SCORE: Tennessee 1, Kent State 2 | FINAL

The Rocky Top Insider team mourns the tragic loss of long-time Tennessee athletics beat writer Wes Rucker.

If you are able and hoping to help the Rucker family, HERE is how.

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

No. 13 Tennessee baseball (5-0) is set to host the Kent State Golden Flashes (3-2) Saturday in game two of a three-game weekend series.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 4:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Tennessee defeated Kent State Friday night in a 4-3 thriller. Tyler Myatt crushed a 434-foot pinch-hit walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it for the Vols.

Kent State is the toughest competition Tennessee has faced to date, and the Golden Flashes took the Vols down to the wire Friday.

Tegan Kuhns allowed only one hit in 5.2 innings of work but walked three batters and hit three. Brayden Krenzel and Mark Hindy provided very useful relief outings, and Brady Frederick got a pair of crucial ground balls in the ninth after Bo Rhudy allowed three hits to blow the lead.

For a full recap of Tennessee’s series-opening win, click HERE. To watch Myatt’s walk-off homer, click HERE.

Tennessee opened the 2026 season with a series sweep over Nicholls last weekend, out-scoring the Colonels 27-3 across the three contests. The Vols followed it up with a stress-free 10-3 midweek win over UNC Asheville.

Blaine Brown has been the story for the Vols this young season. The sophomore slugger has been phenomenal at the plate, already with three home runs, and also logged a 1-2-3 inning with three Ks as the opener in Tuesday’s game vs. UNC Asheville.

The 2026 season is the 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

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.

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.

Beyond the returners, transfers Ford and 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. Brown is an electric two-way player from Rice. Do not be surprised if Ford and/or Brown hit 20+ home runs.

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 is the Friday night 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.

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: 38-18 (23-7 MAC)
  • 2025 Postseason: N/A
  • 2026 MAC Preseason Poll: 2^nd
  • Head Coach: Jeff Duncan
    • Overall Record: 389-243 (13^th year)
    • Record at Kent State: Same
  • Preseason All-Conference Selections: N/A
  • The Golden Flashes won the MAC regular season title in 2025 before being upset in the conference tournament by Miami (OH).
  • Kent State swept Southeastern Louisiana opening weekend before giving LSU a run for their money in a midweek loss this week.

Info courtesy UT Athletics

Prediction: Vols sweep series

Kent State is the toughest opponent the Vols will have faced to date, but the Vols still find a way to win all three. It will not be as easy as opening weekend, however, as Friday showed.

Injury/Availability Notes

• Senior OF Reese Chapman is OUT of the lineup for Saturday’s game with an illness. The hope is that it is a 24-hour ordeal. He could be available off the bench but it is unlikely, according to a UT spokesperson.
• UTL Blake Grimmer is dealing with lower back soreness and is yet to make his season debut. TBD if he plays this weekend but is not in the starting lineup Friday.
• C/OF Garrett Wright had wrist surgery recently and figures to miss the Kent State series.
• Brandon Arvidson was OUT for the Nicholls series and may make his season debut vs. Kent State. He has thrown recently and looked good.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Walk-Off Win Over Kent State

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

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

VIDEO: Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Reacts to Vols’ Series-Opening Win Over Kent State

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)

SS Manny Marin (R)

LF Chris Newstrom (R)

CF Jay Abernathy (L)

2B Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Reese Chapman is out of the lineup with an illness.
• Tyler Myatt gets a start with Chapman out, occupying the DH spot.
• Blaine Brown moves to left after starting at DH yesterday, Newstrom slides to right field.
• Everything else remains the same.

KENT STATE STARTING NINE: 

2B Grady Mee (R)

RF Sawyer Solitaria (R)

C Brody Williams (R)

3B Ripken Reese (R)

CF Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe (R)

1B Hunter Klotz (L)

SS Luke Matthews (R)

DH Kolton Schaller (L)

LF Max Humphrey (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, .190 opp. batting avg.)

vs.

Golden Flashes So. RHP Easton Tumis (1-0, 3.37 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 K, .238 opp. batting avg.)

Pitching notes:

• Mack is dealing with an illness but is good to go today.
• TBD if Arvidson will make his season debut this weekend. Brayden Krenzel figures to be the only bullpen arm not available today.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants

Kent State: Navy tops, white pants

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is NOT in effect all weekend.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Grady Mee strikes out looking.

-Sawyer Solitaria grounds out to SS.

-Brody Williams strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Henry Ford slaps a solo homer into the UT bullpen.

• 336 feet, 101 mph.
• 3rd homer of the season for Ford.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Levi Clark knocks a single into left-center.

-Tyler Myatt HBP. Clark to second.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Ripken Reese is walked.

-Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe strikes out swinging.

-Hunter Klotz is walked. Reese to second.

-Luke Matthews singles to left field. Klotz to second. Reese throwing out at home, 7-2.

• What a hose from Blaine Brown. And great job by Stone Lawless to apply the tag.
• Kent State challenged the ruling. The call was UPHELD.
• Defensive play of the year so far for Tennessee. Blaine Brown can do it ALL.

-Kolton Schaller flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Jay Abernathy doubles off the right-center wall.

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to SS. Abernathy to third.

-Ariel Antigua reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Abernathy heads home and gets caught in a pickle and ultimately tagged out. Antigua advances to second.

-Henry Ford flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Max Humphrey strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Grady Mee strikes out looking.

-Sawyer Solitaria singles up the middle.

-Brody Williams reaches on a throwing error by Manny Marin. Solitaria to second, advances to third on the error.

• Marin’s throw was low and Clark couldn’t make the scoop. Ball was hit deep in the hole so Marin couldn’t quite get it there.

-Ripken Reese flies out to CF.

• Phenomenal play by Jay Abernathy. Dove for it and the ball was tailing left quickly.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Blaine Brown flies out to CF.

-Levi Clark grounds out to 3B.

-Tyler Myatt flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Hunter Klotz is walked.

-Luke Matthews grounds out to 3B.

• Nice charge and throw by Henry Ford.

-Kolton Schaller grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Stone Lawless singles to left field.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.

-Chris Newstrom flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Max Humphrey singles to SS.

• Tricky bounce off the turf for Manny. Actually did a good job fielding it and making the throw. Close call but safe.

Humphrey steals second.

-Grady Mee strikes out swinging.

-Sawyer Solitaria singles to 3B. Humphrey to second.

• Softly hit, infield wasn’t playing up and Solitaria reached easily.

-Brody Williams reaches on an RBI fielding error by 3B. Solitaria to second, reaches third on the error. Humphrey scores.

• Ford let it get by him. Ugly error.

-Ripken Reese reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B, RBI. Solitaria scores. Williams out at second, 5-4. Reese advances to second on a throwing error by 2B.

• Nice play by Ford that time. Ariel then tried to make a tough double play to end the inning but the throw is way too high. Reese advances to second as a result.

-Miach Rienstra-Kiracofe lines out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Ariel Antigua HBP.

Antigua advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Henry Ford flies out to CF. Antigua to third.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Nick Guidas (0-0, 1.69 ERA) on to pitch for Tumis*

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

-Levi Clark fouls out to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 2

6th Inning: 

T6

-Hunter Klotz strikes out looking.

• 8th K for Mack.

*Brandon Arvidson is warming up in the bullpen.*

-Luke Matthews grounds out to SS.

-Kolton Schaller strikes out swinging.

• 9th K for Mack. Ties how many he had last week, which was a career-high.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Tyler Myatt strikes out swinging.

-Stone Lawless bloops a single into left-center.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Jay Abernathy works a walk. Lawless to second.

-Chris Newstrom flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 2

7th Inning: 

T7

-Max Humphrey strikes out swinging.

• 10th K of the day for Mack, a new career high.

-Grady Mee strikes out looking.

*Pitching change: R-Jr. LHP Brandon Arvidson (season debut) on to pitch for Mack*

––FINAL LINE for Landon Mack: 6.2 IP, 11 K, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 91 pitches (63 strikes)––

-Sawyer Solitaria doubles off the left-center wall.

Solitaria steals third.

-Brody Williams strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Ariel Antigua flies out to the warning track in LF.

-Henry Ford grounds out to 3B.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 2

8th Inning: 

T8

-Ripken Reese grounds out to SS.

*Ethan Baiotto warming up in the bullpen*

-Miach Rienstra-Kiracofe strikes out looking.

-Hunter Klotz strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Myatt HBP.

-Stone Lawless HBP. Myatt to second.

*Finley Bates pinch-running for Tyler Myatt*

*Pitching change: RHP Peyton Williams (0-0, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Guidas*

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

• Don’t know why Bates didn’t tag up. Probably could’ve made third. Lawless did and was ready to go to second.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 2

9th Inning: 

T9

-Luke Matthews singles to 3B.

*Nolan Belcher pinch-hitting for Kolton Schaller*

Matthews steals second.

-Nolan Belcher strikes out swinging.

Matthews picked off 1-5, caught stealing.

-Max Humphrey strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

-Chris Newstrom flies out to CF.

*Trent Grindlinger pinch-hitting for Ariel Antigua*

-Grindlinger grounds out to SS.

-Henry Ford flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Golden Flashes 2

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 1, Kent State Golden Flashes 2