SCORE: Tennessee 5, Wright State 4 | FINAL

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No. 19 Tennessee baseball (11-3) is set to host the Wright State Raiders (4-7) Friday in game two of a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

First pitch in Knoxville is at 3:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

All three games this weekend will stream on SEC Network +. Game two’s first pitch time was originally slated for 6 p.m. ET but was moved up due to inclement weather expected in the Knoxville area Saturday. More details HERE.

For a full preview of the Wright State series, including first pitch times, projected pitching matchups, series history and top questions, click HERE.

Tennessee enters Saturday coming off a thrilling 4-3 walk-off win Friday. Manny Marin provided the game-winning swing, faking a bunt before slashing an RBI hit up the middle to score Garrett Wright.

Watch the walk-off hit HERE.

Tennessee had many big moments in Friday’s thrilling win as Jay Abernathy provided several key moments as well. HERE is a look inside Tennessee’s three big moments in the series-opening victory.

On the mound, Tegan Kuhns was solid but far from his best in a 5.0-inning start. Brady Frederick was elite out of the bullpen in the ninth and Brandon Arvidson did his part in 2.0 innings of relief.

Read the full recap from Friday’s win below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Walks Off Series Opener Against Wright State

Friday’s win brings Tennessee’s winning streak to five games, with quality victories over Arizona State, Virginia Tech and above-average SoCon team ETSU before handling Oakland in a Wednesday midweek contest in the past week.

Prior to Tennessee’s win over Arizona State last Saturday, the Vols had lost three of their past four and had a three-game weekend losing streak. The ASU game was a pivotal moment early in the season as Tennessee had displayed sloppy defense, poor offense and weak bullpen pitching the majority of February.

But the winning streak has Tennessee back on track and looking to finish its non-conference slate on a high note.

Opponent Scout

After making it to a regional —and eliminating Vanderbilt— a season ago, Wright State has gotten off to a slower start this season. The Raiders entered the weekend 4-6 and have faced a couple opponents that Tennessee has faced, or will face, this season.

Wright State dropped two of three games against Georgia. It suffered blowout defeats in games one and two before winning a tight series finale. The Raiders blew out Kent State in a midweek matchup.

In its two other series, Wright State went winless against Charlotte and won two of three games against Campbell. Pitching was shaky for Wright State in the series, especially in games one and game two.

• 2025 Record: 40-21 (25-5 Horizon)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Nashville Regional (2-2)
• 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll: 1^st  
• Head Coach: Alex Sogard
  • Overall Record: 228-140 (8^th year)
  • Record at WSU: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: No Team Selected

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: UT leads, 3-2
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 3-2
• In Dayton & at Neutral Sites: N/A
• Last Meeting: June 4, 2021 (W, 9-8 – NCAA Regional)

Info in italics courtesy UT Athletics

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 2-3

Tennessee’s games with Landon Mack on the mound have been low scoring. Mack can allow a good amount of hits but never lets things spiral.

Mack and the relief pitching bring Tennessee to another win as it clinches the series.

Injury/Availability Notes

• Blake Grimmer and Garrett Wright are BACK as they made their starting lineup debuts Wednesday.
• Both were in the lineup Friday and are again Saturday. Grimmer homered and Wright went 2-3 Friday.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said Following Walk-Off Win Over Wright 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 Discusses Thrilling Series-Opening Win Over Wright 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)

DH Blaine Brown (L)

1B Blake Grimmer (L)

LF Garrett Wright (R)

C Stone Lawless (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

2B Chris Newstrom (R)

SS Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• Grimmer and Wright remain in the lineup. Both have been hot since returning to action Wednesday.
• Newstrom gets the nod at 2B after not being in the lineup Friday.
• Abernathy moves back to center, Wright slides to left, Blaine to DH.
• Ariel Antigua remains in the lineup at SS. No Manny Marin despite his walk-off hit Friday. A surprise.
• Lawless remains behind the plate. NO LEVI CLARK as Blake Grimmer occupies first base. Clark has been struggling at the plate, hitting .079 when he plays first base.
• Would not be a surprise to see Levi Clark catch Sunday.

WRIGHT STATE STARTING NINE: 

DH Gus Gregory (L)

CF Andrew Duncan (R)

2B Hunter Warren (R)

LF JP Peltier (R)

SS Braylen Blomquist (L)

3B Patrick Fultz (L)

RF Cy Turner (L)

C Nate Manley (R)

1B Keegan Holmstrom (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (2-1, 2.04 ERA, 3 app., 3 starts, 17.2 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 25 K, 4 XBH, .224 opp. batting avg., 1.13 WHIP)

vs.

Wright State Jr. LHP Griffen Paige (0-2, 6.17 ERA, 11.2 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 7 BB, 9 K, 4 XBH, .244 opp. batting avg., 1.54 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Mack stays in his day two role and looks to keep his strong season going.
  • Mack has been prone to allow several hits in his outings but has been brilliant in jams. Command has also been superb.
• Paige is off to a rough start this season. Longest outing is 4.1 innings.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants

Wright State: Grey on grey with green accents.

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is IN EFFECT all weekend. If Tennessee or Wright State lead by 10 runs in M7 or later, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Gus Gregory works a leadoff walk.

