SCORE: Tennessee 12, Nicholls 2 | FINAL (7 inn. Run-Rule)

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

No. 14 Tennessee baseball is set to host the Nicholls Colonels Saturday in Knoxville in game three of a three-game series and game two of a doubleheader to close the series.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 4:32 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Due to potential inclement weather Sunday, Tennessee chose to play a Saturday doubleheader to close the series. For more details, click HERE.

Tennessee picked up a convincing series-opening win in Friday’s season opener. Tegan Kuhns delivered a strong 6.2-inning start while Henry Ford, Ariel Antigua, Reese Chapman and Stone Lawless all tallied a pair of RBIs in the 10-0, eight-inning run-rule win.

Tennessee followed up its dominant Friday win with a stress-free 5-1 win in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Starting pitcher Landon Mack, Cam Appenzeller and Bo Rhudy shut down Nicholls’ lineup while Blaine Brown mashed two homers on three hits. The Rice transfer displayed his incredibly high potential and elite power by logging UT’s first multi-homer game of the season.

Read recaps of both of Tennessee’s wins below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Defeats Nicholls For First Win Of Josh Elander Era

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Handles Business In Game Two Of Nicholls Series

For a full preview of the series, including Tennessee’s pitching plan for all three games, click HERE.

The Nicholls series is the first of the 2026 season and first in the post-Tony Vitello era, as the former UT head man left last fall to become the San Francisco Giants manager. Vitello is the first person to ever become a head manager in the MLB with no big league coaching experience.

Vitello recently shared his thoughts on this year’s Tennessee’s team and spring training as he readies his Giants squad for the 2026 season.

With Vitello gone, the Josh Elander era – or ElandEra – is underway. There’s no better time for it to begin, as this weekend’s series marks the first in the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium. After years of work, LNS has become one of the SEC’s best parks. Check out all the changes below.

RENOVATIONS: Tennessee Athletics Brings Magnificent Changes to Lindsey Nelson Stadium Ahead of 2026 Baseball Season

RENOVATIONS LOOK: Tour of Tennessee Baseball’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium Renovations

In the first game at newly-renovated LNS Friday, the stadium set a new attendance record with 6,977.

Tennessee enters 2026 returning a few key contributors from a year ago, including sophomores Levi Clark, Jay Abernathy, Manny Marin, Chris Newstrom and senior Reese Chapman, all of who began the season in the starting lineup Friday. Marin was the lone Vol to not start the first game Saturday after starting Friday and remains out of the lineup for game three.

Additionally, Stone Lawless and Ariel Antigua, who were fringe contributors for the 2025 team, begin the season as starters. Lawless figures to serve as Tennessee’s top catcher while Antigua will have the opportunity to be an every-day starter if he can be more effective at the plate.

Antigua had a solid game on opening day but struggled in game two of the series.

Beyond the returners, transfers Henry Ford and Blaine Brown are expected to be two of Tennessee’s top bats. By way of Virginia, Ford was Tennessee’s prized transfer portal land in the offseason. He begins the season as the leadoff hitter. Do not be surprised if Ford hits 20+ home runs.

The same can be said for Brown, who was at Rice in 2025. Brown opens the season as the DH and in the two-hole. Ford and Brown have accounted for three of Tennessee’s five home runs so far.

While there are plenty of familiar faces offensively, the pitching staff includes just four returners: Brandon Arvidson, Tegan Kuhns, Brayden Krenzel and Nic Abraham.

Kuhns was the opening day starter. Krenzel is a top relief arm who should pitch in the series finale. Abraham is a mid-tier bullpen arm with upside, and Arvidson could be Tennessee’s best pitcher on the staff. However, the redshirt-junior will not pitch in the Nicholls series as he deals with arm soreness. Tennessee is exercising caution by keeping Arvidson out of action on opening weekend.

For a full preview of the season, included projected accolades, pitching and lineup breakdowns, click the links below.

