SCORE: Tennessee 5, Texas 1 | FINAL (Tennessee leads series 1-0)

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

Tennessee baseball (32-17, 11-13 SEC) is set to host the No. 4 Texas Longhorns (36-10, 15-8 SEC) Friday in game one of a three-game series.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

For a full preview of the series, including first-pitch times, pitching matchups and a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee enters the weekend coming off a series loss to Kentucky. The Vols lost games one and two in uncompetitive fashion before claiming a thrilling 10-9 series-salvaging victory on Sunday.

UT led 7-1 at the 7th inning stretch but Kentucky stormed back. Fortunately for the Vols, Levi Clark came through with a three-run homer in the ninth and Brandon Arvidson got the save in the bottom of the frame.

Read recaps of all three games below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Offense Shut Down in Series-Opening Loss to Kentucky

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Run-Ruled as Kentucky Clinches Series in Game Two

GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Holds On, Wins Series Finale to Avoid Sweep at Kentucky

Tennessee easily won a midweek contest vs. Presbyterian Tuesday, 8-1.

The Vols’ series loss at Kentucky last week was disappointing given the momentum UT had built leading up to the weekend in Lexington.

Now, the Vols must win two more SEC games to have a chance at making the NCAA Tournament and three to be a lock. Tennessee will play Oklahoma on the road next weekend.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Latest NCAA Tournament Field of 64 Projections

Offensive struggles have plagued Tennessee most of the season and did at Kentucky. But a more troubling development was that starting pitchers Tegan Kuhns and Evan Blanco struggled after moving to Friday and Saturday roles.

Kuhns has been brilliant when starting on Saturdays and Blanco has been a shut-down force on Sundays. Despite the poor performances after changing the order of the rotation, Tennessee head coach Josh Elander is opting to keep Kuhns, Blanco and Landon Mack in the same order this weekend against Texas.

ROTATION: Tennessee Baseball Announces Pitching Rotation For Texas Series

Tennessee will hope to have a better Cam Appenzeller against Texas. The freshman was amazing for most of the season before falling off considerably in his last few outings. Elander remains optimistic Appenzeller will bounce back and does not think he is physically wearing down.

NOT WEARING DOWN: Josh Elander Does Not Believe Cam Appenzeller Is Wearing Down Despite Recent Struggles

Opponent Scout

Texas enters the weekend tied for second place in the SEC standings with a 15-8 conference record. The Longhorns lone SEC series loss came against rival Texas A&M last month.

Head coach Jim Schlossnagle’s second Texas team has series wins over Auburn, Oklahoma and Mississippi State. All three teams were ranked in the top 10 at the time of the series. The Longhorns lone sweep of the season was against the Sooners.

A top five team, Texas is a near lock for a top eight national seed but is also looking to improve its seeding in the final weeks of the regular season.

• 2025 Record: 44-14 (22-8 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Austin Regional (2-2)
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 2^nd  
• Head Coach: Jim Schlossnagle
  • Overall Record: 1,026-479 (25^th year)
  • Record at Texas: 80-24 (2^nd year)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (3):
  • SP Dylan Volantis (1^st Team) | C Carson Tinney (2^nd Team) | 2B Ethan Mendoza (2^nd Team)

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: Tennessee leads, 3-2
• In Knoxville: No Meetings
• In Austin: No Meetings
• At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-2
• Last Meeting: May 22, 2025 (W, 7-5 in 12 inn. – Hoover, Ala.)
  • Brandon Arvidson legacy game

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

POLLS:

• D1 Baseball: Unranked
• USA Today Coaches Poll: Unranked
• Baseball America: Unranked
• Perfect Game: Unranked
• NCBWA: Unranked

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the Alabama series, click HERE.

WATCH: Josh Elander Previews Texas, Recaps Presbyterian Win

Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

TEXAS STARTING NINE: 

RF Aiden Robbins (R)

C Carson Tinney (R)

LF Anthony Pack Jr. (L)

2B Ethan Mendoza (R)

SS Adrian Rodriguez (S)

3B Temo Becerra (R)

DH Ashton Larson (L)

1B Casey Borba (R)

CF Maddox Monsour (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (3-4, 3.46 ERA, 12 app., 11 starts, 1 CG, 65.0 IP, 60 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 12 BB, 80 K, 22 XBH, .238 opp. batting avg., 1.11 WHIP)

vs.

Longhorns LHP Dylan Volantis (7-0, 1.87 ERA, 11 app., 11 starts, 62.2 IP, 44 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 19 BB, 92 K, 8 XBH, .189 opp. batting avg., 1.01 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Kuhns remains in a game one role despite last week’s struggles. Kuhns was lights out in April.
• Volantis is arguably the best arm in the SEC.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Icy whites

Texas: Grey tops and bottoms with burnt orange caps and accents

---

*NOTES*

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Texas leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Aiden Robbins is walked.

-Carson Tinney flies out to LF at the warning track.

• Kuhns fell behind down 2-0 then Tinney almost hit one out of the yard. Not the most crisp start for Tegan

-Anthony Pack Jr. lines out to SS.

• Nice leaping catch by Manny. Not a crazy highlight but good play in shallow left.

-Ethan Mendoza strikes out swinging.

• Got him to go around for strike three.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Garrett Wright flies out to CF.

• First pitch of the AB. Good contact.

-Blake Grimmer singles to 2B.

• Mendoza dove for the ball to stop it. No chance at making a play. Good hit by Grimmer.
• Mendoza exits the game with an injury after diving for the ball. Tough to say exactly what happened. May have rolled himself up on the dive.
• Big loss as Mendoza is Texas’ cleanup hitter.

