SCORE: Tennessee 0, Wright State 6 | FINAL (Vols win series 2-1)

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No. 19 Tennessee baseball (12-3) is set to host the Wright State Raiders (4-8) Sunday in game three of a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

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

For a full preview of the Wright State series, including first pitch times, projected pitching matchups, series history and top questions, click HERE.

Tennessee enters Sunday with the series already clinched after Friday’s 4-3 win and Saturday’s 5-4 win.

The Vols’ pair of one-run victories have featured stellar bullpen pitching from Brayden Krenzel, Brady Frederick and Brandon Arvidson as well as quality starts from Tegan Kuhns and Landon Mack.

Tennessee’s offense struggled Friday, but infielder Manny Marin recorded a crucial fake-bunt walk-off single to win it. Watch the walk-off hit HERE.

Tennessee had many big moments in Friday’s thrilling win as Jay Abernathy provided several key moments as well. HERE is a look inside Tennessee’s three big moments in the series-opening victory.

Henry Ford and Reese Chapman led the way Saturday with three hits apiece, each hitting a home run. Krenzel was phenomenal out of the bullpen in a 2.0-inning save. In his past two appearances, the sophomore has earned a three and two inning save.

Read both recaps from each of Tennessee’s wins over Wright State below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Walks Off Series Opener Against Wright State

GAME TWO RECAP: Ford, Chapman Lead Tennessee Baseball to Series-Clinching Win Over Wright State

Tennessee’s pair of wins this weekend have brought UT’s winning streak to six games. Since losing to top-ranked UCLA 12-5 last Friday in Arlington, Tennessee hasn’t lost, and four of its six wins have come by two runs or less.

Pitching has led the way for the Vols this season while the offense has been inconsistent. As Tennessee’s bats continue to search for more rhythm at the plate, the Vols’ starting rotation – and specifically the bullpen – has been lights out in the past half dozen contests.

Tennessee will look to sweep Wright State Sunday and end its non-conference slate on a high note before traveling to face Georgia in Athens next weekend.

Opponent Scout

After making it to a regional —and eliminating Vanderbilt— a season ago, Wright State has gotten off to a slower start this season. The Raiders entered the weekend 4-6 and have faced a couple opponents that Tennessee has faced, or will face, this season.

Wright State dropped two of three games against Georgia. It suffered blowout defeats in games one and two before winning a tight series finale. The Raiders blew out Kent State in a midweek matchup.

In its two other series, Wright State went winless against Charlotte and won two of three games against Campbell. Pitching was shaky for Wright State in the series, especially in games one and game two.

• 2025 Record: 40-21 (25-5 Horizon)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Nashville Regional (2-2)
• 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll: 1^st  
• Head Coach: Alex Sogard
  • Overall Record: 228-140 (8^th year)
  • Record at WSU: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: No Team Selected

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: UT leads, 5-2
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 5-2
• In Dayton & at Neutral Sites: N/A
• Last Meeting Before This Series: June 4, 2021 (W, 9-8 – NCAA Regional)

Info in italics courtesy UT Athletics

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 4+ runs

A little bit of a bold prediction considering UT’s average margin of victory. But it’s a Sunday, and I have full confidence in Tennessee’s pitching, specifically its bullpen.

Wright State will see its Sunday pitching get touched up a bit as Tennessee’s offense scores 6+ runs in a stress-free, series-sweeping win.

Injury/Availability Notes

• Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are BACK as they made their starting lineup debuts Wednesday against Oakland.
• Both have been in the lineup all three games this weekend. Wright at center Friday, left Saturday and Sunday. Grimmer at DH Friday, first base Saturday and Sunday.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Said After Series-Clinching Win Over Wright 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: Josh Elander Recaps Series-Clinching Victory Over Wright 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: 

Lineup Notes:

• Levi Clark back in the lineup after sitting Saturday. This is his fourth start at catcher this season. He has done well hitting the baseball when starting at catcher this year.
• Manny Marin in the lineup for the first time this weekend. Ariel Antigua sits.
• Wright stays in left, Blaine at DH. Newstrom stays at 2B.
• Jay still in center with Newstrom at 2B.
• Grimmer at 1B for the second straight day.

WRIGHT STATE STARTING NINE: 

2B Hunter Warren (R)

LF JP Peltier (R)

SS Braylen Blomquist (L)

3B Patrick Fultz (L)

DH Nate Manley (R)

CF Cy Turner (L)

C Zac Butler (R)

1B Keegan Holmstrom (L)

RF Cam Gilkerson (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Andrew Duncan was initially listed in the starting lineup at center field, leading off. But he is no longer playing.
  • A nice break for the Vols, as Duncan has four hits this weekend.

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (1-1, 1.88 ERA, 3 app., 3 starts, 14.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 7 BB, 23 K, 4 XBH, .196 opp. batting avg., 1.19 WHIP)

vs.

