SCORE: Tennessee 5, Nicholls 1 | FINAL

***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 two of a three-game series and game one of a Saturday doubleheader to close the series.

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

Game three, or game two of the doubleheader, will begin approximately 45 minutes after the completion of game two, or game one of the doubleheader. It is also 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.

For a full recap of the series-opening win, click HERE.

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.

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 got off to a strong start in the opener, recording one hit, two RBI and a hit-by-pitch. His lone un-productive at-bat saw the junior hit a rocket right to the left-fielder.

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.

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, 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 will easily handle Nicholls. 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, not allowing a baserunner in the final 1.1 innings of the game.

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

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)

DH Blaine Brown (L)

1B Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

C Stone Lawless (R)

CF Jay Abernathy (L)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

DH Trent Grindlinger (R)

2B Chris Newstrom (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Manny Marin is OUT of the lineup after starting at SS Friday.
• Antigua occupies short but freshman catcher Grindlinger replaces him in the lineup.
• With Grindlinger at DH, Brown moves to LF.
• With Brown in left, Newstrom moves to 2B.

NICHOLLS STARTING NINE: 

2B Keegan Giger (L)

RF Nico Rijo-Berger (R)

1B Caston Thompson (L)

DH Hudson Mattox (R)

LF Casey Artigues (L)

SS Jaxon Milan (L)

C Logan Mock (R)

CF Karson Irvin (L)

3B Andy Miller (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (2025 stats at Rutgers: 6-5, 4.03 ERA, 15 app., 15 starts, 80.1 IP, 81 H, 39 R, 36 ER, 17 BB, 70 K, 20 XBH, .266 opp. batting avg., 1.22 WHIP)

vs.

Colonels R-Fr. LHP Austin Vargas

Pitching notes:

• Mack gets the day two nod. The Rutgers transfer had a tremendous freshman season with the Scarlet Knights and is slated to be one of Tennessee’s top arms.
  • However, Mack did have some struggles in the fall, creating more intrigue to see how he looks in game action.
• Abraham was the only bullpen arm to throw Friday. Expect to see Bo Rhudy, Brady Frederick, Mark Hindy, Brayden Krenzel and maybe Cam Appenzeller out of the bullpen at some point this weekend.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants (NOW WITH NAME PLATES)

Nicholls: Navy tops, grey pants

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*NOTES*

• There IS a run-rule in effect. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
  • The run-rule is ALSO in place for game three of the series.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Keegan Giger strikes out looking.

-Nico Rijo-Berger singles to centerfield.

Rijo-Berger picked off 1-3-6.

• Got caught in a pickle trying to steal second. Antigua was able to tag him.

-Caston Thompson works a walk.

-Hudson Mattox strikes out swinging.

• A little adversity for Mack in the first frame but he gets out of it with a K. 19-pitch inning.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

-Blaine Brown singles up the middle.

• 110 mph off the bat. Very hard-hit ball.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF.

-Reese Chapman works a walk. Brown to second.

-Stone Lawless draws a walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Jay Abernathy.

-Jay Abernathy RBI HBP. Brown scores.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Ariel Antigua.

-Ariel Antigua grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Abernathy out at second.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Colonels 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Casey Artigues grounds out to SS.

-Jaxon Milam strikes out looking.

-Logan Mock strikes out swinging.

• 15-pitch inning. Mack is at 34 through two. The goal is 85 pitches for him today.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 2B.

-Chris Newstrom works a walk.

-Henry Ford reaches on a 5-4 fielder’s choice. Newstrom out at second.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.

• Another hard-hit ball.

Score: Vols 1, Colonels 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Karson Irvin out at first 1B to P.

-Andy Miller strikes out swinging.

-Keegan Giger lines out to 2B.

• Nice catch by Newstrom.
• 7 straight retired for Mack.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Levi Clark lines out to RF.

• Ball was smoked. Right to right-fielder.

-Reese Chapman slaps a double down the LF line.

• Stays hot at the plate. All three hits are doubles so far for Chapman this season.

-Stone Lawless is walked on four pitches.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Will Mabry on to pitch for Vargas*

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• Antigua has stranded five so far.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Colonels 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Nico Rijo-Berger strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Caston Thompson drives a solo homer to left field.

