SCORE: Tennessee 8, Bellarmine 3 | FINAL

The Rocky Top Insider team mourns the tragic loss of long-time Tennessee athletics beat writer Wes Rucker.

If you are able and hoping to help the Rucker family, HERE is how.

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No. 20 Tennessee baseball (5-2) is set to host the Bellarmine Knights (2-5) Tuesday in a midweek contest in Knoxville.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 4:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Tennessee is coming off a disappointing series loss to Kent State. After winning the series opener thanks to a pinch-hit walk-off home run from Tyler Myatt, the Vols dropped back-to-back games due to poor hitting and, in Sunday’s case, a below-average performance from the pitching staff.

Pitching was phenomenal Saturday but struggled Friday and Sunday, as the Vols hit 10 batters across the two games. Offensively, Tennessee struggled mightily with situational hitting, and sluggers Blaine Brown and Levi Clark combined to go 2-20 on the weekend.

Kent State is the toughest competition Tennessee had faced to date, and the Golden Flashes showed the Vols’ weaknesses, leaving questions about the team moving forward.

Tennessee will have one final tune up before traveling to Arlington this weekend. The Vols will face UCLA, Virginia Tech and Arizona State as part of the Amegy Bank College Series.

Read recaps of all three games and full takeaways from the Kent State series below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Local Natives Play Hero As Tennessee Baseball Walks Off Kent State

GAME TWO RECAP: Poor Offensive Effort Sinks Tennessee Baseball in First Loss of Season

GAME THREE RECAP: Sloppy Play Dooms Tennessee as Vols Drop Series to Kent State

SERIES TAKEAWAYS: What To Make Of Tennessee Baseball Disappointing Series Loss Against Kent State

Before the Kent State series, Tennessee opened the 2026 season with a series sweep over Nicholls last weekend, out-scoring the Colonels 27-3 across the three contests. The Vols followed it up with a stress-free 10-3 midweek win over UNC Asheville.

The 2026 season is the first in the post-Tony Vitello era, as the former UT head man left last fall to become the San Francisco Giants manager. Vitello is the first person to ever become a head manager in the MLB with no big league coaching experience.

Vitello recently shared his thoughts on this year’s Tennessee’s team and spring training as he readies his Giants squad for the 2026 season.

With Vitello gone, the Josh Elander era – or ElandEra – is underway. There’s no better time for it to begin, as this weekend’s series marks the first in the newly renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium. After years of work, LNS has become one of the SEC’s best parks. Check out all the changes below.

RENOVATIONS: Tennessee Athletics Brings Magnificent Changes to Lindsey Nelson Stadium Ahead of 2026 Baseball Season

RENOVATIONS LOOK: Tour of Tennessee Baseball’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium Renovations

For a full preview of the season, included projected accolades, pitching and lineup breakdowns, click the links below.

SEASON PREVIEW: Tennessee Baseball 2026 Season Preview: Accolades, Predictions

PITCHING PREVIEW

LINEUP PREVIEW

Opponent Scout

• • 2025 Record: 17-38 (11-19 ASUN)
  • 2025 Postseason: N/A
  • 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Preseason Poll: 6^th (Gold Division)
  • Head Coach: Ben Reel
    • Overall Record: 567-307-1 (17^th year)
    • Record at BU: 19-43 (2^nd year)
  • Preseason All-Conference Selections (1): SS Landon Akers

Info courtesy UT Athletics

Prediction: Vols win by 7-8 runs.

Bellarmine isn’t good. Vols bounce back and take advantage of the easy matchup.

Injury/Availability Notes

• UTL Blake Grimmer is dealing with lower back soreness and is yet to make his season debut.
• C/OF Garrett Wright had wrist surgery recently and is still yet to make his season debut.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Said After Series Loss to Kent State

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

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast previewing the 2026 season, click HERE.

VIDEO: Josh Elander Reacts to Series Loss to Kent State

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

CF Jay Abernathy (L)

3B Henry Ford (R)

C Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

P/DH Blaine Brown (L)

LF Tyler Myatt (L)

2B Finley Bates (R)

1B Hunter High (R)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Lots of changes.
• Hunter High with a start at first base as Clark moves behind the plate. No Stone.
• Myatt with his first OF start of the season. Blaine Brown at DH, also opening the game at pitcher.
• Finley Bates with his second straight infield start.
• Antigua at short. No Newstrom or Manny.

BELLARMINE STARTING NINE: 

SS Landon Akers (R)

RF Eli Watson (R)

1B AJ Swader (R)

3B Luke Scales (R)

C Mason Acton (R)

DH Charlie Rife (R)

CF Luca Hoerger (R)

LF Cole Huett (R)

2B Jake Bell (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. LHP Blaine Brown (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 0.00 batting avg.)

vs.

Knights RHP Deaton Oak (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 XBH, 1.20 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Brown will open his second straight midweek. He logged a 1-2-3 inning with 3 Ks in the first last week.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Midweek pinstripes

Bellarmine: Black tops, grey pants

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is NOT in effect.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Landon Akers flies out to CF.

-Eli Watson strikes out swinging.

-AJ Swader singles to right field.

-Luke Scales walked on four pitches. Swader to second.

-Mason Acton strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford grounds out to 3B.

-Levi Clark doubles to left field.

-Reese Chapman is walked on four pitches.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Knights 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

*Brown to DH*

*Fr. LHP Cameron Appenzeller (1-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Brown*

-Charlie Rife is walked.

