SCORE: Tennessee 9, Oklahoma 4 | FINAL (Vols clinch series 2-0)

The game entered a weather delay Friday and resumed on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET in the seventh inning. More details here.

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

Tennessee baseball (36-18, 14-14 SEC) is set to battle the Oklahoma Sooners (31-19, 13-15 SEC) Friday in game two of a three-game series in Oklahoma City.

First pitch at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is at 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

SEC Network + will stream all three games of the series. For a full preview of the series, including pitching matchups and a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee enters Friday’s contest coming off a 9-7 series-opening win over Oklahoma.

Despite allowing 17 hits, Tennessee’s pitching staff gutted through the night, with Tegan Kuhns recording a 5.0-inning start and Bo Rhudy earning the four-out save.

Offensively, Tennessee did enough and took advantage of some errors. Henry Ford provided Tennessee with a massive, late two-run homer while Manny Marin gave UT a key insurance run in the ninth.

Read the recap of game one below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Wins Back-And-Forth Series Opener At Oklahoma

Tennessee entered the weekend coming off an impressive series win over then-ranked No. 4 Texas last weekend in Knoxville.

The Vols used a career-best Tegan Kuhns outing to claim game one before the offense exploded with 17 hits in a 14-9 game two victory. Kuhns struck out a career-high 15 batters in 7.0 shutout innings to guide Tennessee to a 5-1 series-opening win.

Due to a weak Tennessee bullpen, Texas handily won game three, 13-6.

The series win all but locked Tennessee into the NCAA Tournament, and Thursday’s win officially puts Tennessee in the dance at 14 SEC wins.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Last Bracketology Updates Of Regular Season

This weekend’s series will serve as a true road series despite being played in Oklahoma City. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA affiliate, the Oklahoma City Comets.

“Oklahoma Athletics and the Oklahoma City Comets have long had a great working relationship, dating back to Bedlam games and Big 12 tournaments at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark,” Oklahoma said in a statement. “The opportunity presented itself in the offseason for us to play a Southeastern Conference series in Oklahoma City this season and we were thrilled to showcase the SEC in OKC and give more fans the opportunity to see our program.

“It will be an enjoyable weekend for both teams, and gives two great baseball programs the chance to play in front of a large crowd in a Triple-A ballpark.”

It’s a 9,000-seat stadium, so the crowds will likely be sparse compared to the size of the stadium. The stadium is 325 feet down the lines and 400 feet to centerfield.

While the series is technically at a neutral site, it still counts as a home series for Oklahoma and a road series for Tennessee, which is important for how it will be valued in the RPI.

HOOVER: Where Tennessee Projects To Land In SEC Baseball Tournament With Week Remaining

Arguably the biggest storyline for Tennessee entering the series is the health of starting pitcher Landon Mack. Mack missed last Sunday’s series finale against Texas due to right arm soreness, marking the first series he hadn’t started a game in all year.

Mack’s absence was felt, as Tennessee’s already shallow bullpen was required to get 27 outs, and it struggled mightily in doing so. Tennessee needs Mack healthy if it wants to go deep in the SEC Tournament or win a regional.

INJURY UPDATE: Tennessee HC Josh Elander Updates Landon Mack’s Injury Status Before Oklahoma Series

Mack is day-to-day as of Friday, and Tennessee listed its Saturday starting pitcher as ‘TBD.’ Kuhns started game one, and the reliable Evan Blanco will handle game two duties Friday.

Top reliever Brandon Arvidson would be the obvious choice to start game three, and he did not throw in game one, but if Tennessee has a chance to clinch the series and needs a strong relief outing, they may call upon Arvidson in game two.

Other top bullpen arm Cam Appenzeller threw 42 pitches Thursday and is likely done for the series.

Opponent Scout

When Oklahoma swept Missouri in mid-April, the Sooners were 10-8 in SEC play and in the thick of a hunt for a regional host bid. But since, Oklahoma has dropped three consecutive series against Auburn, Florida and Arkansas to enter the weekend with a 13-14 SEC record.