• First run for Nicholls this weekend.

-Hudson Mattox grounds out to SS.

• Nice play by Ariel Antigua.

-Casey Artigues singles to P.

• Hard-hit ball ricocheted off Mack (he’s fine). Able to reach because of it.

-Jaxon Milam drops a single into left field. Artigues to second.

-Logan Mock strikes out looking.

• Big K to strand a pair.
• Mack at 67 pitches through four.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging after an eight-pitch at-bat.

Tennessee challenged that Chris Newstrom was hit by a pitch. The ruling was NO HBP. Tennessee has one challenge remaining.

-Chris Newstrom is walked on four pitches.

-Henry Ford rips a single through the left side. Newstrom to second.

-Blaine Brown ropes a three-run homer to right-center.

• Had ripped one the pitch before but it was just foul. This one is fair and a no-doubt homer.
• First of the season for Brown, Tennessee’s 4th.
• 111 mph, 374 feet. 18 degree launch angle.

-Levi Clark is walked on four pitches.

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.

Clark picked off at first, 1-3.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Colonels 1

5th Inning: 

T5

-Karson Irvin strikes out swinging

• Nearly had an opposite-field home run that at-bat but was just foul. Irvin has been a tough out this weekend.

-Andy Miller strikes out swinging.

Cameron Appenzeller is warming up in the bullpen.

-Keegan Giger grounds out to P.

• Nice 1-2-3 11-pitch inning from Mack. 9 strikeouts today.
• At 78 pitches Might be it for him.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Stone Lawless grounds out to 3B.

-Jay Abernathy doubles to right-center.

• First hit of the season for Abernathy.

Abernathy picked off at second, 1-4.

• 2nd time Tennessee has been picked off today.

-Ariel Antigua works a walk.

-Trent Grindlinger knocks a double to right-center. Antigua to third.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Dawson Richard on to pitch for Will Mabry*

Grindlinger picked off at second, 1-4.

• 3 of Tennessee’s last 4 outs have been pickoffs.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Colonels 1

6th Inning: 

T6

-Nico Rijo-Berger grounds out to SS.

-Caston Thompson flies out to CF.

-Hudson Mattox flies out to CF.

• Super-efficient, 5-pitch 1-2-3 inning for Mack. At 83 on the day.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

• Nice defensive play by Jaxon Milam as the ball was hard hit. Good job to corral it and make the throw in time to first.

-Blaine Brown smokes a solo homer off the batter’s eye.

• 2nd HR of the game and season for Brown.
• Tennessee’s 5th of the season.
• 112 mph, 391 feet.

-Levi Clark pops up to 1B along the right-field line.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Colonels 1

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cameron Appenzeller on to pitch for Mack*

• College debut for Appenzeller.

––FINAL LINE FOR LANDON MACK: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 62 strikes on 83 total pitches against 22 batters––

-Casey Artigues grounds out to SS.

-Jaxon Milam strikes out looking.

-Logan Mock grounds out to SS.

• 5 assists for Antigua today.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Owen Schexnaydre on to pitch for Richard*

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Stone Lawless works a walk.

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

• Well-hit ball. Abernathy has made good contact today.

-Ariel Antigua strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Colonels 1

8th Inning: 

T8

*Aaron Biediger pinch-hitting for Karson Irvin*

-Biediger strikes out swinging.

*Greyson Shafer pinch-hitting for Andy Miller*

-Shafer strikes out swinging.

-Keegan Giger strikes out looking.

• Appenzeller strikes out the side in order. Impressive inning. He’s up to 4 Ks.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tyler Avery on to pitch for Schexnaydre*

*Christian Westcott to 3B for Greyson Shafer*

*Fisher Ingersoll to CF for Aaron Biediger*

-Trent Grindlinger singles through the left side.

-Chris Newstrom flies out to LF.

-Henry Ford is walked on four pitches.

-Blaine Brown flies out to CF.

-Levi Clark grounds into a 4U fielder’s choice. Ford out at second, 2B unassisted.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Colonels 1

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bo Rhudy on to pitch for Appenzeller*

-Nico Rijo-Berger strikes out looking.

-Caston Thompson flies out to CF.

-Hudson Mattox strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 5, Colonels 1

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Nicholls Colonels 1