SCORE: Tennessee 4, Arkansas 8 | FINAL (Vols eliminated)

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No. 23 Tennessee baseball (38-19, 15-15 SEC) is set to battle the No. 12 Arkansas Razorbacks (36-19, 17-13 SEC) Wednesday in Hoover, Alabama, in the second round of the SEC Tournament. It is the 7th overall game in the tournament so far.

The matchup serves as the 10 v. 7 matchup in the tournament. The Vols are the 10-seed, and the Hogs are the 7-seed.

First pitch at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium is at 5:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Tennessee enters Wednesday’s contest coming off an 11-6 win over South Carolina in round one of the tournament.

The 10-seed Vols stayed hot in the win, especially at the plate, totaling 15 hits. Levi Clark, Henry Ford, Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright all tallied multiple hits with Wright leading the way at four.

Cam Appenzeller was solid in a 5.0-inning start. The length of his outing without any major trouble was encouraging given his recent struggles. Brayden Krenzel was rocky in relief to follow Appenzeller but Will Haas arguably turned in a career-best outing with 2.1 shutout innings.

Read the full recap of Tuesday’s win below.

SOUTH CAROLINA RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Outpaces South Carolina In SEC Tournament Opener

Since the Mississippi State series opener, Tennessee’s offense has been good to great, with only four bad performances across the 19 SEC contests.

While hosting a regional is a long shot, Tennessee could position itself to enter the conversation with an SEC Tournament Finals appearance. As the 10-seed in the tournament, the Vols would need to win three more games to make it to Sunday.

Arkansas is the 7-seed in the tournament.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where Tennessee Baseball Is Projected In Field of 64 Brackets Ahead Of SEC Tournament

While Tennessee is playing its best ball of the season, the injury bug has begun to hit the Vols over the last couple of weeks.

Starting pitcher Landon Mack has been dealing with arm soreness and missed the last two series. His status is ‘day-to-day’ in the SEC Tournament, and he is on the travel roster, but it remains to be seen when or if Mack will return this season.

Monday, star senior outfielder Reese Chapman took a line drive off the face and is out Wednesday against Arkansas. He also missed Tuesday’s game.

His Hoover status is in question, but head coach Josh Elander provided a positive update Wednesday.

CHAPMAN UPDATE: Tennessee HC Josh Elander Updates Reese Chapman’s Injury Status Tuesday Night

If Tennessee beats Arkansas, the Vols advance to play 2-seed Texas – who Tennessee beat in a three-game series a week-and-a-half ago – Friday at 4 p.m. ET.

Take a look at the full bracket for the 2026 SEC Tournament below.

HOOVER: Full SEC Baseball Tournament Bracket, Action Begins on Tuesday

Opponent Scout

Arkansas had a very solid season in 2026. The Hogs finished their season with four straight SEC series wins, but none were sweeps.

The Razorbacks swept a good Alabama team and won two-of-three over Mississippi State to open SEC play. Arkansas lost series to Georgia and Auburn and were swept Florida early in the year.

Arkansas was better than Tennessee this season and enters the postseason on a high note. The Hogs will obviously be a tough out, but they are not a juggernaut.

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction:

Tennessee wins on the back of an Evan Blanco outing and another solid offensive performance. Vols take their first game against the Hogs in 2026 to advance to Friday to face familiar foe Texas.

POLLS:

• D1 Baseball: No. 23 (NR)
• USA Today Coaches Poll: No. 25 (NR)
• Baseball America: No. 20 (up four)
• Perfect Game: No. 25 (NR)
• NCBWA: No. 24 (NR)

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

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the Oklahoma series win and previewing the SEC Tournament, click HERE.

