. While the Vols haven’t won a series since mid-April, Tennessee never got swept in a series.

DRAW: See Tennessee Baseball’s 2025 NCAA Tournament Draw

Tennessee has the most momentum its had in nearly two months. The offense has been good to great in five of the last six outings. AJ Russell and Brandon Arvidson delivered superb performances in Hoover to change the outlook of the bullpen. Infield mistakes are happening less.

Additionally, Tennessee got a favorable draw in the regional. Wake Forest isn’t among the top 2-seeds. The Demon Deacons’ 11-6 loss to Cincinnati in game one of the regional proved that. Cincinnati is a challenging matchup because the Bearcats steal bases at a high rate, but the overall offensive numbers are underwhelming and the pitching staff isn’t great.

Miami (OH) has a good offense and isn’t a bad 4-seed but with Liam Doyle on the mound, the Vols had a significant advantage and coasted to a 9-2 win.

SCOUTING: Scouting Tennessee Baseball’s Three Potential Opponents

BULLPEN: Tennessee Baseball Bullpen Power Rankings: Which Vol Relievers Are Most Trustworthy?

Doyle starting on the mound on Friday may have come as a bit of a surprise to some. Marcus Phillips had naturally moved ahead of Doyle in terms of who has pitched first in a week the last two weeks. This was because the Arkansas series was a Thursday-Saturday and Tennessee wanted to keep Doyle on Fridays.

Keeping Phillips in a game one setting makes a lot of sense with Miami (OH) being the weakest team in the regional and the fact that Cincinnati has an excellent run game, something Phillips struggles mightily to contain.

But, Doyle got the ball on Friday and Phillips will face Cincinnati on Saturday. Tegan Kuhns will presumably start Tennessee’s third game of the Regional but that is not confirmed.

PITCHING: Tony Vitello Discusses Tennessee Baseball Pitching Plan For Knoxville Regional

Opponent Scout

• 32-14 (16-14 Big 12) record
• Finished eighth in Big 12 regular season, quarterfinals exit in Big 12 Tournament
• No. 33 RPI
• Arizona and West Virginia swept Cincinnati. TCU won two of three. Cincinnati swept Kansas.

Strengths

Stealing. Bases. Cincinnati ranks 18th nationally with 128 stolen bases. Landyn Vidourek ranks 14th nationally, successfully stealing 37 bases on 38 attempts.

Vidourek is one of the Bearcats best bats too, hitting .299 with 14 home runs and 10 doubles. As good as Vidourek is, Kerrington Cross is the lead man in the lineup, hitting .399 with 12 home runs, nine doubles, three triples and 49 RBIs.

On the mound, Cincinnati does have two consistent starters. Kellen O’Connor is who Tennessee will face. He boasts a 4.68 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 65.1 innings pitched.

Weaknesses

Cincinnati certainly has its strengths is overall a pretty underwhelming team statistically. Offensively, the Bearcats rank 121st nationally with a .284 batting average, 109th nationally with a .459 slugging percentage and 79th nationally with 70 home runs.

On the mound, it’s a pretty average pitching staff. The Bearcats ranks 101st nationally with a 5.44 team-ERA though they rank much better (68th nationally) with a 1.46 WHIP.

Injury/Availability Notes

• In game two against Kentucky, a foul ball unfortunately hit Tennessee relief pitcher Tanner Wiggins in the mouth. Tony Vitello said there were teeth involved in Wiggins’ injury, and the sophomore underwent surgery afterward on his jaw. He will not pitch again this season.
  • Read more about Wiggins’ status HERE.
• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible. He will not play this season.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Following NCAA Tournament Win Over Miami (Ohio)

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, including a feature on AJ Russell, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast previewing the Knoxville Regional, click HERE.

VIDEO: Tony Vitello, Liam Doyle, Reese Chapman Recap Vols Win Over Miami (OH)

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 Gavin Kilen (L)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

LF Dalton Bargo (L)

2B Dean Curley (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

DH Levi Clark (R)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

3B Manny Marin (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Same lineup as it has been the last six games for Tennessee.