*Callum Early to 2B for Ethan Mendoza*

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS. Grimmer to second.

-Trent Grindlinger drives an RBI double to left-center.

• Grindlinger went down and got it up. Rolled all the way to the wall. Big-time hit.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Longhorns 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out looking.

• 6-pitch at-bat

-Temo Becerra flies out to RF.

-Ashton Larson strikes out looking.

• Great fastball for strike three and LNS is loud. Kuhns showing some moxie early.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Levi Clark works a leadoff walk.

-Manny Marin ropes an RBI double down the left-field line.

• Skirted inside the third base bag. Another huge hit for Tennessee and Clark scores all the way from first.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to SS through the right side.

• Slow chopper and Rodriguez fired to first from short-distance to barely beat Brown.

Marin scores on a wild pitch.

• Great baserunning from Manny. Ball didn’t get that far from the plate.

-Stone Lawless singles through the left side.

-Garrett Wright singles up the middle. Lawless to second.

• Amazing swing

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

• Could’ve gotten more but some big plays from Marin put Tennessee ahead three.
• Dylan Volantis has given up more than 2 earned runs in just one SEC start this season. Tennessee’s tagged him for 3 earned runs before he recorded his 5th out.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Casey Borba strikes out swinging.

-Maddox Monsour strikes out swinging.

• Kuhns wins a LONG 9-pitch at-bat

-Aiden Robbins doubles to left-center.

-Carson Tinney strikes out swinging.

• 7-pitch at-bat
• Another big strikeout. Kuhns is feeling it.
• Kuhns at 6 Ks

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Trent Grindlinger flies out to RF.

• First pitch of the at bat.

-Reese Chapman drops a single into right-center.

• Hit over the shift

-Levi Clark strikes out looking.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Anthony Pack Jr. strikes out swinging.

• 7th K for Kuhns. Fastball has been lethal for Kuhns tonight

*Josh Livingston pinch-hitting for Callum Early*

-Livingston singles to 3B on a bunt.

• Beat the shift, beautiful bunt

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• Such an uncomfortable, hesitant swing from Rodriguez on strike three. Kuhns is dominating Texas

-Temo Becerra flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Livingston to 1B*

*Becerra to 2B*

*Borba to 3B*

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 3B through the right side.

• Hit into the shift

-Stone Lawless grounds out to 3B.

• 9-pitch at-bat

-Garrett Wright works a walk.

• Few at-bats are easy for Volantis. 6-pitch AB
• Volantis is at 80 pitches

Wright caught stealing second, 2-6.

• Call was initially that Wright was safe and stole second. But Texas CHALLENGED and the ruling was OVERTURNED.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Ashton Larson strikes out swinging.

-Casey Borba strikes out looking on three pitches.

• Kuhns up to 10 Ks. Just so locked in right now. Ties a career high (on ONLY 17 batters)

-Maddox Monsour strikes out swinging.

• Career-high 11 Ks. Unreal.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 1B unassisted.

• Volantis has retired 9 of his last 11
• Season-high pitch count for Volantis is 107. He’s at 98

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 0

6th Inning: 

T6

-Aiden Robbins flies out to RF.

-Carson Tinney pops up to 2B.

-Anthony Pack Jr. strikes out swinging.

• 7 straight retired for Tegan. 12 Ks. Amazing performance of six shutout innings.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: RHP Cody Howard (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 3 app., 3 IP) in to pitch for Volantis*

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

-Levi Clark strikes out looking.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 0

7th Inning: 

T7

-Josh Livingston strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• 13th K

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• 14th K

-Temo Becerra singles up the middle.

-Ashton Larson singles to left-center. Becerra to second.

• Kuhns looks tired at 109 pitches
• Elander comes out to talk to him and Kuhns is STAYING IN.
  • That HARDLY EVER happens. Only one other time I have personally seen that this year where Elander comes out and doesn’t pull the pitcher.

-Casey Borba strikes out swinging.

• Just an electric moment after the mound meeting. Kuhns fights and gets the 4-pitch K.
• 15th K of the night to end Kuhns’ incredible outing.
• Kuhns loses it after the strikeout, screaming “This is my motherf**king house” repeatedly.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Blaine Brown slaps a single to center.

• First hit for UT since the third inning

-Stone Lawless reaches on a fielder’s choice to C, sac bunt. Brown safe at second.

• Catcher’s throw was not on line. It hit Blaine. Would’ve been in center field if it didn’t hit Blaine.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Garrett Wright strikes out looking.

• 6-pitch at-bat. Fouled off four pitches.

-Blake Grimmer rips a two-run single through the right side.

-Henry Ford reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Grimmer out at second, 6-4.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Longhorns 0

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 4.31 ERA) in to pitch for Kuhns*

–Tegan Kuhns FINAL LINE: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 K, 113 pitches (82 strikes)–

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Blake Grimmer*

-Maddox Monsour strikes out looking.

• 7-pitch strikeout.

-Aiden Robbins drives a solo homer to right-center.

-Carson Tinney singles to SS.

• Clark couldn’t make the grab off the hop. Would’ve been bang bang

-Anthony Pack Jr. pops up to P on a bunt.

• Nice play from Arv

-Josh Livingston strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

-Levi Clark flies out to LF at the warning track.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Longhorns 1

9th Inning: 

T9

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out swinging.

-Temo Becerra singles through the left side.

-Ashton Larson strikes out swinging. Becerra to second.

-Casey Borba lines out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 5, Longhorns 1

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Texas Longhorns 1 (FINAL – Tennessee leads series 1-0)