SCORE: Tennessee 1, Ole Miss 8 | FINAL (Ole Miss clinches series 2-0)
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Tennessee baseball (25-13, 7-9 SEC) is set to battle the No. 25 Ole Miss Rebels (28-11, 9-7 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game series in Knoxville.
First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 4:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
First pitch was initially slated for 5:30 p.m. ET but was moved up due to inclement weather in the evening forecast. More details HERE.
For a full preview of the series, including first pitch times, broadcast details and a prediction, click HERE.
Tennessee is doing a ‘Checker Lindsey Nelson Stadium’ for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss. Read all the details HERE.
Tennessee enters Saturday coming off a 7-4 series-opening loss to the Rebels. Landon Mack turned in his worst start of the season, allowing six runs in 5.1 innings, including three homers. Offensively, Tennessee cooled off after crushing Mississippi State pitching last weekend, totaling four runs on seven hits against Ole Miss.
Garrett Wright and Trent Grindlinger specifically cooled off, combining to go 0-7 at the plate after raking in Starkville.
For a full recap of Tennessee’s series-opening loss, click the link below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Drops Series Opener Against Ole Miss
The Vols will look to bounce back Saturday and even the series. Josh Elander and Josh Reynolds opted to use lower-tier bullpen arms in Friday’s defeat, as the trio of Nic Abraham, Chandler Day and Will Haas saw time on the mound.
Therefore, Cam Appenzeller, Brandon Arvidson and Bo Rhudy are all completely fresh and ready to go Saturday and Sunday. Tennessee certainly will have the pitching advantage in both contests as it aims to win a second straight SEC series.
More From RTI: Four Takeaways From Tennessee Baseball Sweeping Mississippi State
Tennessee’s series sweep at Mississippi State saw the Vols get back on track after back-to-back heartbreaking series losses to LSU and Vanderbilt.
The story was Tennessee’s offense coming to life. The Vols’ bats got hot in the Magnolia State, totaling 33 hits. The bottom of the lineup produced, while Garrett Wright and Trent Grindlinger were remarkably consistent.
Starting pitching was also elite, leading to fewer bullpen arms being needed to finish games. Tegan Kuhns was especially great, shoving in a 6.0-inning start, the best of his career.
It was a complete effort. Tennessee played complementary, clean baseball all weekend and was rewarded with three wins.
Everything is in front of Tennessee after sweeping a Top-10 opponent on the road. At 7-8 in league play entering the weekend, hosting is on the table again and an NCAA Tournament berth feels very likely.
But with back-to-back home series coming up against Ole Miss and Alabama, Tennessee needs to at least go .500 across the two weekends and aim to do better.
Opponent Scout
Entering the sixth weekend of SEC play, there are nine teams with either a 7-8 or 8-7 record in conference play. Ole Miss is 8-7 entering this weekend while Tennessee is 7-8. The result of this weekend could have major implications down the stretch.
SEC play has been up-and-down for the Rebels. They opened conference play with a series loss against Texas before taking two of three against Kentucky. Mississippi State swept Ole Miss in Starkville but since then, the Rebels have won five of six.
Ole Miss took two of three games against Florida in Gainesville before sweeping LSU at home last weekend.
- 2025 Record: 43-21 (16-14 SEC)
- 2025 Postseason: NCAA Oxford Regional (3-2)
- 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 10th
- Head Coach: Mike Bianco
- Overall Record: 1,076-646-1 (29th year)
- Record at UM: 976-575-1 (26th year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
- SP Hunter Elliott (1st team), 1B Will Furniss (2nd team)
SERIES HISTORY:
- Overall: Ole Miss leads, 53-47-1
- In Knoxville: Ole Miss leads, 24-21
- In Oxford: Ole Miss leads, 26-25-1
- At Neutral Sites: Ole Miss leads, 3-1
- Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
- Last Meeting: April 13, 2025 (W, 10-8 in Oxford)
Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics
Prediction: Tennessee wins two of three
If the offense continues to roll, Tennessee will win this series. The starting pitching is too good.
Friday was a disappointing offensive performance, but I’ll bank on some bounce back efforts on Saturday and Sunday. And with all top bullpen arms still available, I’ll pick Tennessee to win the series.
I am never picking against Tennessee on a day Cam Appenzeller pitches, and I anticipate that being in game two. Evan Blanco and Brandon Arvidson is a great combo to use on Sunday.
Tegan Kuhns is a player to watch. He’s been worse at home this year than on the road. Coming off a career-best outing, can he rid himself of the home struggles?
Injury/Availability Notes
- Tennessee hopes to get Stone Lawless back SOON. He is available to DH this weekend but if he sees action, it will likely just be pinch-hit opps due to Grindlinger grabbing the reins at DH.
- It will be interesting to see how Elander manages the Clark-Wright-Lawless catcher situation once Stone is back to 100%. Grindlinger is not moving out of the lineup barring a slump.