CINCINNATI STARTING NINE: 

3B Kerrington Cross (R)

C Jack Natili (R)

1B Quinton Coats (R)

LF Cal Sefcik

DH Tommy O’Connor (L)

CF Derrick Pitts (R)

2B Christian Mitchelle (R)

SS Charlie Niehaus (R)

RF Donovan Ford (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Landyn Vidourek is not in the Cincinnati lineup. He has been dealing with an injury.
• This is HUGE for Tennessee. Vidourek is among the top base stealers in the nation. Has swiped 39 bags on 40 attempts this season.

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP Marcus Phillips (3-4, 3.64 ERA, 15 app., 15 starts, 1 CGSO, 71.2 IP, 63 H, 38 R, 29 ER, 28 BB, 85 K, 24 XBH, .232 opp. batting avg., 1.27 WHIP)

vs.

Bearcats R-Sr. LHP Kellen O’Connor (3-2, 4.68 ERA, 16 app., 11 starts, 1 CG, 65.1 IP, 61 H, 38 R, 34 ER, 20 BB, 56 K, 26 XBH, .251 opp. batting avg., 1.24 WHIP)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange shirts, grey pants

Cincinnati: Cream shirts, cream pants and black hats.

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*NOTES*

• There is NO run-rule in the NCAA Tournament.
• Tennessee is the AWAY team today because it has been the away team less than Cincinnati so far this weekend. HERE‘s why.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

– Gavin Kilen shoots a ball through the left side of the infield, beating the shift.

– Andrew Fischer draws a walk.

– Hunter Ensley draws a walk to load the bases.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Dalton Bargo.

– Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.

-Dean Curley slaps an two-run single to right field. Kilen and Fischer score. Ensley to second.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Levi Clark works an 11-pitch walk.

-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF.

• Phenomenal diving catch to rob Cannon Peebles of a multi-RBI hit.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Kerrington Cross singles to shortstop.

-Jack Natali walks on four pitches.

-Quinton Coats strikes out swinging.

-Cal Sefcik flies out to CF.

-Tommy O’Connor strikes out swinging.

• Nice K to strand a pair.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Bearcats 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

-Gavin Kilen singles to right field.

-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging after a 9-pitch at-bat.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Derrick Pitts strikes out swinging.

-Christian Mitchelle grounds out to 2B.

-Charlie Niehaus grounds out to 3B.

• 10-pitch 1-2-3 inning from Phillips.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Bearcats 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Dalton Bargo flies out to CF.

-Dean Curley hammers a solo homer off the batter’s eye.

• 404 feet, 107 mph.
• Curley’s 13th HR of the season.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Levi Clark is walked on four pitches.

-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 2B.

• Really nice play by the second baseman. Some bad luck for Peebles so far with Cincinnati making great defensive plays.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Donovan Ford works a walk.

Ford steals second.

-Kerrington Cross is walked.

-Jack Natili sends an RBI single to right field. Cross to third. Ford scores.

-Quinton Coats strikes out looking.

-Cal Sefcik sends a sac fly to RF. Cross scores.

-Tommy O’Connor flies out to LF at the warning track.

• Bargo kind of misjudged the ball. Ended up having to extend his arm up and back towards the wall to make the catch. Ball just kept carrying.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Bearcats 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-Manny Marin grounds out to 3B.

-Gavin Kilen drops a triple into left field.

• Pop up was in the air forever and three Cincinnati players were in the area but no one could come down with it. Two ended up crashing to the ground. Kilen makes it to third as a result, just beating the throw with his slide.

-Andrew Fischer sends an RBI groundout to 2B. Kilen scores.

• Ball up the middle. Hit into the shift.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Derrick Pitts grounds out to SS.

• Really nice play by Gavin Kilen.

-Christian Mitchelle flies out to RF.

AJ Russell is tossing in the Tennessee bullpen.

-Charlie Niehaus strikes out swinging.

• Really nice inning from Phillips. 11 pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Bearcats 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Dean Curley flies out to LF.

-Reese Chapman is walked on four pitches.

