SCORE: Tennessee 14, Texas 9 | FINAL (Tennessee clinches series 2-0)

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

Tennessee baseball (33-17, 12-13 SEC) is set to host the No. 4 Texas Longhorns (36-11, 15-9 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game series.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 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 Saturday’s contest looking to clinch the series after an impressive 5-1 series-opening victory.

Tegan Kuhns was phenomenal in 7.0 scoreless innings, striking out a whopping career-high 15 batters and allowing just four hits and one walk.

Offensively, Tennessee hit Texas ace Dylan Volantis well early, totaling three runs on six hits. Blake Grimmer provided UT with two insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run single.

Read a recap of Tennessee’s Friday win below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tegan Kuhns Dazzles As Tennessee Baseball Takes Series Opener Over Texas

Tennessee lost last weekend’s series to Kentucky. The Vols dropped games one and two in uncompetitive fashion before claiming a thrilling 10-9 series-salvaging victory on Sunday.

The series loss was disappointing given the momentum UT had built leading up to the weekend in Lexington.

But Tennessee displayed its upside in Friday’s win over Texas. Now, UT likely needs to win just one more SEC game to make the NCAA Tournament, two to be a lock. Tennessee plays 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.

Blanco starts Saturday against Texas and will look to bounce back from last week. Kuhns turned in a career-best effort in Friday’s win.

The significance of Blanco’s upcoming outing increased after Tennessee broke the news that Landon Mack is a scratch for Sunday with right arm soreness.

SCRATCHED: Tennessee Baseball Scratches Landon Mack From Sunday Start Against Texas

Tennessee has a weak bullpen, and Brandon Arvidson is likely spent for the weekend after a 41-pitch outing Friday. The Vols will rely heavily on Blanco to eat a bunch of innings in his start and for Bo Rhudy and Cam Appenzeller to be on.

Appenzeller was amazing for most of the season before falling off considerably in his last few outings. Head coach Josh 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

Tennessee is not naming a Sunday starter right now. Appenzeller figures to be the leading candidate, but UT could turn to him out of the bullpen Saturday. Nic Abraham, Taylor Tracey and Ethan Baiotto are all candidates to be used as openers Sunday if needed, too.

Opponent Scout

Texas entered 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, 4-2
• In Knoxville: 1-0
• In Austin: No Meetings
• At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 3-2
• Last Meeting: May 8, 2026 (W, 5-1)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction

Texas wins two of three.

Sticking with the prediction after Tennessee’s series-opening win. Mack’s absence is a big development. If Appenzeller and Blanco give Tennessee 5-6+ innings each in the next two games, maybe Tennessee can win the series.

But I have low confidence in arms the Vols will have to throw with Mack missing time. Texas wins Saturday and Sunday.

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 Recaps Series-Opening Victory Over Texas

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)

3B Temo Becerra (R)

SS Adrian Rodriguez (S)

1B Casey Borba (R)

DH Presley Courville (R)

CF Maddox Monsour (R)

2B Jayden Duplantier (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (5-3, 4.36 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 66.0 IP, 54 H, 36 R, 32 ER, 21 BB, 80 K, 26 XBH, .217 opp. batting avg., 1.14 WHIP)

vs.

Longhorns Gr-Sr. LHP Luke Harrison (5-2, 4.35 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 60.0 IP, 53 H, 34 R, 29 ER, 26 BB, 70 K, 23 XBH, .235 opp. batting avg., 1.32 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Blanco starting in game two for the second straight weekend. He was shaky last week, allowing six runs in 5.0 IP.
  • Aside from the Kentucky and Vanderbilt starts, Blanco has been amazing in SEC play. In his recent struggles, though, he’s been prone to give up the long ball.
• Harrison has mostly been solid this year. Has a pair of two-run, 7.0 inning outings vs. Alabama and Ole Miss. Allowed two runs in 5.2-inning starts vs. SC and Auburn.
  • But has some lows. 8 runs in 0.2 IP vs. Texas A&M is his worst outing. Gave up five in 5.0 IP vs. MS State last week.
  • Season-high pitch count is 106, most innings is 7.0.
• Ruger Riojas was scheduled to start game two for Texas and Harrison game three. But Schlossnagle changed up the rotation and Harrison now gets the Saturday nod. Riojas Sunday.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Dark Mode

Texas: Burnt orange tops and hats with white pants

---

*NOTES*

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

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Aiden Robbins flies out to RF.

