SCORE: Tennessee 7, Georgia 4 | FINAL

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No. 19 Tennessee baseball (13-4) is set to battle the No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs (15-3) Friday in game one of a three-game series at Foley Field.

First pitch in Athens is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

Game two will be televised on SEC Network at 5 p.m. ET. The series finale can be streamed on SEC Network + Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

For a full preview of the series, including pitching matchups, an in-depth look at Georgia and more, click HERE.

Friday’s game serves as the SEC opener for both Tennessee and Georgia. Tennessee hasn’t fared well in SEC-opening series in recent history, winning three of its eight conference-opening series during Tony Vitello’s tenure.

Tennessee enters the weekend having won seven of its past eight games. After a relatively uncompetitive loss to UCLA in Arlington, the Vols beat Arizona State and Virginia Tech, cruised past two midweek contests and won two of three over Wright State.

More From RTI: Tony Vitello’s Opening Night Game With the Giants Set To Be Streamed on Netflix

Despite the series win over Wright State, the weekend ended with a whimper as the Vols dropped the finale, 6-0.

Tennessee has struggled offensively this season, with the majority of its wins leaning on strong pitching in 1-2 run games. The Vols’ pitching staff has been great, ranking 16^th nationally in ERA (3.10) and eighth in the country in WHIP (1.05).

The staff will face its toughest challenge to date this weekend, however. Georgia ranks in the top five in batting average (.353), runs per game (11.4) and leads D1 in homers with 61.

While Tennessee’s best arms can seemingly go toe-to-toe with any offense in the country, the Vols’ offense must have a pulse in Athens if UT has any hope of winning the series.

Opponent Scout

Georgia is in its third year under head coach Wes Johnson. The Bulldogs are 1-1 in SEC opening series but Kentucky swept Georgia in Lexington two years ago.

This season, the Bulldogs’ elite offense has led the Dawgs to many dominant wins. Georgia has scored 10 or more runs in 13 contests and earned run-rule victories in 10.

Tennessee and Georgia have faced common opponents this year. Georgia bludgeoned Oakland in a 4-0 4-game series sweep and won two of three over Wright State including a run-rule series-opening victory.

The 15-3 Dawgs are without a doubt one of the top two toughest teams Tennessee will face to date (UCLA), and by the numbers, the toughest offense.

Below is more information on this year’s Georgia team courtesy UT Athletics.

• 2025 Record: 43-17 (18-12 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Athens Regional (1-2)
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 9^th
• Head Coach: Wes Johnson
  • Overall Record: 104-37 (3^rd year)
  • Record at UGA: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: N/A

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: Vols lead, 129-123
• In Knoxville: Vols lead, 73-51
• In Athens: Bulldogs lead, 72-53
• At Neutral Sites: Vols lead, 3-0
• Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 6-4

Prediction: Georgia wins by 2-4 runs

Tennessee’s performance against Tennessee Tech was encouraging Tuesday. If the corner has truly been turned for the offense, Tennessee should be favored in this weekend’s series.

But, with Georgia’s overwhelmingly powerful offense, the Bulldogs will able to score at least four or more runs in every game even against Tennessee’s strong pitching staff.

Can Tennessee’s offense keep up? Time will tell.

Injury/Availability Notes

• No injury notes. Garrett Wright is still working his way back to 100 percent from his hamate bone surgery, so it will be a bit before he catches.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said About Offensive Bounce Back Against Tennessee Tech

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 Details Midweek Win Over Tennessee Tech

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

Lineup Notes:

• Tyler Myatt starts at second base for the second straight game, over Ariel Antigua and Chris Newstrom.
• Manny Marin continues to see more opportunities. He’s been red-hot at the plate lately, recording a hit in each of his past six at-bats.
• Wright continues to leadoff. Expect to see that going forward, with Jay in the nine-hole.
  • READ WHY HERE.
• Lawless behind the plate to open the series. Blake Grimmer at first.
  • Leaving no space for Levi Clark, who remains in an early-season slump.
• Brown at 2-hole over Ford due to R, L, R at top of order.

