SCORE: Tennessee 6, Mississippi State 5 | FINAL (Vols lead series 1-0)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Tennessee baseball (21-12, 4-8 SEC) is set to battle the ninth-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (26-7, 7-5 SEC) Friday game one of a three-game series in Starkville, Mississippi.
First pitch at Dudy Noble Field is at 7:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
For a full preview of the series, including first pitch times, broadcast details and a prediction, click HERE.
Tennessee enters Friday coming off back-to-back series losses to Vanderbilt and LSU. The Vols went 1-5 across the two weekends, suffering a series sweep in Nashville before taking one in Knoxville in the LSU series.
Lack of presence offensively in game three and poor bullpen pitching in games two and three led to the series loss last weekend.
The Vols led by three runs entering the final two frames in game one, and led 5-0 on Sunday, but lost both games. In the series finale, LSU scored 10 runs in the 12th inning to win 16-6 in the rubber match.
Read recaps from all three games of the LSU series below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Blows Late Lead In Series Opener Against LSU
GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Pitching Dominates In Series-Evening Victory Over LSU
GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Drops Series Rubber Match Against LSU In Extra Innings
Offense and relief pitching beyond a few arms has led to Tennessee’s struggles in conference play.
Specifically, blowing leads has become a troubling theme as of late. In the Vols’ last three SEC losses, they led by five runs entering the bottom of the ninth, three runs entering the eighth and five runs after the first five innings.
Tennessee will aim to pull off an upset this weekend in Starkville as Mississippi State has looked like one of the SEC’s best teams at times this season, specifically before last weekend.
MSU lost all three at home to Georgia last weekend, one of the more shocking results across the league in week four of conference play.
In order for Tennessee to get back on track, bullpen arms aside from Cam Appenzeller must be more consistent. And as head coach Josh Elander put it Sunday after a heartbreaking loss to LSU, the Vols’ horses need to run.
HORSES: Tennessee Baseball Needs Its ‘Horses To Run’ At Top Of Lineup
Opponent Scout
Through the first three weeks of SEC play, Mississippi State looked like they may be the best team in the conference. The Bulldogs were 7-2 with a series win at Arkansas, a weekend sweep of Vanderbilt and a series victory at Ole Miss.
But last weekend went poorly for Mississippi State. Georgia swept Mississippi State in Starkville in three tight games. Georgia won game one by a run, game two by two runs and game three in extra innings.
After a bad weekend at home, Mississippi State will be highly motivated to get right against Tennessee this weekend.
- 2025 Record: 36-23 (15-15 SEC)
- 2025 Postseason: NCAA Tallahassee Regional (2-2)
- 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 3rd
- Head Coach: Brian O’Connor
- Overall Record: 943-395-2 (23rd year)
- Record at MSU: 26-7 (1st year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
- 3B Ace Reese (1st Team), DH/UTL Noah Sullivan (1st Team)
SERIES HISTORY:
- Overall: Bulldogs lead, 60-38
- In Knoxville: Bulldogs lead, 20-19
- In Starkville: Bulldogs lead, 37-15
- At Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 4-3
- Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 9-1
Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics
Prediction: Mississippi State wins 2 of 3
Tennessee must not get swept this weekend. It will give the Vols an uphill battle to make the tournament.
The Vols CAN win this series. Georgia just swept Mississippi State IN Starkville. But given Tennessee’s lack of consistency offensively, MSU wins the series, though pitching will keep UT in games.
If I had to pick Tennessee to win one day, it would be Saturday because of Cam Appenzeller. But Landon Mack’s performance last Friday gives a reason for much more optimism in the opener. The bullpen needs to back up Mack with strong performances.
Injury/Availability Notes
- Stone Lawless won’t be available for the foreseeable future. He took an 89 mph pitch to the face Sunday.
- Josh Elander UPDATED Stone’s status Tuesday, giving optimism that he could return this season.
- Chris Newstrom did NOT travel with the team to Starkville due to an internal issue. It is not expected to be long term.
- Ariel Antigua is managing a banged up shoulder but he hasn’t been unavailable.
- VolQuest’s Eric Cain reported freshman INF Evan Hankins is OUT for the season with a knee injury.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Win Over Northern Kentucky
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the LSU series loss, click HERE.