WATCH: Josh Elander Recaps Win Over South Carolina

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

ARKANSAS STARTING NINE: 

LF Damian Ruiz (R)

SS Camden Kozeal (L)

C Ryder Helfrick (R)

RF Zack Stewart (L)

3B TJ Pompey (R)

2B Nolan Souza (L)

DH Kuhio Aloy (R)

CF Maika Niu (R)

1B Reese Robinett (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (7-3, 4.56 ERA, 14 app., 14 starts, 79.0 IP, 66 H, 44 R, 40 ER, 28 BB, 94 K, 28 XBH, .221 opp. batting avg., 1.19 WHIP)

vs.

Razorbacks Jr. RHP Tate McGuire (1-0, 4.61 ERA, 18 app., 5 starts, 41.0 IP, 41 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 12 BB, 35 K, 12 XBH, .259 opp. batting avg., 1.28 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Blanco is coming off a strong outing at Oklahoma. Gave up three runs but all came in the first inning. Bounced back to provide a quality start and continued his excellent season.
  • He is pitching on five days rest, pitch count will be interesting.
• McGuire has started five midweeks this season until the final regular season series against Kentucky. He gave up two runs on two hits in 2.1 IP
  • McGuire has been overly dominant in most of his relief outings this year but has a solid baseline. Doesn’t walk many guys.
  • Hasn’t given up more than three runs in an appearance. Highest pitch count is 68. Most innings is 5.0 IP (first appearance of season – five shutout innings vs. TCU)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, grey pants

Arkansas: All whites with red caps

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*NOTES*

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

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Garrett Wright flies out to LF.

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

• 10 pitches
• Fouled off four pitches

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

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

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Damian Ruiz grounds out to 3B.

• Nice play by Ford. Back-hand snared it at the foul line and fired to first on time.

-Camden Kozeal hammers a solo homer to right field.

• No doubter. Crushed the breaking ball.
• Blanco’s first-inning struggles continue.

-Ryder Helfrick is walked on four pitches.

-Zack Stewart crushes a two-run homer off the scoreboard in right field.

• Tennessee has given up 82 homers this year, most of any SEC team.

-TJ Pompey reaches on an infield single to P, advances to second on a throwing error by P.

• Bat barely made contact for a slow roller.

-Nolan Souza ropes an RBI double down the right-field line.

-Kuhio Aloy flies out to RF at the warning track. Souza to third.

• Good catch by Eisfelder at the wall. Body hit the wall as he made the catch. Didn’t rob a homer though.

-Maika Niu strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Razorbacks 4

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Reese Robinett strikes out looking.

-Damian Ruiz singles to right-center.

-Camden Kozeal flies out to CF in right-center.

-Ryder Helfrick grounds out to 3B.

• Great play by Henry Ford along the foul line. Two great defensive plays from Ford so far.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Razorbacks 4

3rd Inning: 

T3

Nate Eisfelder, Tennessee challenge an 0-1 strike call via ABS Challenge system. Call OVERTURNED

-Nate Eisfelder grounds out to 2B.

-Jay Abernathy pops up to 3B.

-Garrett Wright drops a single into left field.

• First hit for Tennessee. Second baserunner.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Zack Stewart annihilates a solo homer to right field.

• Mashed. 421 feet at 116 mph
• 2nd homer of the game for Stewart. 3rd for Arkansas.

-TJ Pompey singles to 2B.

-Nolan Souza flies out to LF.

Kuhio Aloy experiencing discomfort after an awkward one-hand swing at a pitch

*Carter Rutenbar pinch-hitting for Kuhio Aloy*

• Aloy exits the game. Unclear what was bothering him. Maybe a shoulder or arm discomfort.

Pompey caught stealing second, 2-6.

• Absolute dart from Garrett Wright.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 0, Razorbacks 5

4th Inning: 

T4

*Pitching change: LHP Parker Coil (3-0, 3.29 ERA) in to pitch for McGuire*

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

-Trent Grindlinger reaches on a fielding error by 3B.

• Ball skipped past Pompey’s glove into the outfield.

-Levi Clark knocks a single to center, advances to second on a throwing error by CF. Grindlinger to second, advances to third on the error.

• Ball came out of Niu’s hand late, spiked it to the ground. Picked it back up then fired it into the infield.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

-Blaine Brown bloops a two-run double to right-center.

