SCORE: Tennessee 7, Missouri 1 | FINAL(Vols win series 2-1)

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

No. 22 Tennessee baseball (16-7, 2-3 SEC) is set to host the Missouri Tigers (16-7, 1-4 SEC) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Knoxville.

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

For a full preview of the series, including information on Missouri, pitching matchup, first-pitch times and more, click HERE.

Tennessee will aim to clinch the series Sunday after evening the series with a 4-2 win Saturday. The Vols lost 8-4 Friday.

Tegan Kuhns wasn’t himself in a 3.0-inning start in game one, 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.

In game two, Tennessee used an elite 4.2-inning Cam Appenzeller relief outing and balanced offensive effort to earn the much-needed victory.

Read recaps of both games below.

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

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Evens Missouri Series With Narrow Game Two Victory

Sunday marks Tennessee’s third series rubber match of the season. The Vols are 0-2, but in both rubber matches, Tennessee had lost the game before. This is the first time the Vols lost the first game of the series and won the second game.

In Arlington, the Vols followed the same path, dropping the first game of the weekend and winning the second. UT won game three of its weekend in Arlington, a result Tennessee hopes to replicate Sunday in Knoxville.

More From RTI: How A Round of 32 Win Against Virginia ‘Propelled’ Tennessee Basketball To Modern Era Success

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 scored just five runs on 17 hits in all three losses of last week’s series against Auburn. So far this weekend, the Tigers have scored 10 runs on 20 hits.

This weekend’s series is a must-win for Tennessee given the level of opponent. Missouri is a bottom three team in the league.

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, 18-17
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 11-9
• In Columbia: Mizzou leads, 9-6
• Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
• Last Meeting Before this Weekend: April 27, 2024 (W, 3-2 in Knoxville)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 1-2 runs

Blanco has been money the first time through lineups. I expect him to do the same again. The question is Tennessee’s bullpen. If it’s good, Tennessee will win.

Overall, offense does enough and the bullpen doesn’t fall apart, leading Tennessee to a close victory.

Injury/Availability 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.
• Ariel Antigua has a banged up shoulder but is available.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Said After in Game Two Win vs. 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 Details Series-Evening Win Over 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:

• Grimmer leads off for the second straight day. But playing 1B today with Levi Clark catching.
• Clark starts for second straight game, behind the plate as he’s done all but one Sunday this year.
• Stone Lawless gets his first DH start of the year, getting the nod over Tyler Myatt, Trent Grindlinger and others.
• Manny Marin and Garrett Wright swap spots in the order. Wright still in center, Blaine in left. NO Jay Abernathy.
• Chris Newstrom gets the 2B nod over Abernathy, Myatt and Antigua.

MISSOURI STARTING NINE: 

SS Kam Durnin (R)

DH Jase Woita (R)

RF Pierre Seals (R)

CF Kaden Peer (L)

LF Cameron Benson (L)

C Mateo Serna (S)

1B Sam Parker (L)

2B Eric Maisonet (S)

3B Keegan Knutson (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (1-2, 3.20 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 25.1 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 23 BB, 39 K, 6 XBH, .169 opp. batting avg., 1.11 WHIP)

vs.

Tigers So. LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (3-1, 4.67 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 27.0 IP, 24 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 6 BB, 38 K, 8 XBH, .231 opp. batting avg., 1.11 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Blanco continues to occupy the day three starting role. He has been very good the first time through lineups this season but runs into struggles afterward.
  • Tennessee has a full bullpen outside Cam Appenzeller and Brandon Arvidson behind Blanco. Look for Brayden Krenzel, Brady Frederick, Mark Hindy and Bo Rhudy to be the arms to follow Blanco.
• Kehlenbrick has been hit or miss this year. Was incredible two weeks ago vs. UIC allowing three hits and striking out 11 in 6 scoreless innings. No walks.
  • Allowed four runs on six hits last week in 6.0 IP vs. Auburn. Mizzou’s bullpen fell apart after Kehlenbrink departed the game, allowing five runs in 3.0 IP.
  • Last week’s Auburn outing was longest of year (6.0 IP – 103 pitches)
  • Walked two or less in every outing.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Creams

Missouri: Yellow tops, white pants and black caps with 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.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Kam Durnin flies out to RF.