-Luca Hoerger reaches on a fielder’s choice to P. Rife out at second, 1-6.

-Cole Huett flies out to LF.

-Jake Bell grounds into a 5-4 fielder’s choice. Hoerger out at second.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Tyler Myatt doubles to center field.

-Finley Bates singles to 2B. Myatt to third.

-Hunter High sends a sac fly to LF. Myatt scores.

Bates caught stealing at second, 2-4.

-Ariel Antigua fouls out to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Knights 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Taylor Tracey (0-0, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Appenzeller*

-Landon Akers pops up to SS.

-Eli Watson pops up to SS.

-AJ Swader flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: RHP Aaron Ragat on to pitch for Oak*

-Jay Abernathy singles to right field.

-Henry Ford flies out to LF.

Abernathy steals second.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF. Abernathy to third.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Knights 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Luke Scales flies out to LF.

-Mason Acton grounds out to 2B.

-Charlie Rife flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Pitching change: RHP Karl Ralamb on to pitch for Ragat*

-Blaine Brown flies out to RF.

-Tyler Myatt grounds out to SS.

-Finley Bates grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Knights 0

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: So. RHP Nic Abraham (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Tracey*

-Luca Hoerger pops up to SS.

-Cole Huett singles up the middle.

Huett out at first, picked off 1-3.

-Jake Bell singles to SS.

• Great stop by Ariel. Almost made a phenomenal play.

-Landon Akers grounds out to 3B.

• Really nice play be Henry Ford.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: RHP Chase Carver on to pitch for Ralamb*

-Hunter High flies out to LF.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to SS.

-Jay Abernathy singles up the middle.

Abernathy steals second.

-Henry Ford pops up to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Knights 0

6th Inning: 

T6

*Manny Marin to SS for Ariel Antigua*

*Chris Newstrom to 2B for Finley Bates*

-Eli Watson flies out to LF.

-AJ Swader singles to right-center.

-Luke Scales pops up to 2B.

-Mason Acton flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: RHP Chase Camberlain on to pitch for Carver*

*Logan Murphy to C for Mason Acton*

-Levi Clark works a walk.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Myatt lines out to 2B.

• Incredible diving catch by Jake Bell. Robs Myatt of a base hit.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Knights 0

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Sawyer Deering (season debut) on to pitch for Abraham*

*Sawyer Pace pinch-hitting for Charlie Rife*

-Pace strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Luca Hoerger fouls out to 1B, pop up.

-Cole Huett out at first 1B to P.

• Really nice frame from Deering.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*LHP Evan Hart on to pitch for Chamberlain*

-Chris Newstrom works a leadoff walk.

-Hunter High reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Newstrom out at second, 5-4.

• Nice play by Bellarmine’s third baseman to back-hand the ball.

-Manny Marin ropes a two-run homer to left field. High scores.

• 1st HR of the season for Marin.
• 365 feet, 100 mph

-Jay Abernathy reaches on a bunt single to P.

-Henry Ford reaches on a fielding error by SS. Abernathy to second.

• Should have been a 6-4-3 double play. Bad mistake by short stop.

Runners steal second and third.

• Catcher did not throw because bags weren’t covered. Poor defense from Bellarmine.

-Levi Clark reaches on a fielding error by 3B. Ford to third. Abernathy scores on the error.

• Third baseman went to throw home and lost control. Another mistake from Bellarmine’s defense as Jay scores.
• Call was reviewed at third. Ford was SAFE as the call stood.

Ford scores on a wild pitch. Clark to third.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

-Blaine Brown hammers a three-run homer to right field.

• 343 feet, 100 mph
• 4th HR of the season for Brown and breaks an 0-14 slump at the plate.

*Pitching change: RHP Austin Egan on to pitch for Hart*

-Tyler Myatt singles to left field.

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to 1B unassisted. Myatt to second.

-Hunter High pops up to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Knights 0

8th Inning: 

T8

-Jake Bell is walked.

-Landon Akers singles to left field. Bell to second.

*Pitching change: LHP Mark Hindy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Deering*

-AJ Swader grounds out to 2B. Baserunners advance.

-Luke Scales grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Pitching change: RHP Cade Rusch (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Egan*

*Zac Jones to 3B for Luke Scales*

-Manny Marin singles to 3B.

*Nate Eisfelder pinch-hitting for Jay Abernathy*

-Nate Eisfelder strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford pops up to 2B.

-Levi Clark works a walk. Marin to second.

*Evan Hankins pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

-Hankins strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 8, Knights 0

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Chandler Day on to pitch for Hindy*

*Eisfelder to RF*

*Trent Grindlinger to C for Levi Clark*

*Garrett Wright to CF for Evan Hankins*

-Murphy lines out to LF.

*Gnardelli pinch-hitting for Pace*

-Gnardelli singles to SS,

Gnardelli advances to second on a wild pitch. 

-Hoerger singles to right field. Gnardelli to third.

-Cole Huett slaps an RBI single through the right side. Gnardelli scores. Hoerger to second.

-Jake Bell walked after a marathon at-bat.

• Bases loaded with one out for Landon Akers

-Landon Akers knocks a two-run single to left field. Bell to second. Huett and Hoerger score.

-Eli Watson grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

• Nice play by Tennessee’s defense.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 8, Knights 3

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 8, Bellarmine Knights 3

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