-Carson Tinney works a walk.

-Anthony Pack Jr. singles through the right side. Tinney to third.

Pack Jr. advances to second on a balk. Tinney scores on a balk.

• Blanco slipped on the mound as he went to throw a pitch. Lost his footing and it’s a balk.
• Unfortunate for Blanco there.

-Temo Becerra crushes a two-run homer to left-center.

• Very next pitch for Blanco. Right down the middle over the plate.

-Adrian Rodriguez rips a single through the right side, out at second, 9-6.

• Texas CHALLENGED the ruling and the call was UPHELD. Rodriguez is out.
• Manny got a little out of position but was still able to make the tag, albeit awkwardly.

-Casey Borba strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Garrett Wright knocks a solo homer to left-center.

• 7th HR of the season
• Deepest part of the park
• 401 feet, 103 mph

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Henry Ford lines out to 3B.

• Great leaping catch by Becerra. Went up and got it
• Ball was roped

-Trent Grindlinger smokes a solo homer to center off the batter’s eye.

• 7th HR of the season
• Two-homer inning for the Vols
• 397 feet, 106 mph

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Longhorns 3

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Presley Courville strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Maddox Monsour strikes out swinging.

• 3 straight Ks for Blanco

-Jayden Duplantier flies out to RF.

• Good 13-pitch inning for Blanco. At 38 through two.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to P.

• First pitch of the at-bat

-Manny Marin mashes a solo homer to left field.

• 9th HR of the season
• 3rd homer of the night for Tennessee
• 34 homers in the last 12 games for Tennessee. Wild power surge.
• 387 feet, 98 mph

-Blaine Brown flies out to CF.

• Good contact from Blaine

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Longhorns 3

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Aiden Robbins grounds out to 3B.

-Carson Tinney strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Anthony Pack Jr. drops a single into right field.

-Temo Becerra reaches on a swinging bunt single to 2B. Pack Jr. to second.

• Check swing makes contact and hits a ball to where no one is at. Reaches easily.

-Adrian Rodriguez out at first 1B to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Garrett Wright fouls out to C.

-Blake Grimmer chops an infield single to SS.

• Legs out a slow hopper. Barely beats the throw.

-Henry Ford works a walk.

-Trent Grindlinger ropes an RBI double to left field. Ford to third. Grimmer scores.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF.

• Ford stays at third.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

• Favorable ball four call for Chapman there.
• Bases loaded with two outs for Stone Lawless.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to SS.

• First pitch.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Longhorns 3

4th Inning: 

T4

-Casey Borba grounds out to P.

• First pitch of the AB

-Presley Courville flies out to CF.

-Maddox Monsour fouls out to 1B.

• Nice 1-2-3 frame on 8 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Manny Marin pops up to 2B in shallow right-center.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging, reaches first on a throwing error by C, advances to second on the error.

• Awful, awful throw by Tinney. Big break for Tennessee.

-Blake Grimmer clobbers a two-run homer to right field.

• 12th HR of the season
• Hit over the home bullpen. Monstrous shot.
• 398 feet, 104 mph

*Pitching change: RHP Brett Crossland (1-2, 2.57 ERA) in to pitch for Harrison*

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 6, Longhorns 3

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jayden Duplantier strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Aiden Robbins is walked.

-Carson Tinney is walked on four pitches.

-Anthony Pack Jr. slices a single to left field.

• Bases loaded with one out for Temo Becerra.

