SCORE: Tennessee 4, Missouri 2 | FINAL (Vols even series 1-1)

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

No. 22 Tennessee baseball (15-7, 1-3 SEC) is set to host the Missouri Tigers (16-6, 1-3 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game series in Knoxville.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 7:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network +.

First pitch was initially scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, but a pop-up thunderstorm has delayed first pitch. More details HERE.

All three games will be streamed on SEC Network + this weekend. For a full preview of the series, including information on Missouri, pitching matchup, first-pitch times and more, click HERE.

Tennessee will aim to even the series Saturday after suffering an 8-4 series-opening loss to the Tigers Friday.

Tegan Kuhns wasn’t himself in a 3.0-inning start, allowing four runs on six hits. Brandon Arvidson and Brady Frederick also gave up back-breaking hits out of the bullpen, and Tennessee’s offense stranded 11 on base.

RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Surrenders Eight Runs in Series-Opening Loss to Missouri

Last weekend, Tennessee picked up an incredibly impressive 7-4 series-opening win over Georgia on the road but lost games two and three 4-2 and 8-7.

Tennessee led 5-0 in game three, but a Georgia five-spot and robbed ninth-inning homer led to the heartbreaking defeat in the series rubber match.

Still, Tennessee played well against a Top-10 team on the road, making Friday night’s loss to lowly Missouri surprising.

Missouri entered the weekend last in the SEC with 19 home runs. The Tigers hit two Friday. Additionally, Mizzou totaled just five runs on 17 hits in all three losses of last week’s series against Auburn.

Opponent Scout

Missouri was swept in its first SEC series against Auburn on the road. The Tigers had a very manageable non-conference slate, including a series win over Mount St. Mary’s and series sweeps against New Haven, UIC and North Dakota State.

Mizzou has dropped a pair of midweek contests to Southern Indiana and Kansas, the latter of which came Tuesday in a 10-0 run-rule defeat.

Missouri’s pitching was very good last weekend in Auburn on Friday and Saturday but struggled Sunday allowing nine runs. The Tigers have struggled most offensively, with the Friday starting nine having tallied just 13 home runs on the season entering Friday. The team had totaled 19 on the year before hitting two Friday.

• 2025 Record: 16-39 (3-27 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: N/A
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 16^th
• Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson
  • Overall Record: 130-172 (7^th year)
  • Record at MU: 54-77 (3^rd year)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: None

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: Mizzou leads, 18-16
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 10-9
• In Columbia: Mizzou leads, 9-6
• Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
• Last Meeting: April 27, 2024 (W, 3-2 in Knoxville)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 2-4 runs

Tennessee gets a much-needed bounce back win. I like Tennessee’s pitching to perform well and for the offense to do enough.

Injury/Availability Notes

• No injury notes. Garrett Wright is still working his way back to 100 percent from his hamate bone surgery, so it will be a bit before he catches.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Said After Series-Opening Loss to Missouri

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 Discusses Series-Opening Loss to Missouri

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:

• Lots of changes after Friday’s loss. NO Jay Abernathy, Chris Newstrom, Ariel Antigua or Tyler Myatt.
• Grimmer with his first start at second this season. Levi Clark gets the opportunity at first.
  • Grimmer also leading off for the first time this season. Wright moves down to the lineup.
• Garrett Wright slides over to center. Blaine Brown to left.
• Trent Grindlinger gets the DH start, first SEC start of his career.

MISSOURI STARTING NINE: 

LF Cameron Boston (L)

DH Jase Woita (R)

RF Pierre Sweals (R)

CF Kaden Peer (L)

SS Kam Durnin (R)

2B Blaize Ward (L)

3B Keegan Knutson (R)

C Mateo Serna (S)

1B Tyler Macon (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (3-2, 3.21 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 28.0 IP, 27 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 13 BB, 34 K, 7 XBH, .260 opp. batting avg., 1.43 WHIP)

vs.

Tigers Jr. RHP Josh McDevitt (3-0, 2.49 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 25.1 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 17 BB, 36 K, 4 XBH, .125 opp. batting avg., 1.07 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Mack has done well competing and working around trouble this season. But sometimes he’s gotten himself into too much trouble.
  • Mack had walked only five on the season this time two weeks ago. But back-to-back four walk outings have brought his season total to 13.
  • Mack allowed two homers last week vs. Georgia and a season-high 9 hits. Had allowed just one homer prior to last Saturday.
• McDevitt has been Mizzou’s best starter so far. Did well last weekend vs. Auburn (3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 10 K in 6.1 IP, season-high 102 pitches)
  • Pitched 5 scoreless innings and allowed one hit vs. UIC two weeks ago, BUT walked six. Worst outing came against NDSU (3 H, 3 R, 4 BB in 4.0 IP)
  • Allowed multiple walks in every start, including six vs. UIC. Highest K total is 10 last week vs. Aubrun (best outing of year).