-Levi Clark flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Donovan Ford fouls out to 1B.

-Kerrington Cross works a walk.

Cross picked off at first, 1-3.

• What a super quick turn and throw from Phillips. LNS erupted in cheers afterward.

-Jack Natili strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Bearcats 2

6th Inning: 

T6

-Cannon Peebles ropes a double down the LF line.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

-Gavin Kilen lines a single to right field. Peebles to third.

• Kilen is FOUR for FOUR today. 6 hits so far in the Regional.

-Andrew Fischer delivers a two-run double to right-center. Kilen and Peebles score.

• Fischer comes through in a massive way. He is FIRED up at second base.

*Pitching change: RHP Adam Buczkowski (4-0, 5.45 ERA) on to pitch for O’Connor*

-Hunter Ensley works a walk.

-Dalton Bargo is walked to load the bases.

• Bases loaded with one out for Dean Curley.

-Dean Curley draws an RBI walk. Fischer scores.

• Bases loaded with one out for Reese Chapman.

*Pitching change: RHP Brandon Scheurer (3-0, 4.70 ERA) on to pitch for Buczkowski*

-Reese Chapman knocks a sac fly to RF. Bargo scores.

-Levi Clark pops up to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Quinton Coats singles to center.

-Cal Sefcik flies out to RF.

-Tommy O’Connor strikes out swinging.

-Derrick Pitts strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• Another strong inning from Phillips. He’s at 96 pitches through six and is turning in a gem. Vols will be able to save most of their top bullpen arms. Russell is still tossing some in the bullpen.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Bearcats 2

7th Inning: 

T7

-Cannon Peebles out at first 1B to P.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Gavin Kilen strikes out swinging.

• First time Kilen has been retired tonight.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Christian Mitchelle cranks a solo homer to left field.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP AJ Russell (2-1, 3.38 ERA) on to pitch for Phillips*

• Phillips exits to a standing ovation.
• FINAL LINE: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 98 TP

-Charlie Niehaus works a walk.

Niehaus steals second.

• Peebles was close to throwing him out. Was a good throw. Niehaus is just a really good base stealer (now 20-22 on the season).

-Donovan Ford strikes out looking on three pitches.

Niehaus steals third.

-Kerrington Cross works a walk.

Niehaus scores on a passed ball. Cross advances to second on the passed ball.

Cross advances to third on a balk.

-Jack Natili strikes out swinging.

-Quinton Coats strikes out looking on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Bearcats 4

8th Inning: 

T8

-Andrew Fischer doubles to right-center.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 3B.

-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.

-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Dean Curley*

*Kilen to 2B*

-Cal Sefcik flies out to CF.

-Tommy O’Connor strikes out swinging, reaches first on a muffed throw by 1B, assist by C.

• Wild pitch for strike three then Cannon’s throw to Fischer is a little high. Fischer couldn’t make the catch. Goes into the outfield.

-Derrick Pitts strikes out swinging.

-Christian Mitchelle fouls out to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Bearcats 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.

-Levi Clark slaps a single to left field.

*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Clark*

-Cannon Peebles ropes a double to left field. Abernathy to third.

-Manny Marin sends a two-run single up the middle, out at second 4-6. Peebles and Abernathy score.

-Gavin Kilen pops up to SS in shallow left-center.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

-Charlie Niehaus flies out to LF.

-Donovan Ford reaches on a throwing error by SS.

• Throw was high and to the left. Fischer caught it and looked like he may have applied the tag, but the runner narrowly evaded it.

-Kerrington Cross drives a double down the LF line. Ford to third.

-Jack Natili strikes out swinging.

-Quinton Coats slaps an RBI single to P. Ford scores. Cross to third.

• Hard-hit ball hit off of Russell’s glove.

-Cal Sefcik ropes an RBI double down the RF line. Cross scores. Coats to third.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (2-0, 3.69 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*

*Kory Klingenbeck pinch-hitting for Tommy O’Connor*

-Kory Klingenbeck strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 10, Bearcats 6

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Cincinnati Bearcats 6