VIDEO: Josh Elander Reacts to Extra-Innings Loss to LSU in Series Rubber Match
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
CF Garrett Wright (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
3B Henry Ford (R)
1B Blake Grimmer (L)
DH Trent Grindlinger (R)
LF Blaine Brown (L)
SS Manny Marin (R)
C Levi Clark (R)
2B Jay Abernathy (L)
Lineup Notes:
- Clark starts at catcher for the second straight Friday. Grimmer at first and Wright in center.
- Grindlinger remains at DH and up in the order, at the five hole.
- Blaine Brown remains in the six-hole.
- Abernathy gets the 2B nod over Myatt and Antigua.
MISSISSIPPI STATE STARTING NINE:
CF Aidan Teel (L)
LF Bryce Chance (R)
3B Ace Reese (L)
DH Noah Sullivan (R)
RF Jacob Parker (L)
2B Gehrig Frei (S)
SS Ryder Woodson (R)
1B Reed Stallman (L)
C Kevin Milewski (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (3-2, 3.48 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 44.0 IP, 44 H, 19 R, 17 ER, 17 BB, 58 K, 12 XBH, .260 opp. batting avg., 1.39 WHIP)
vs.
Bulldogs So. LHP Tomas Valincius (6-1, 1.15 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 47.0 IP, 28 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 11 BB, 66 K, 10 XBH, .170 opp. batting avg., 0.83 WHIP)
Pitching Notes:
- Mack starts for the second straight Friday. He shoved last week in 7.0 IP, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 10. He threw 94 pitches.
- Valincius has had an incredible season to date. Allowed no earned runs in 14.0 combined innings against Arkansas and Vandy in his first two SEC appearances of the season.
- Hasn’t walked more than two in an outing. Only five in SEC play.
- Has struck out at least 7 in every SEC outing. Tallied 14 Ks in 7.0 IP vs. Vanderbilt, 10 last week vs. UGA.
- Has pitched at least 7.0 IP in three of four SEC outings. Has averaged around 100 pitches each outing.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, grey pants
Mississippi State: Maroon tops, white pants
*NOTES*
- Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Mississippi State leads by 10 or more runs at the end of the seventh inning or later, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging.
-Reese Chapman slaps a single to left-center.
-Henry Ford singles to left field. Chapman to second.
- Tennessee seeing MSU star Tomas Valincius well so far.
-Blake Grimmer flies out to LF.
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 1B unassisted.
- 21-pitch inning for Valincius.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Aidan Teel singles through the left side.
-Bryce Chance strikes out swinging.
-Ace Reese singles to left-center. Teel to second.
- 105 mph off the bat.
-Noah Sullivan strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Parker pops up to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Manny Marin fouls out to C.
-Levi Clark fouls out to 1B.
- 7-pitch inning for Valincius.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Gehrig Frei flies out to LF at the warning track.
-Ryder Woodson strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Reed Stallman strikes out swinging.
- 4 Ks through two. 32 pitches.
- Five straight retired
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.
- Nice play by Frei.
-Garrett Wright drills a triple off the top of the left-center wall.
- Teel thought it was a homer, but it bounced off the top of the wall above his head back into the field of play.
- Confusion led to a delay in getting the ball thrown back into the infield. Wright makes it to third as a result.
- Play is reviewed to see if it is a homer. The call STOOD (it was a crew chief challenge)
-Reese Chapman sends an RBI groundout to SS. Wright scores.
-Henry Ford hammers a solo homer to left field.
- 385 feet, 104 mph
- Ford’s 11th HR of the season.
-Blake Grimmer strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Kevin Milewski strikes out swinging.
-Aidan Teel grounds out to 2B.
-Bryce Chance flies out to RF.
- Mack has retired 8 straight.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Ace Reese stripes a double to right field.
- 108 mph off the bat
-Noah Sullivan drops a single into shallow left-center. Reese to third.
-Jacob Parker delivers a sac fly to LF. Reese scores.
-Gehrig Frei reaches on a fielder’s choice to 1B. Sullivan out at second, 3-6.
-Ryder Woodson strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Levi Clark launches a solo homer to left field.
- 107 mph, 409 feet.
- Clark’s 4th HR of the season.
- No doubter. Clark knew it off the bat.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.
-Garrett Wright singles up the middle.
Wright out 1-3-6, caught in a pickle.
-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Reed Stallman drives a solo homer to right field.
- 93 mph, 328 feet
- Hit it to arguably the shortest part of the ballpark. Bounced off the brick wall in right which isn’t far.
-Kevin Milewski smacks a solo homer to center.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller (4-0, 1.15 ERA) on to pitch for Mack*
-Aidan Teel strikes out looking.