• Battled back from 0-2.

-Andrew Duncan drives a double to right-center. Gregory to third.

• Reese dove for it but couldn’t get his glove on it.

-Hunter Warren chops an RBI groundout to 2B. Duncan to third.

-JP Peltier works a walk.

-Braylen Blomquist reaches on a 5-6 RBI fielder’s choice. Duncan scores. Peltier out at second.

Blomquist picked off at first, 1-3.

• Mack’s pickoff move is a strength of his. He tried it multiple times in the first inning and finally gets a big out with it.
• Wright State challenged the ruling but the call was upheld.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to SS.

-Henry Ford singles up the middle.

-Blaine Brown reaches on catcher’s interference. Ford to second.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Garrett Wright flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Raiders 2

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Patrick Fultz grounds out to P.

-Cy Turner grounds out to 3B.

• Really nice play by Henry Ford. Tricky hopper to field and a great throw to first.

-Nate Manley strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Reese Chapman crushes a solo homer to right field.

• 371 feet, 109 mph.
• Landed on top of the video board.
• Chapman’s 1st HR of the season.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to 3B.

-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging.

-Ariel Antigua flies out to CF in right-center.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Raiders 2

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Keegan Holmstrom fouls out to LF.

• Nice job by Garrett Wright to sprint over and make the catch at the net.’

-Gus Gregory slaps a single to left field.

-Andrew Duncan strikes out swinging.

-Hunter Warren grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford grounds out to 3B.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Raiders 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-JP Peltier strikes out swinging.

-Braylen Blomquist grounds out to SS.

• Amazing play by Ariel Antigua making the charge.

-Patrick Fultz works a walk.

• Wins a long battle after a 10-pitch at-bat.

-Cy Turner singles to 3B. Fultz to second.

• Was initially ruled an error. Ford leapt to try and make the catch but couldn’t corral it cleanly. Did hit him in the glove though and would have been a tough throw.

-Nate Manley strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Blake Grimmer is walked on four pitches.

-Garrett Wright doubles down the LF line. Grimmer to third.

-Reese Chapman smokes a two-run double off the right-field wall.

-Stone Lawless pops up to SS.

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to 2B. Chapman to third.

• Great play by Hunter Warren to get to the ball up the middle.

-Ariel Antigua flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Raiders 2

5th Inning: 

T5

*Cam Appenzeller warming up in the bullpen*

-Keegan Holmstrom strikes out looking.

-Gus Gregory works a walk.

-Andrew Duncan grounds into a 6-3 double play.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Jay Abernathy works a leadoff walk.

-Henry Ford powers a two-run homer to left field.

• 412 feet, 101 mph.
• Ford’s 5th HR of the season.
• No doubter. Stayed fair and went to the upper deck of the porches.

-Blaine Brown singles to 1B.

• 113 mph off the bat right to him. Ate up the first baseman.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Cooper Gilkerson (0-0, 2.08 ERA) on to pitch for Paige*

Brown steals second.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Garrett Wright flies out to LF.

-Reese Chapman singles through the right side, advances to second on the throw.

• Chapman rounded first to try and allow Brown to score. Some bad defense leads to both safe at second and third.

-Stone Lawless flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Raiders 2

6th Inning: 

T6

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller (2-0, 1.64 ERA) on to pitch for Mack*

-Hunter Warren doubles to left-center.

-JP Peltier strikes out swinging.

-Braylen Blomquist singles up the middle. Warren to third.

-Patrick Fultz bounces an RBI groundout to P. Warren scores. Blomquist to second.

-Cy Turner drops an RBI single into right field. Blomquist scores.

-Nate Manley grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Chris Newstrom grounds out to P.

-Ariel Antigua fouls out to C on a bunt.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Raiders 4

7th Inning: 

T7

-Keegan Holmstrom singles to left-center.

-Gus Gregory grounds into a 5-6-3 double play.

• Wright State challenged the call at second and the play stood. Ariel has helped turn two double plays today.

-Andrew Duncan grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Henry Ford singles to left field.

*Pitching change: So. LHP JJ Thompson (1-1, 11.05 ERA) on to pitch for Gilkerson*

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

-Garrett Wright HBP.

• Bases loaded for red-hot Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman grounds into a 4-6-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Raiders 4

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: So. RHP Brayden Krenzel (0-0, 3.00 ERA) on to pitch for Appenzeller*

-Hunter Warren strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-JP Peltier grounds out to 1B.

• Right to Grimmer.

-Braylen Blomquist singles to 1B.

• Slow roller and Blomquist beats Krenzel to the bag, preventing the 3-1 putout.
• Thought Krenzel could’ve been quicker trying to make the play.

-Patrick Fultz strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Stone Lawless grounds out to 3B.

-Chris Newstrom flies out to LF.

-Ariel Antigua doubles down the LF line.

Antigua advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Jay Abernathy works a walk.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Cooper Ashby (0-0, 2.70 ERA) on to pitch for Thompson*

-Henry Ford grounds into a 5-4 fielder’s choice.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Raiders 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Cy Turner strikes out looking.

-Cam Gilkerson strikes out looking.

-Keegan Holmstrom grounds out to P.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 5, Raiders 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Wright State Raiders 4