-Temo Becerra drives a two-run single up the middle. Pack Jr. to second. Tinney and Robbins score.

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Casey Borba grounds out to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Trent Grindlinger singles to right field.

• 3-3 day for Grindlinger. On fire.

-Levi Clark knocks a single to left field. Grindlinger to second.

-Reese Chapman reaches on a bunt single to 3B, advances to second on a throwing error by 3B. Grindlinger to third, scores on the error. Clark to second and third, scores on the error.

• Another costly defensive mistake for Texas as Becerra fires a throw wide of the bag and two runs score as a result.
• Really nice slide by Clark at home plate.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to P, sac bunt. Chapman to third.

-Manny Marin sends a sac fly to left-center.

-Blaine Brown knocks a single to center.

Brown steals second.

-Garrett Wright works a walk.

• 8-pitch at-bat

*Pitching change: LHP Ethan Walker in to pitch for Crossland*

-Blake Grimmer strikes out looking.

• Questionable strike three call on a 2-2 pitch

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Longhorns 5

6th Inning: 

T6

-Presley Courville strikes out swinging.

*Ashton Larson pinch-hitting for Maddox Monsour*

-Larson pops up to 2B.

-Jayden Duplantier flies out to CF.

• Important 1-2-3 inning for Blanco. At 92 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pack Jr. to CF*

*Larson to LF*

*Pitching change: RHP Brody Walls (2-0, 5.32 ERA) in to pitch for Walker*

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to P.

-Levi Clark singles up the middle.

-Reese Chapman destroys a two-run homer to right field.

• 8th HR of the season
• 5th of the game for Tennessee
• 402 feet, 102 mph

-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 11, Longhorns 5

7th Inning: 

T7

-Aiden Robbins strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

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

-Anthony Pack Jr. flies out to CF.

• Blanco has retired eight straight.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: RHP Michael Winter in to pitch for Walls*

-Manny Marin singles through the left side.

-Blaine Brown drives an RBI double to left-center.

• Tennessee has scored in every inning tonight

-Garrett Wright fouls out to C.

• Just a phenomenal diving catch by Carson Tinney in foul territory.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF.

-Henry Ford out at first 1B to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Longhorns 5

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller (5-1, 4.12 ERA) in to pitch for Blanco*

–FINAL LINE for Evan Blanco: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1 XBH, 111 pitches (71 strikes)–

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Blake Grimmer*

-Temo Becerra flies out to CF.

-Adrian Rodriguez strikes out swinging.

-Casey Borba powers a solo homer over the batter’s eye in center.

• Baseball was crushed

-Presley Courville grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Trent Grindlinger singles up the middle.

• 4-hit day for Grindlinger

-Levi Clark strikes out looking.

-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Grindlinger out at second, 4-6.

-Stone Lawless annihilates a two-run homer to left field.

• 6th HR of the season for Lawless
• 6th for Tennessee tonight. 8th extra-base hit. Unreal
• 409 feet, 106 mph
• Tennessee scored in every inning

-Manny Marin grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 14, Longhorns 6

9th Inning: 

T9

*Andrew Ermis pinch-hitting for Ashton Larson*

-Ermis is walked.

*Blake Peterson pinch-hitting for Jayden Duplantier*

-Blake Peterson strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Aiden Robbins singles to right field. Ermis to third,

-Carson Tinney is walked. Robbins to second.

• Bases loaded with one out for Anthony Pack Jr.

Ermis scores on a wild pitch. Runners advance.

-Anthony Pack Jr. strikes out looking.

• BIG strike three on the payoff pitch.

Robbins scores on a wild pitch. Tinney to third.

-Temo Becerra smacks an RBI double to right-center. Tinney scores.

-Adrian Rodriguez out at first 1B to P.

• Clark didn’t field it cleanly but was able to make the play in the end.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 14, Longhorns 9

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 14, Texas Longhorns 9 (Tennessee clinches series 2-0)