SCORE: Tennessee 7, Mississippi State 2 | FINAL (Vols sweep series 3-0)
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
Tennessee baseball (23-12, 6-8 SEC) is set to battle the ninth-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (26-9, 7-7 SEC) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Starkville, Mississippi.
First pitch at Dudy Noble Field is at 2:00 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 Sunday looking to sweep the Bulldogs after clinching the series Saturday with a 6-2 win. Tegan Kuhns turned in an excellent start while the offense totaled 13 hits.
Saturday’s performance at the plate backed up a strong effort Friday, as UT has totaled 24 hits on the series. Tennessee’s offensive effort so far in Starkville has been its best in SEC play to date.
Tennessee’s series-clinching victory on Saturday followed a 6-5 series-opening win Friday. Freshman phenom Cam Appenzeller led the way out of the bullpen while Garrett Wright paced the offense with three hits.
Appenzeller was brilliant in 5.0 innings of work, totaling a career-high eight strikeouts on a career-high 78 pitches while allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk.
Appenzeller has followed Landon Mack in all but one outing this year, last week against LSU. The stack returned, but it was the first time the pair both pitched on Friday as Mack recently moved to the Friday night starting role.
Tennessee opting to use Appenzeller as the first man out of the bullpen to follow Mack made lots of sense given UT’s frequent use of the stack, and Appenzeller has clearly been UT’s best bullpen arm. Going to your best reliever is very common in series openers, and Tennessee did so with the game tied in the fifth inning.
Read recaps of both of Tennessee’s wins so far this weekend below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Takes Crucial Series Opener At Mississippi State
GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Turns In Complete Performance To Clinch Series At Mississippi State
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 before this weekend, they led by five runs entering the bottom of the ninth, three runs entering the eighth and five runs after the first five innings.
An upset series win was exactly what Tennessee needed. A road series win against a Top-10 team could be just what the Vols need to turn the corner. The hitting performance is especially encouraging.
The series win marks Tennessee’s second of the season, as the Vols took two-of-three against Missouri earlier this year. If the Vols sweep MSU Sunday, they will have the same SEC record as the ninth-ranked Bulldogs.
Tennessee has not swept an SEC opponent in over a calendar year (at South Carolina 2025).
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, 60-40
- In Knoxville: Bulldogs lead, 20-19
- In Starkville: Bulldogs lead, 37-17
- At Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 4-3
- Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 10-0
Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics
Prediction: Mississippi State wins Sunday
Tennessee has done its job already. Winning this series on the road is the best thing the Vols have done all year, and it was crucial to get the season back on the track.
Mississippi State has now lost five straight at home. I predict they can salvage the series as Tennessee’s bullpen won’t be as strong. But it shouldn’t take away from how great of a weekend Tennessee had in Starkville.
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 After Vols Clinched Series At Mississippi State
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 Recaps Series-Clinching Win Over Mississippi State in Starkville
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:
- Same nine as it’s been all three days this series. And same order.
- Exact same lineup as Friday as Clark has been catching Fridays and Sundays, Wright on Saturday.
- With Clark behind the plate, Wright goes back to CF, Grimmer slides to first and Jay to second.
- Abernathy looking to build off an incredible Saturday in which the sophomore totaled three hits (two doubles).
MISSISSIPPI STATE STARTING NINE:
CF Aidan Teel (L)
2B Drew Wyers (R)
3B Ace Reese (L)
DH Noah Sullivan (R)
RF Vytas Valincius (R)
C Chone James (R)
1B Reed Stallman (L)
SS Ryder Woodson (R)
LF Bryce Chance (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (2-2, 3.83 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 42.1 IP, 31 H, 22 R, 18 ER, 18 BB, 52 K, 14 XBH, .200 opp. batting avg., 1.16 WHIP)
vs.
Bulldogs So. LHP Charlie Foster (0-1, 5.21 ERA, 10 app., 5 starts, 19.0 IP, 19 H, 15 R, 11 ER, 14 BB, 21 K, 7 XBH, .253 opp. batting avg., 1.74 WHIP)
Pitching Notes:
- Blanco has been mostly really good this year. Coming off a 6.2-inning start in which he allowed just two runs, both via solo homer.
- Bo Rhudy and Brady Frederick top two bullpen arms that haven’t thrown so far this weekend.
- Foster has started the last two SEC weekends for State. Been solid but don’t expect him to go long.
- Most he’s thrown all year is 64 pitches in 4.2 IP.
- Doesn’t struggle with command but can get hit around. Gave up five runs on four hits in 2.0 IP vs. Georgia last week.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
Mississippi State: White shirts and pants with maroon caps and accents
*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 HBP.
-Reese Chapman doubles to left-center. Wright to third.
-Henry Ford sends an RBI single up the middle. Wright scores. Chapman to third.
-Blake Grimmer grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. Chapman scores. No RBI.