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants

Missouri: All grey with black caps and yellow accents

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Missouri leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
• Hank Rucker, son of the late Wes Rucker, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Video can be found HERE.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Cameron Benson out at first 3-4-1.

• Clark just missed a hard-hit grounder diving for it, but Grimmer is there to back him up and fires the throw on time to Mack. Good defense from Tennessee to begin things.

-Jase Woita grounds out to SS up the middle.

• Hit into the shift. Smooth play by Manny.

-Pierre Seals strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford strikes out looking.

-Blaine Brown singles to center field.

• Centerfielder dropped the ball trying to make a diving catch.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Tigers 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Kaden Peer works a leadoff walk.

Peer advances to second on a wild pitch.

Peer advances to third on a balk.

-Kam Durnin is walked.

• 8-pitch at-bat

-Blaize Ward cracks an RBI single up the middle. Durnin to third.

• Just left of the second base bag and no one was there because of the shift.

-Keegan Knutson lays down an RBI sac bunt to P, out at first. Ward to second. Durnin scores.

-Mateo Serna knocks a single to right-center. Ward to third.

*Josh Reynolds out to talk to Landon Mack*

-Tyler Macon strikes out swinging.

-Cameron Benson strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

-Garrett Wright pops up to 1B.

-Stone Lawless walks.

Lawless advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Trent Grindlinger slaps an RBI single through the right side.

-Levi Clark sends a single through the left side. Grindlinger to second.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 2

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Jase Woita slices a double down the left-field line.

-Pierre Seals strikes out swinging.

-Kaden Peer grounds out to 3B. Woita to third.

-Kam Durnin HBP.

-Blaize Ward strikes out looking on three pitches.

• Big time K from Mack. Some big Ks last two innings to strand four total runners.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

B3

-Henry Ford rips a double down the left-field line.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B. Ford to third.

• Hit into the shift.

-Reese Chapman HBP.

-Manny Marin sends an RBI groundout to 3B. Chapman to second. Ford scores.

-Garrett Wright lines out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Tigers 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-Keegan Knutson pops up to SS in shallow center.

-Mateo Serna singles up the middle.

-Tyler Macon reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Serna out at second, 6-4.

• Grimmer a tad slow getting to the bag, preventing any chance of a double play.

-Cameron Benson pops up to 3B in shallow left field.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Stone Lawless ropes a double down the left-field line.

-Trent Grindlinger flies out to RF. Lawless to third.

-Levi Clark sends a sac fly to the warning track in center field.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out looking on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jase Woita is walked.

*Cam Appenzeller getting loose in the bullpen*

-Pierre Seals singles to SS. Woita to second.

• Tough play for Manny to make.

-Kaden Peer slaps a single through the left side.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Kam Durnin.

*Pitching change: LHP Cam Appenzeller (2-0, 2.30 ERA) in to pitch for Mack*

-Kam Durnin strikes out looking.

-Blaize Ward strikes out swinging.

-Keegan Knutson pops up to SS.

• Appenzeller wins the long 9-pitch battle. Knutson fouled off six pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

-Blaine Brown flies out to CF.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Tigers 2

6th Inning: 

T6

-Mateo Serna flies out to CF.

-Tyler Macon strikes out looking.

-Cameron Benson strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Garrett Wright doubles to right-center.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to SS. Wright to third.

Wright scores on a wild pitch.

-Trent Grindlinger is walked.

-Levi Clark is walked.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Juan Villarreal (0-0, 4.76 ERA) in to pitch for McDevitt*

-Blake Grimmer is walked.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Henry Ford.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Eli Skidmore (2-0, 3.38 ERA) in to pitch for Villarreal*

-Henry Ford reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Clark out at third 5U.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 2

7th Inning: 

T7

-Jase Woita singles to 1B.

• Could’ve been ruled an error. Clark struggled to field a ball that was likely going to be a 3-1 putout.

-Pierre Seals reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Woita out at second.

• Really nice play by Manny. Momentum was taking him toward third but was able to get to the ball and fire it to second on time.

-Kaden Peer strikes out swinging.

Seals caught stealing second, out 2-6.

• Strike ’em out, throw ’em out.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Blaine Brown strikes out looking.

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.

-Manny Marin singles up the middle.

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 2

8th Inning: 

T8

-Kam Durnin flies out to LF.

-Donovan Jordan flies out to LF.

-Keegan Knutson flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Stone Lawless works a walk.

-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging.

Lawless out on hitter’s interference.

• Stole second, but ump rules Grindlinger interfered with the throw.

-Levi Clark strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 2

9th Inning: 

T9

-Mateo Serna strikes out looking.

-Tyler Macon strikes out swinging.

-Camden Benson singles to 1B.

Benson steals second.

Benson steals third.

-Jase Woita walks.

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

-Pierre Seals grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 2

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, Missouri Tigers 2