- Chris Newstrom did NOT travel with the team to Starkville due to an internal issue. He is BACK in the fold this weekend.
- 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 he suffered in warm ups ahead of game two at Vanderbilt.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Series-Opening Loss At Ole Miss
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the Mississippi State series sweep to get the season back on track, click HERE.
VIDEO: WATCH: Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Talks Vols’ Series-Opening Loss to Ole Miss
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
C Garrett Wright (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
3B Henry Ford (R)
2B Blake Grimmer (L)
DH Trent Grindlinger (R)
LF Blaine Brown (L)
SS Manny Marin (R)
1B Levi Clark (R)
CF Jay Abernathy (L)
Lineup Notes:
- Same lineup and order for the past five SEC games.
- Different positions than Friday as Wright moves to catcher, Levi first, Grimmer second and Abernathy to center.
- Stone Lawless is available to pinch-hit. He may today if struggles continue for Grindlinger in his first couple at-bats.
OLE MISS STARTING NINE:
2B Dom Decker (L)
RF Tristan Bissetta (L)
3B Judd Utermark (R)
1B Will Furniss (L)
CF Hayden Frederico (S)
DH Owen Paino (L)
SS Brayden Randle (L)
C Austin Fawley (R)
LF Cannon Goldin (L)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-3, 3.77 ERA, 9 app., 8 starts, 45.1 IP, 42 H, 21 R, 19 ER, 9 BB, 54 K, 16 XBH, .237 opp. batting avg., 1.13 WHIP)
vs.
Rebels So. RHP Cade Townsend (3-1, 2.02 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 35.2 IP, 27 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 8 BB, 54 K, 11 XBH, .201 opp. batting avg., 0.98 WHIP)
Pitching Notes:
- Kuhns will look to build off last week’s incredible 6.0-inning start (4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K)
- Appenzeller will likely follow Kuhns today
- Townsend exited March 14’s contest vs. Texas early with injury and missed the following week
- Was shaky in his return vs. MS State allowing five runs in 4.0 IP.
- Since, he’s been brilliant (12.0 IP, 3 R, 14 K, 1 BB)
- Townsend doesn’t walk many batters and has very consistent strikeout numbers. Most pitches he’s thrown this season is in the mid-80s but he’s been remarkably efficient more times than not.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants (matching the Checker LNS theme)
Ole Miss: Navy tops, white pants with lighter camo caps
*NOTES*
- Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Ole Miss leads by 10 or more runs at the end of the seventh inning or later, the game is over.
- LNS attendance at 7,430: a NEW RECORD
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Dom Decker flies out to LF.
-Tristan Bissetta works a walk.
-Judd Utermark bloops a single to left field. Bissetta to second.
- Three straight three-ball counts for Kuhns. Not his sharpest. 6, 7, 6 pitch ABs so far
-Will Furniss strikes out looking.
-Hayden Federico grounds out to SS up the middle.
- 29-pitch inning for Kuhns
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Garrett Wright flies out to RF.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Henry Ford flies out to RF along the right-field line.
- 10-pitch inning
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Owen Paino strikes out swinging.
-Brayden Randle pops up to 1B.
-Austin Fawley doubles to right field.
- Chapman dove for it but came up shy of the ball.
-Cannon Goldin strikes out swinging.
- 3 Ks for Kuhns
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Blake Grimmer lines out to RF.
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.
-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- Townsend at 23 pitches thru two. 6 up, 6 down
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Dom Decker singles to center.
-Tristan Bissetta flies out to CF at the warning track.
-Judd Utermark strikes out swinging.
-Will Furniss singles up the middle. Decker to second.
-Hayden Federico strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- Big K against Ole Miss’ hottest hitter to strand a pair. Kuhns has won both battles with Federico so far.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
-Jay Abernathy fouls out to LF.
- Nice catch by Cannon Goldin who dove for it in foul territory and crashed into the wall.
- 9 up, 9 down for Townsend. Vols offense lifeless.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Owen Paino flies out to RF.
-Brayden Randle strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Austin Fawley strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- 7 Ks for Kuhns. 1-2-3 inning.
- 8-pitch frame.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Garrett Wright lines out to 2B.
-Reese Chapman flies out to RF.
- Nice sliding catch by Tristan Bissetta
-Henry Ford strikes out looking.
- 12 up, 12 down for Townsend. 45 pitches through four. Remarkably efficient and dominant.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Cannon Goldin strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Dom Decker flies out to LF.
-Tristan Bissetta flies out to RF.
- PHENOMENAL play by Reese Chapman. He’s had some incredible highlights out in right.
- Dove for it in right-center. Fantastic play.
- Ole Miss CHALLENGED the ruling of a catch. The play STOOD. Ole Miss has one challenge remaining.
- Kuhns has found a groove. Retired 7 straight.