-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Aidan Teel strikes out looking.
-Drew Wyers fouls out to 1B.
- First pitch of AB.
-Ace Reese strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
- 1-2-3 inning for Blanco on 11 pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0
2nd Inning:
T2
*Gehrig Frei to 2B for Drew Wyers*
-Blaine Brown lines a single to right field.
-Manny Marin grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
-Levi Clark flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Noah Sullivan strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Vytas Valincius strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Chone James grounds out to SS.
- 6 up, 6 down for Blanco. 4 Ks and only 22 pitches (both 11-pitch innings).
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to P on a bunt.
-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Reed Stallman strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Ryder Woodson fouls out to 1B.
-Bryce Chance grounds out to 2B.
- 9 up, 9 down for Blanco.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Henry Ford strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B.
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 3B.
- 8-pitch at-bat.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Aidan Teel singles up the middle.
- 7-pitch at-bat.
- First baserunner for MSU.
-Gehrig Frei fouls out to C.
-Ace Reese rips a double down the RF line. Teel to third.
-Noah Sullivan sends an RBI groundout to 2B. Reese to third. Teel scores.
-Vytas Valincius flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 3B.
-Manny Marin flies out to CF in left-center.
-Levi Clark strikes out looking.
- Strike three looked inside to me. Should’ve been ball three.
- Foster has retired 11 straight Vols.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Chone James grounds out to 1B unassisted.
- Grimmer tagged him in the baseline as it was a slow roller. Only option as Grimmer wouldn’t have beat him to the bag.
-Reed Stallman grounds out to 2B.
-Ryder Woodson flies out to LF.
- 4th 1-2-3 inning for Blanco.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 1
6th Inning:
T6
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- Went around on a check swing for strike three.
-Garrett Wright works a walk.
- Breaks Foster’s streak of 12 straight retired.
-Reese Chapman drives a ground-rule double to left-center. Wright to third.
*Pitching change: RHP Ben Davis (0-1, 4.50 ERA) in to pitch for Foster*
-Henry Ford delivers an RBI groundout to 3B. Wright scores. Chapman stays at second.
Chapman advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Blake Grimmer lines an RBI single to right field. Chapman scores.
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Bryce Chance grounds out to 3B.
- Poor throw by Ford. Good stretch by Grimmer to make the out.
-Aidan Teel strikes out swinging.
-Gehrig Frei pokes a ground-rule double to right-center.
- Just over Chapman’s glove.
-Ace Reese grounds out to SS up the middle.
- Low throw after Manny took his time with it but Grimmer is able to catch it to end the frame.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 1
7th Inning:
T7
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Noah Sullivan pops up to 2B in shallow right field.
-Vytas Valincius lines out to CF.
-Chone James cracks a double to left-center.
-Reed Stallman delivers an RBI single up the middle. James scores.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick (4-1, 3.55 ERA) in to pitch for Blanco*
-Ryder Woodson strikes out swinging.
- Big K from Brady given how his last SEC outing went.
–FINAL LINE for Evan Blanco: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 3 XBH, 68 strikes on 94 total pitches–
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 2
8th Inning:
T8
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.
-Garrett Wright grounds out to P.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Garrett Wright*
*Abernathy to CF*
-Bryce Chance HBP.
- Right on the shin. Ouch
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Chandler Day (0-0, 13.50 ERA) in to pitch for Frederick*
-Aidan Teel reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Chance out at second, 6-4.
- Good job by Manny to get to the ball as it was going away from him. Throw a bit errant to second but Antigua makes a great jumping catch and still gets his foot on the bag for the out.
-Gehrig Frei singles to right field. Teel to second.
- Go-ahead run at the plate.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bo Rhudy (1-1, 2.70 ERA) in to pitch for Day*
-Ace Reese reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Frei out at second, 4-6. Teel to third.
- Tennessee CHALLENGED the ruling of safe at first and the ruling was CONFIRMED.
-Noah Sullivan flies out to RF at the warning track.
- Close to a three-run go-ahead homer…
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 2
9th Inning:
T9
-Henry Ford flies out to CF.
-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B.
-Trent Grindlinger deposits a double into right-center.
*Finley Bates pinch-running for Grindlinger*
-Blaine Brown singles to SS. Bates to second.
-Manny Marin drops an RBI single into center. Bates scores. Brown to third.
-Levi Clark slaps a two-run double down the right-field line.
- Great piece of hitting for Clark. Drops deep in right field along the foul line.
- 4 straight 2-out hits.
- 4 2-out RBIs for Tennessee today.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
-Vytas Valincius strikes out swinging.
-Chone James grounds out to 2B.
-Reed Stallman lines out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Bulldogs 2
END OF BOTTOM HALF
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Mississippi State Bulldogs 2 (Vols sweep series 3-0)