-Jase Woita strikes out swinging.

-Pierre Seals strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

• 7-pitch at-bat.

-Henry Ford is walked on four pitches.

-Blaine Brown reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Ford out at second, 4-6.

• Should have been a 4-6-3 double play, but the second baseman booted it.

-Reese Chapman singles up the middle. Brown to third.

Brown steals home, Chapman steals second.

• Double steal works as Chapman evaded the tag at second and Brown scores.

-Garrett Wright strikes out looking.

• Strike three looked like ball four. Thought it was inside.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Kaden Peer drives a double down the right-field line.

-Cameron Benson pops up to SS in shallow left field.

-Mateo Serna fouls out to C.

-Sam Parker fouls out to C.

• 9-pitch inning. At 17 through two.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Manny Marin flies out to RF.

-Stone Lawless strikes looking.

• Up 3-0 then stared at three strikes.

-Levi Clark grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Eric Maisonet flies out to RF.

-Keegan Knutson strikes out swinging.

-Kam Durnin is walked.

Durnin steals second.

-Jase Woita flies out to LF.

• 16-pitch inning. At 33 pitches through three.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Chris Newstrom strikes out looking.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to RF.

-Henry Ford singles through the left side.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Pierre Seals works a leadoff walk.

-Kaden Peer grounds out to P, sac bunt. Seals to second.

• Good sac bunt to put Seals on second. Good throw by Evan Blanco, too, to get Peer at first.

-Cameron Benson lines out to SS.

-Mateo Serna strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Reese Chapman doubles to right field.

-Garrett Wright singles through the left side. Chapman to third.

-Manny Marin strikes out looking.

-Stone Lawless sends a sac fly to CF. Chapman scores. Wright tags up and advances to second on the throw home.

-Levi Clark smacks a two-run homer to right field.

• Wallscraper. Just got past the right fielder’s glove who tried to make a leaping catch.
• 336 feet, 99 mph

-Chris Newstrom fouls out to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Sam Parker strikes out looking.

-Eric Maisonet pops up to SS in shallow left field.

-Keegan Knutson flies out to LF.

• At 54 pitches through five. Hyper efficient.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Blake Grimmer HBP.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Blaine Brown grounds into a 3-6-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 0

6th Inning: 

T6

-Kam Durnin pops up to SS.

-Jase Woita flies out to LF.

-Pierre Seals drills a solo homer to left field.

-Kaden Peer singles through the right side.

-Cameron Benson flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Garrett Wright flies out to LF.

-Manny Marin strikes out looking.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1

7th Inning: 

T7

-Mateo Serna flies out to CF.

-Sam Parker grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

-Eric Maisonet grounds out to SS.

• Tricky hopper beautifully fielded by Manny.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: RHP Trey Lawrence on to pitch for Kehlenbrink*

-Stone Lawless ropes a leadoff double to left field.

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging on three pitches.

*Tyler Myatt pinch-hitting for Chris Newstrom*

-Tyler Myatt knocks an RBI single up the middle. Lawless scores.

Myatt caught stealing, 2-6.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Tigers 1

8th Inning: 

T8

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Tyler Myatt*

-Keegan Knutson flies out to CF.

-Kam Durnin flies out to CF.

-Jase Woita cracks a single to left field.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Brayden Krenzel (0-1, 7.00 ERA) on to pitch for Blanco*

-Pierre Seals HBP. Woita to second.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Kaden Peer strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Blaine Brown pops up to 2B.

-Reese Chapman is walked.

-Garrett Wright launches a two-run homer to left field.

• Wright’s 2nd HR of the season.
• 355 feet, 98 mph.

-Manny Marin grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Tigers 1

9th Inning: 

T9

*Jay Abernathy to CF for Blaine Brown*

*Wright to LF*

-Camden Benson flies out to CF.

-Mateo Serna strikes out swinging.

-Sam Parker grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 7, Tigers 1

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Missouri Tigers 1