Like Tennessee, the Sooners are looking to pick up one win this weekend to clinch an NCAA Tournament appearance. A Tennessee sweep would them it a fighting chance to host a regional.

The Sooners have swept just one opponent (Missouri) while being swept by only one opponent (Texas) this season. A Tennessee sweep would be a surprise.

• 2025 Record: 38-22 (14-16 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Chapel Hill Regional (3-2)
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 14^th  
• Head Coach: Skip Johnson
  • Overall Record: 298-193 (9^th year)
  • Record at OU: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (0):

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: Sooners lead, 3-2
• In Knoxville: N/A
• In Norman: 0-1
• At Neutral Sites: Sooners lead, 3-1
• Last Meeting: May 14, 2026 (W, 9-7)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction:

Tennessee wins two-of-three.

The Vols have been playing better than Oklahoma, who has lost its series in each of the past three weekends.

The series being at technically a neutral site is interesting. Of course, Oklahoma fans will have the majority, but it won’t have the same vibes as a college ballpark at home.

I liked Tennessee in game one because of Kuhns. I like Tennessee in game two because of Blanco. And this offense is clearly a threat at any moment’s notice right now.

I have not forgotten the performance at Kentucky, but if you take a holistic view of Tennessee baseball since the start of the Mississippi State series, Tennessee has been playing well. Offensively, it’s a much different – and better – team than it was in March.

Tennessee wins Friday, loses Saturday.

POLLS:

• D1 Baseball: Unranked
• USA Today Coaches Poll: Unranked
• Baseball America: No. 24
• 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 Texas series, click HERE.

WATCH: Josh Elander Breaks Down Series-Opening Win at Oklahoma

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

OKLAHOMA STARTING NINE: 

CF Jason Walk (S)

3B Camden Johnson (L)

1B Deiten Lachance (R)

SS Jaxon Willits (S)

LF Trey Gambill (L)

C Brendan Brock (R)

RF Dasan Harris (L)

DH Drew Dickerson (R)

2B Kyle Branch (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (6-3, 4.56 ERA, 13 app., 13 starts, 73.0 IP, 61 H, 41 R, 37 ER, 24 BB, 88 K, 27 XBH, .221 opp. batting avg., 1.16 WHIP)

vs.

Sooners Fr. RHP Xander Mercurius (0-0, 5.65 ERA, 15 app., 0 starts, 1 SV, 28.2 IP, 26 H, 19 R, 18 ER, 13 BB, 27 K, 11 XBH, .241 opp. batting avg., 1.36 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Blanco gutted through a tough first inning vs. Texas last week and ultimately turned in a really strong 7.0-inning outing, allowing five runs on seven hits.
  • Blanco has been good-to-great in all but two SEC outings this season.
• Mercurius’ first start of the season. Been a highly-used bullpen arm for the Sooners.
  • Has walked six batters in his last three innings pitched. Struck out three.
  • Mercurius has some highlights out of the pen but has been by no means dominant. Tennessee’s offense could have the upper hand against the freshman righty.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Black tops, grey pants (changed to Smokey Greys once game resumed)

Oklahoma: White hats, crimson jerks, white pants

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*NOTES*

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Oklahoma 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.

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to the pitcher.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jason Walk walks on four pitches.

-Camden Johnson hits a two-run homer to centerfield.

-Deiten LaChance singles to left field.

-Jaxon Willitis singles to right field. LaChance advances to third base.

-Trey Gambill grounds into a 4-6-3 double play. LaChance scores.

-Brendan Brock flies out to centerfield.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Sooners 3

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging.

-Reese Chapman flies out to the wall in right field. 372 feet and a 107 mph exit velocity according to TrackMan.

-Levi Clark flies out to left field.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Dasan Harris strike out swinging.

-Drew Dickerson strikes out swinging.

-Kyle Branch walks.