- Pitcher’s duel between Kuhns and Townsend as we’re still scoreless. But Kuhns at 81 pitches, Townsend at 45.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Blake Grimmer HBP.
- First baserunner for Tennessee today.
-Trent Grindlinger flies out to CF.
-Blaine Brown pops up to SS.
-Manny Marin works a walk.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
- Still no hits for UT
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
6th Inning:
T6
-Judd Utermark strikes out looking on three pitches.
- Last five Ks for Kuhns have been 3-pitch Ks.
-Will Furniss strikes out swinging.
- Kuhns up to 10 Ks. Incredible start.
- Ties his career high.
-Hayden Federico singles through the right side.
- First hit for Ole Miss since two outs in the third.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller 5-0, 1.49 ERA) in to pitch for Kuhns*
- Kuhns not the happiest. But no room for error for Tennessee.
- What an incredible outing for Kuhns. Back-to-back gems these past two weeks.
-Owen Paino pops up to SS.
–FINAL LINE for Tegan Kuhns: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K (tied career-high), 1 XBH, 67 strikes on 96 total pitches (career-high) against 23 batters–
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to SS.
- Close call as Jay is so fast but no challenge.
-Garrett Wright singles to SS.
- Hard-hit infield single and the Vols have their first hit of the contest.
-Reese Chapman works a walk. Wright to second.
-Henry Ford flies out to RF at the warning track. Wright to third.
Chapman steals second.
-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 0
7th Inning:
T7
-Brayden Randle is walked on four pitches.
-Austin Fawley is walked on five pitches.
- Appenzeller doesn’t have it early. Two of his 11 pitches have been strikes.
*Josh Reynolds calls a mound meeting*
*Brett Moseley pinch-hitting for Cannon Goodin*
-Brett Moseley strikes out swinging on three pitches.
Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Dom Decker sends a sac fly to LF at the warning track. Randle scores. Fawley to third.
- Very close to a three-run homer.
- Tennessee CHALLENGED the ruling that Fawley tagged up at second. The ruling was UPHELD. Tennessee has 0 challenges remaining.
-Tristan Bissetta pops up to SS in the shallow outfield.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Federico to LF*
*Moseley to CF*
*Pitching change: RHP Landon Waters (0-1, 0.69 ERA) in to pitch for Townsend*
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.
-Blaine Brown out at first 1B to P.
-Manny Marin works a walk.
*Tyler Myatt pinch-hitting for Levi Clark*
-Tyler Myatt grounds out to 2B through the right side.
- Smoked the baseball but second baseman was playing in shallow right. There to field it.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 1
8th Inning:
T8
*Grimmer to 1B*
*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Tyler Myatt*
-Judd Utermark singles up the middle.
- Beat the shift.
-Will Furniss flies out to LF.
-Hayden Federico smacks an RBI double to left field.
- Brown dove for it and couldn’t make the catch. It leads to a run as the ball goes to the back wall, allowing Utermark to score from first.
- Don’t understand why Brown did that. Stay in front of it and live with runners at first and second or at worst runners on the corners.
- Brutal, brutal decision and was NOT CLOSE to making the catch.
*Collin Reuter pinch-hitting for Owen Paino*
-Collin Reuter flies out to CF at the warning track. Federico to third.
-Brayden Randle flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Pitching change: RHP Hudson Calhoun (3-2, 3.99 ERA) in to pitch for Waters*
-Jay Abernathy works a walk.
-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging.
*Pitching change: LHP Walker Hooks (3-0, 2.32 ERA) in to pitch for Calhoun*
-Reese Chapman grounds out to 1B unassisted. Abernathy to second.
- Shift was on and Abernathy could have reached third. No one was covering the bag. But he didn’t see it and stays at second.
-Henry Ford strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Rebels 2
9th Inning:
T9
*Stone Lawless to C for Garrett Wright*
-Austin Fawley singles to center.
-Brett Moseley singles through the right side. Fawley to second.
-Dom Decker singles through the left side. Baserunners advance.
- Beat the shift on a slash play.
- Bases loaded with no outs for Tristan Bissetta
-Tristan Bissetta crushes a grand slam to right-center.
- 18th HR for the season for Bissetta
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick in to pitch for Appenzeller*
-Judd Utermark powers a solo homer straightaway to center.
- Right over the 390 sign in center. Jay leapt for it but couldn’t make the catch at the top of the wall.
-Will Furniss strikes out swinging.
-Hayden Federico HBP.
- 3-1 HBP
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Taylor Tracey (1-0, 1.72 ERA) in to pitch for Frederick*
-Collin Reuter rips an RBI double down the left-field line. Federico scores.
-Brayden Randle flies out to LF.
-Austin Fawley strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Trent Grindlinger knocks a solo homer off the videoboard.
- 2nd HR of the season.
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Manny Marin grounds out to P.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Rebels 8
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 1, Ole Miss Rebels 8 (Ole Miss clinches series 2-0)