Wright State Jr. LHP Chet Lax (3-0, 4.09 ERA, 4 app., 1 start, 11.0 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 12 K, 4 XBH, .250 opp. batting avg., 1.27 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Blanco continues to be in his day three role.
  • Blanco was solid last weekend in Arlington but has struggled with his command in each of his past two outings. Something to monitor.
• Lax – a Hendersonville, TN, native – has three relief appearances and one start this year (Kent State).
  • Outside of a poor relief appearance vs. Charlotte in the second week of the season, Lax has been good out of the pen and/or starting the one time. He allowed two hits and one run in 4.0 IP vs. Georgia

Uniforms

Tennessee: New creams

Wright State: Green tops, white pants

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is IN EFFECT all weekend. If Tennessee or Wright State lead by 10 runs in M7 or later, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Hunter Warren works a leadoff walk.

-JP Peltier strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Braylen Blomquist flies out to CF.

-Patrick Fultz strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jay Abernathy flies out to CF at the warning track.

-Henry Ford grounds out to P.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Nate Manley grounds out to SS.

• Great play by Manny Marin to get to the ground ball up the middle.

-Cy Turner strikes out swinging.

-Zac Butler flies out to LF.

• Good back-hand leaping catch by Garrett Wright.

END OF TOP HALF 

B2

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF.

-Garrett Wright flies out to RF.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Keegan Holmstrom flies out to RF.

-Cam Gilkerson strikes out swinging.

-Hunter Warren flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Chris Newstrom flies out to RF.

-Levi Clark reaches on a fielding error by SS.

-Manny Marin singles to 1B. Clark to second.

• Rocket that ricocheted off the first baseman’s glove.

-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Henry Ford singles through the left side. Clark out at home, 7-2.

• Great throw by LF JP Peltier and nice catch by catcher Zac Butler who tags Levi out. But he was standing in the baseline.
• Play was reviewed and STOOD. No obstruction and Levi is out. Right call, good play by Wright State.
• 8-game hit streak for Ford.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-JP Peltier grounds out to 3B.

• Good scoop by Grimmer. Not a great throw from Ford.

-Braylen Blomquist HBP.

• 3-1 pitch.

-Patrick Fultz strikes out swinging.

-Nate Manley strikes out looking.

• 6-pitch at-bat.
• 6 Ks for Blanco.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Garrett Wright singles up the middle.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Cy Turner strikes out looking.

-Zac Butler lines out to 2B.

-Keegan Holmstrom grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Chris Newstrom flies out to RF.

-Levi Clark pops up to 1B.

-Manny Marin ropes a double down the LF line.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 0

6th Inning: 

T6

-Cam Gilkerson slaps a single to right field.

• No-hitter no-longer. Third baserunner for Wright State.

-Hunter Warren is walked. Gilkerson to second.

-JP Peltier ropes a two-run double down the left-field line.

-Braylen Blomquist strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Patrick Fultz works a walk.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick (3-0, 3.18 ERA) on to pitch for Blanco*

*Gus Gregory pinch-hitting for Nate Manley*

-Gus Gregory flies out to LF.

-Cy Turner drives an RBI double to left field. Peltier scores. Fultz out, 7-5.

• Fultz over-ran third and was tagged out by Ford. Ugly base-running mistake but Wright State scores another run before the frame ends.

–FINAL LINE: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 49 strikes on 76 total pitches–

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Henry Ford grounds out to 2B.

-Blaine Brown singles up the middle.

• A rare ground ball not hit into the shift from Blaine.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to LF.

-Garrett Wright pops up to SS in shallow left field.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 3

7th Inning: 

T7

-Zac Butler lines out to 1B.

-Keegan Holmstrom strikes out looking.

-Andrew Duncan pops up to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Levi Clark flies out to RF at the warning track.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 3

8th Inning: 

T8

-Hunter Warren grounds out to 3B.

-JP Peltier pelts a solo homer to left field.

• What a day for Peltier. 2-4 with 3 RBI and gunned down Levi Clark earlier.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Mark Hindy (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Frederick*

-Braylen Blomquist grounds out to 2B.

-Patrick Fultz strikes out swinging.

• Good work from Hindy. Vols must find something in B8 when top of the lineup gets up.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: So. RHP Michael Paplanus (0-1, 1.42 ERA) on to pitch for Lax*

• Paplanus has three saves this season. Not a save opportunity but worth noting he’s been good in late-game spots.

-Manny Marin singles to left field.

• 3-3 day for Marin.

Marin advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Jay Abernathy flies out to RF.

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

-Blaine Brown flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Gus Gregory grounds out to 2B.

-Cy Turner HBP.

-Zac Butler hammers a two-run homer to left field.

*Pitching change: RHP Bo Rhudy (0-0, 1.80 ERA) on to pitch for Hindy*

-Keegan Holmstrom flies out to CF.

-Cam Gilkerson flies out to CF after a long battle with Rhudy.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

-Blake Grimmer strikes out looking.

-Garrett Wright fouls out to 1B.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 6

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 0, Wright State Raiders 6

 

Mor to follow: Tennessee Sports Betting