-Bryce Chance pops up to 2B in shallow right field.
-Ace Reese grounds out to 2B.
- Appenzeller wins a 7-pitch battle against MSU star Ace Reese.
–FINAL LINE for Landon Mack: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 3 XBH, 54 strikes on 75 pitches–
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Bulldogs 3
6th Inning:
T6
-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.
-Blake Grimmer is walked on four pitches.
-Trent Grindlinger rips a double to right field. Grimmer to third.
-Blaine Brown flies into a 9-6 double play. Grindlinger out at second.
- Grindlinger tagged coming back to second before Grimmer scores.
- Bad, bad baserunning prevents a run that should have scored.
- Guess Grindlinger thought the throw would go home as he was tagging up to go to third. But throw is rifled to second and he’s caught in no man’s land before Grimmer reaches home.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Noah Sullivan strikes out swinging.
-Jacob Parker strikes out swinging.
-Gehrig Frei strikes out swinging.
- Wins a long eight-pitch battle to strike out the side. Battled back from down 3-0.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Bulldogs 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Manny Marin cracks a double down the RF line.
*Pitching change: RHP Maddox Webb (0-1, 3.14 ERA) in to pitch for Valincius*
-Levi Clark strikes out looking.
-Jay Abernathy flies out to CF.
-Garrett Wright works a walk.
- Wins a long battle. 7-pitch at-bat.
*Pitching change: LHP Dane Burns (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Webb*
-Reese Chapman is walked.
- Bases loaded with two outs for Henry Ford.
*Pitching change: RHP Tyler Pitzer (2-1, 2.03 ERA) in to pitch for Burns*
-Henry Ford lines out to LF.
- Well-hit but right to the left fielder.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Ryder Woodson fouls out to 1B.
- First pitch of at-bat.
-Reed Stallman pops up to SS in shallow left center.
-Kevin Milewski strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- 6-pitch 1-2-3 inning. 9 straight retired for Appenzeller.
- Unbelievably dominant.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Bulldogs 3
8th Inning:
T8
-Blake Grimmer singles to left field.
-Trent Grindlinger works a walk.
*Pitching change: LHP Jack Bauer (2-0, 6.43 ERA) in to pitch for Pitzer*
-Blaine Brown HBP.
- Bases loaded with no outs for Manny Marin.
*Finley Bates pinch-running for Trent Grindlinger*
-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.
-Levi Clark reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to SS. Brown out at second, 6-4. Grimmer scores. Bates to third.
- Mississippi State CHALLENGED the play but the ruling was upheld after a LONG review. State also challenged interference at second but there was none.
*Nate Eisfelder pinch-hitting for Jay Abernathy*
Clark advances to second.
-Nate Eisfelder sends an RBI single to 2B. Bates scores. Clark to third.
- Great effort by Gehrig Frei and Reed Stallman but Stallman’s foot was off the bag at first trying to make the stretch.
- Ball was hit up the middle and Frei made an incredible play to even get to the ball and give MSU a chance at recording the out.
*Ariel Antigua pinch-running for Eisfelder*
-Garrett Wright knocks an RBI single to 3B. Antigua to second.
- Third baseman slipped trying to get to a ball in the six-hole. Ricochets back into the infield and it’s an easy infield single.
Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Bates to DH*
*Antigua to 2B*
-Aidan Teel singles to right-center.
- First baserunner Appenzeller has allowed.
-Bryce Chance is walked. Teel to second.
- Second walk Appenzeller has allowed in SEC play (21.1 IP)
-Ace Reese flies out to RF. Teel to third.
-Noah Sullivan drops an RBI single into left field. Chance to third.
- First run Appenzeller has allowed in SEC play.
Sullivan advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Jacob Parker strikes out swinging.
- Big K, on a full count.
-Gehrig Frei flies out to LF in left-center.
- Hard-hit ball into the gap but Blaine gets there. Very close to a two-run double.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Bulldogs 4
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: RHP Peyton Fowler (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in to pitch for Bauer*
-Henry Ford strikes out looking.
-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.
-Finley Bates strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
Cam Appenzeller back out for the ninth
-Ryder Woodson flies out to RF.
- Deep fly out.
-Reed Stallman powers a solo homer to right field.
*Andrew Raymond pinch-hitting for Kevin Milewski*
-Andrew Raymond strikes out swinging.
-Aidan Teel strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Bulldogs 5
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 6, Mississippi State Bulldogs 5