-Walk grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Sooners 3

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Blaine Brown singles to first base.

-Manny Marin triples into the left-center gap. Brown scores.

-Jay Abernathy singles to shortstop. Marin scores.

Abernathy steals second.

-Wright flies out to shallow right field.

-Grimmer walks.

-Ford strikes out swinging.

Abernathy and Grimmer advance to second and third on a balk.

-Grindlinger singles to right field on a 2-2 pitch. Abernathy and Grimmer both score.

-Chapman pops out to shortstop.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Johnson singles to left field.

-LaChance flies out to the wall in right-center field. Really nice play by Jay Abernathy. Tennessee almost had a double play as Johnson retreated to first base.

-Willitis pops out to shallow right field. Blake Grimmer makes a nice sliding catch.

-Gambill grounds out to shortstop.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Sooners 3

4th Inning: 

T4

-Clark is hit-by a pitch.

-Brown grounds into a 1-6-3 double play.

-Marin doubles to left-center field.

-Abernathy strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Brock walks.

-Harris flies out to left field.

-Dickerson flies out to centerfield.

-Branch grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Sooners 3

5th Inning: 

T5

-Wright lines out to third base.

-Grimmer singles to left field.

-Ford hits a hard grounder and it gets past the third baseman (fielding error). Grimmer scores. Ford reaches second.

-Chapman grounds out to first base. 3-1.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Walk strikes out swinging.

-Johnsons strikes out swinging.

-LaChance strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Sooners 3

6th Inning: 

T6

-Clark walks.

LHP Nate Smithburg (3.55 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 12.2 IP) is coming in to pitch.

-Brown grounds out to the pitcher. Clark advances to second.

-Marin flies out deep into the left-center gap.

-Abernathy ropes a liner right at the second baseman.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Willits strikes out swinging.

-Gambill reaches on a Blake Grimmer fielding error.

-Brock flied out to centerfield.

-Harris singles up the middle. Gambill advances to second base.

-Branch grounds out to shortstop.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Sooners 3

7th Inning: 

T7

RHP LJ Mercurious (5.62 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 57.2 IP) is in to pitch

-Wright is hit-by pitch.

-Grimmer strikes out swinging. Wright is out trying to steal second.

-Ford walks.

-Grindlinger strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

LHP Will Haas (6.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 8.1 IP) is coming in to pitch.

-Walk grounds out to shortstop.

-Johnson is hit-by a pitch.

The game entered a weather delay and resumed on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. More details here.

*Pitching change: LHP Brandon Arvidson in to pitch for Haas*

Johnson advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Deiten LaChance grounds out to SS.

-Jaxon Willits flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Sooners 3

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: LHP Trent Collier in to pitch for Mercurius*

-Reese Chapman reaches on an error, muffed throw by P, assist by 1B.

-Levi Clark doubles down the left-field line. Chapman to third.

-Blaine Brown sends a sac fly to RF. Chapman scores. Clark to third.

-Manny Marin knocks a sac fly to LF. Clark scores.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Trey Gambill grounds out to SS.

-Brendan Brock doubles down the left-field line.

-Dasan Harris smacks an RBI triple to right-center.

• Over Chapman’s head.

-Drew Dickerson strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Kyle Branch flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Sooners 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Garrett Wright grounds out to 3B.

-Blake Grimmer pops up to 3B.

-Henry Ford rips a double to right-center.

*Pitching change: Reid Hensley in to pitch for Collier*

-Trent Grindlinger laces an RBI single into center. Ford scores.

-Reese Chapman drives an RBI double to left-center. Grindlinger scores.

• Some communication issues between OU’s centerfielder and leftfielder.

-Levi Clark grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Blake Grimmer*

-Jason Walk flies out to RF.

-Camden Johnson flies out to CF.

-Deiten LaChance singles through the left side.

-Jaxon Willits lines out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Sooners 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 9, Oklahoma Sooners 4 (Vols clinch series 2-0)