• Ball hit a mile high in the air. Three Hogs in the area and they let it drop. Rough mistake for Arkansas and a big break for Tennessee.

-Nate Eisfelder flies out to LF at the warning track.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Chandler Day in to pitch for Blanco*

–Evan Blanco FINAL LINE: 3.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 38 strikes on 57 pitches–

-Maika Niu flies out to LF.

• Really great catch by Blaine Brown. A ball hit in no man’s land and Blaine got to it, making a diving catch.

-Reese Robinett grounds out to 2B.

-Damian Ruiz strikes out swinging.

• Strong inning from Chandler Day.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Razorbacks 5

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

-Garrett Wright singles to left field.

• Wright has 2 of Tennessee’s 4 hits.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

• 9-pitch at-bat.
• Two 9+ pitch plate appearances for Grimmer so far today.

-Henry Ford ropes an RBI double down the left-field line.

• Just a great eight-pitch at-bat. Back-to-back 8+ pitch ABs

*Pitching change: RHP James DeCremer (0-1, 3.94 ERA) in to pitch for Coil*

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Camden Kozeal works a walk.

-Ryder Helfrick works a walk.

-Zack Stewart strikes out swinging.

• Big K against the red-hot Stewart.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Ethan Baiotto (3-0, 5.79 ERA) in to pitch for Day*

-TJ Pompey destroys a three-run homer to left field.

• 434 feet, 111 mph

*Pitching change: So. RHP Nic Abraham (2-0, 4.36 ERA) in to pitch for Baiotto*

• One batter, three pitches for Baiotto. Three-run homer for Pompey. Devastating.
• Arkansas has hit 4 homers today that have collectively traveled 1,736 feet.
  • Average of 434 feet.

-Nolan Souza grounds out to SS.

-Carter Rutenbar works a walk.

-Maika Niu grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Razorbacks 8

6th Inning: 

T6

-Levi Clark strikes out looking.

-Manny Marin works a walk.

-Blaine Brown reaches on a fielder’s choice to 1B. Marin out at second, 3-6.

• Nice snare by the first baseman in the hole. Almost a very impressive 3-6-3 double play.

-Nate Eisfelder strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Reese Robinett singles to right field.

-Damian Ruiz strikes out swinging.

Robinett advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Camden Kozeal grounds out to SS.

• Awesome play. Manny’s momentum took him toward third and he fired on the run, crossbody to beat Kozeal.

-Ryder Helfrick strikes out swinging.

• Good appearance from Abraham.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Razorbacks 8

7th Inning: 

T7

-Jay Abernathy flares a single to left field.

-Garrett Wright strikes out looking.

• Wright challenged strike three, but the call was upheld.

Abernathy steals second.

-Blake Grimmer slices an RBI double to left-center.

-Henry Ford flies out to RF at the warning track.

• Close to a two-run shot.

-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: G-Sr. LHP Mark Hindy (2-0, 7.59 ERA) in to pitch for Abraham*

-Zack Stewart strikes out looking.

• Tennessee challenged a 1-2 ball call. OVERTURNED to strike three.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bo Rhudy (1-1, 3.76 ERA) in to pitch for Hindy*

-TJ Pompey strikes out swinging.

-Nolan Souza flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 8

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: LHP Cole Gibler (4-2, 5.64 ERA) in to pitch for DeCremer*

-Levi Clark rips a double to left field.

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

*Stone Lawless pinch-hitting for Blaine Brown*

-Lawless flies out to RF. Clark to third.

-Nate Eisfelder grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Wright to LF*

*Lawless to C*

-Carter Rutenbar strikes out swinging.

-Maika Niu fouls out to 1B.

-Reese Robinett strikes out swinging.

• Dominant inning from Rhudy.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 8

9th Inning: 

T9

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to SS.

-Garrett Wright grounds out to SS.

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 4, Razorbacks 8

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, Arkansas Razorbacks 8 (Vols eliminated)