SEASON PREVIEW: Tennessee Baseball 2026 Season Preview: Accolades, Predictions

PITCHING PREVIEW

LINEUP PREVIEW

Opponent Scout

• 2025 Record: 17-32 (10-20 SLC)
• 2025 Postseason: N/A
• 2026 Southland Conference Preseason Poll: N/A
• Head Coach: Brent Haring
  • Overall Record: 17-32 (2^nd year)
  • Record at Nicholls: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: N/A

Info courtesy UT Athletics

Prediction: Vols sweep

Tennessee should finish the series sweep in game two of the Saturday doubleheader. The Vols have out-scored the Colonels 15-1 so far in 17 innings. The important thing to watch is the depth pecking order in the bullpen and which reserves the coaching staff favors more than others.

For instance, Nic Abraham being first out of the bullpen Friday was a surprise. He did well, allowing no baserunners in the final 1.1 innings of the game. Trent Grindlinger getting the DH start in the first game Saturday was also a surprise.

Injury/Availability Notes

• UTL Blake Grimmer is dealing with lower back soreness and will be out for the season-opening series.
• C/OF Garrett Wright had wrist surgery recently and figures to miss at least the first week of the season.
• Brandon Arvidson is OUT for the Nicholls series with arm soreness.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Opening Day Victory

For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast previewing the 2026 season, click HERE.

VIDEO: Josh Elander Recaps Run-Rule Win Over Nicholls in Season Opener

THREAD: TENNESSEE VS. NICHOLLS GAME ONE UPDATE THREAD

THREAD: TENNESSEE VS. NICHOLLS GAME TWO UPDATE 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: 

3B Henry Ford (R)

LF Blaine Brown (L)

C Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

DH Tyler Myatt (L)

CF Jay Abernathy (L)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

2B Chris Newstrom (R)

1B Evan Hankins (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Manny Marin remains out of the lineup, likely injury related.
• True freshman Evan Hankins gets his first career start at 1B.
• With Hankins at 1B, Levi Clark starts at catcher. Stone Lawless gets the game off.
  • Hankins occupies the 9-hole, moving Chris Newstrom up a spot.
• Tyler Myatt also logs his first career start at DH. Myatt hit a pinch-hit home run Friday but didn’t see an at-bat in game two of the series (game one of the doubleheader).
• Newstrom at 2B, Brown at LF for the second straight game.

NICHOLLS STARTING NINE: 

RF Nico Rijo-Berger (R)

2B Keegan Giger (L)

DH Greyson Shafer (R)

1B Caston Thompson (L)

LF Hudson Mattox (R)

SS Jaxon Milam (L)

3B Carter Jenkins (R)

C Clayton Pourciau (R)

CF Karson Irvin (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (2025 UVA stats: 3-5, 6.23 ERA, 14 app., 8 starts, 39.0 IP, 58 H, 35 R, 27 ER, 9 BB, 36 K, 19 XBH, 1.72 WHIP)

vs.

Colonels R-Sr. RHP Haden Luke

Pitching notes:

• Blanco gets the start in the third game of the season. A prized Virginia transfer, Blanco was the Cavaliers’ Friday night ace in 2024, when Virginia went to the College World Series, but his numbers went down drastically in an injury-ridden 2025 campaign.
• Top bullpen arms that have not seen action so far this weekend are Brady Frederick, Mark Hindy and Brayden Krenzel.

Uniforms

Tennessee: New creams

Nicholls: Black tops, grey pants

---

*NOTES*

• There IS a run-rule in effect. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Nico Rijo-Berger strikes out swinging.

-Keegan Giger grounds out to 3B.

-Greyson Shafer strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

-Blaine Brown powers a solo homer to the second deck of the left-field porches.

• 1st of the game, 3rd of the day and season. What a day Brown is having.
• 373 feet, 92 mph.
• 3 homers in his past 4 at-bats.

-Levi Clark smokes a solo homer to the left-field porches.

• 1st homer of the season. No doubter.
• 407 feet, 101 mph.
• First pitch of the at-bat.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

-Tyler Myatt knocks an RBI double off the left-field wall. Chapman scores.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Cannon Hensarling on to pitch for Luke*

-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.

Tyler Myatt scores on a wild pitch.

-Ariel Antigua is walked on four pitches.

-Chris Newstrom drops a single into left-center. Antigua to third.

• Landed in no man’s land.

-Evan Hankins strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Colonels 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Caston Thompson pops up to 3B.

-Hudson Mattox singles to left field.

-Jaxon Milam flies out to CF.

-Carter Jenkins strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Henry Ford works a walk.

-Blaine Brown rips a double down the RF line.

-Levi Clark sends a two-run single up the middle.

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Shaydon Benson on to pitch for Hensarling*

-Reese Chapman is walked on four pitches. Clark to second.

Runners advance on a throwing error on P, failed pickoff attempt to second base.

-Tyler Myatt delivers an RBI groundout to 1B, unassisted. Clark scores. Chapman to third.

-Jay Abernathy is walked on four pitches.

*Pitching change: R-Jr. RHP Eli Waters on to pitch for Benson*

-Ariel Antigua grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Colonels 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Clayton Pourciau pops up to 3B.

-Karson Irvin strikes out swinging.

-Nico Rijo-Berger knocks a single into left field.

-Keegan Giger legs out an infield single to 2B. Rijo-Berger to second.

-Greyson Shafer works a walk after a long battle with Blanco.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Caston Thompson.

-Caston Thompson strikes out swinging.

• Big K from Blanco.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Chris Newstrom flies out to CF.

• Great diving catch by Karson Irvin.

-Evan Hankins strikes out swinging, tagged out by C.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Colonels 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Hudson Mattox singles through the left side.

-Jaxon Milam strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Carter Jenkins strikes out looking.

-Clayton Pourciau lines out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Blaine Brown singles up the middle.

-Levi Clark HBP.

*Nate Eisfelder pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

-Eisfelder is walked.

• Bases loaded for Tyler Myatt with no outs.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Cole Simoneaux on to pitch for Waters*

-Tyler Myatt sends an RBI groundout to 1B, unassisted. Brown scores.

• Was a close call at home. Play was reviewed and UPHELD.

-Jay Abernathy knocks an RBI groundout to 2B. Clark scores.

-Ariel Antigua pops up to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Colonels 0

5th Inning: 

T5

*Eisfelder to RF*

-Karson Irvin strikes out looking.

-Nico Rijo-Berger is walked.

*Brayden Krenzel is warming up in the bullpen*

-Keegan Giger singles through the right side.

-Greyson Shafer reaches on a fielder’s choice. Giger out at second, 3-6. Rijo-Berger to third.

-Caston Thompson strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Finley Bates pinch-hitting for Chris Newstrom*

-Bates ropes a solo homer to left-center.

• First pitch of his first at-bat.
• 103 mph, 385 feet.

-Evan Hankins works a walk.

Hankins advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Henry Ford bloops a single into shallow center.

-Blaine Brown works a walk.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Levi Clark.

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Joseph Bordelon on to pitch for Simoneaux*

-Nate Eisfelder works an RBI walk.

-Tyler Myatt draws an RBI walk.

-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.

-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Colonels 0

6th Inning: 

T6

*Bates to 2B*

*Pitching change: So. RHP Brayden Krenzel on to pitch for Blanco*

*Trent Grindlinger to C for Levi Clark*

––Evan Blanco FINAL LINE: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K, 58 strikes on 87 total pitches––

-Hudson Mattox grounds out to 3B.

-Jaxon Milam strikes out looking.

*Will Mabry pinch-hitting for Carter Jenkins*

-Will Mabry flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Caleb Dyess on to pitch for Bordelon*

*Mabry to 3B*

-Finley Bates singles through the left side.

*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Evan Hankings*

-High grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

-Henry Ford doubles to right field.

-Blaine Brown flies out to the warning track in left field.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Colonels 0

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: Brady Frederick on to pitch for Brayden Krenzel*

-Logan Mallard strikes out swinging.

-Noah Melancon singles to right field.

-Fisher Ingersoll strikes out swinging.

-Keegan Giger is walked.

-Greyson Shafer singles to 1B.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Caston Thompson.

-Caston Thompson drives a two-run single up the middle.

-Hudson Mattox strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 12, Colonels 2

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 12, Nicholls Colonels 2 (FINAL – 7 inn. Run-Rule)