GEORGIA STARTING NINE: 

1B Brennan Hudson (L)

3B Tre Phelps (R)

C Daniel Jackson (R)

DH Jordy Oriach (L)

LF Henry Allen (R)

RF Cole Johnson (L)

SS Kolby Branch (R)

2B Ryan Black (L)

CF Rylan Lujo (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (1-1, 3.09 ERA, 4 app., 4 starts, 23.1 IP, 17 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 20 K, 8 XBH, .198 opp. batting avg., .90 WHIP)

vs.

Bulldogs RHP Joey Volchko (4-0, 3.00 ERA, 4 app., 4 starts, 21.0 IP, 17 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 24 K, 3 XBH, .221 opp. batting avg., 1.19 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Kuhns continues to slot into the Friday night role. He faced a tough offense earlier this year in UCLA, striking out 10 but giving up three homers.
  • When Kuhns is on, he’s one of the better pitchers in the country. Tennessee needs him to be on tonight to get started off on the right foot for the series.
• Volchko has had a solid season but hasn’t faced stiff competition. Wright State has been Georgia’s toughest opponent.
  • Against WSU, Volchko gave up one run on two hits in 4.0 IP. No pitch count recorded.
  • Highest-recorded pitch count for Volchko this season is 88. Highest IP is 6.0 (twice).

Uniforms

Tennessee: Smokey Greys

Georgia: Black tops, white pants

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Georgia leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Blaine Brown slaps a single to left field.

-Henry Ford strikes out looking.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Brennan Hudson strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• 97 mph for strike three.

-Tre Phelps strikes out swinging.

-Daniel Jackson strikes out swinging.

• Great first frame for Kuhns. Slider working well and fastball up to 98 mph.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.

• Great play by Kolby Branch. Lays out to make the diving stop in the gap then even a better throw to first. A dart to beat Chapman.

-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Myatt singles to 2B.

• Good stop by 2B Ryan Black to keep it in the infield but can’t make the throw in time.

-Manny Marin flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Jordy Oriach grounds out to SS up the middle.

• Hit into the shift.

-Henry Allen pops up to SS.

-Cole Johnson grounds out to 2B in shallow right field.

• One of the best defensive highlights for Tennessee this season. Dove to make the stop in shallow right then fires the throw to first in time. What a play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Bulldogs 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Jay Abernathy rips a single to right field.

-Garrett Wright drives a double to right-center. Abernathy to third.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford delivers a two-run single to right-center.

Ford caught stealing, 2-6.

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

-Reese Chapman reaches on catcher’s interference. Grimmer to second.

-Stone Lawless strikes out looking.

• Huge inning for Tennessee’s offense. Made Georgia starter Joey Volchko throw 30 pitches in the frame after he threw 14 in the first and 14 in the second.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Kolby Branch flies out to CF.

-Ryan Black strikes out swinging.

-Rylan Lujo pops up to SS in left field.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0

4th Inning: 

T4

-Tyler Myatt strikes out swinging.

• Volchko wins the 7-pitch battle.

-Manny Marin pops up to 3B.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.

• Really nice charge and throw by Ryan Black to end the inning.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Brennan Hudson strikes out swinging.

-Tre Phelps singles through the left side.

-Daniel Jackson flares a single into center. Phelps to second.

-Jordy Oriach pops up to RF.

-Henry Allen grounds out to 2B.

• Nice job by Kuhns to work out of the jam. Georgia made him work that inning, though, throwing 23 pitches to bring his game total to 53.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 0

5th Inning: 

T5

-Garrett Wright pops up to 2B.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

-Henry Ford flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Cole Johnson strikes out swinging.

• Kuhns wins the 7-pitch battle. 6th K for Kuhns tonight.

-Kolby Branch grounds out to 3B.

• Smoot play by Ford. Really pretty throw on the run.

-Ryan Black lifts a solo homer to right-center field.

• Just gets over the wall.

-Rylan Lujo singles to left field.

• Wins the battle after a 9-pitch at-bat and flips the lineup.

Lujo steals second.

• Stone went to throw to second but the ball got away from him on the exchange.

-Brennan Hudson laces an RBI single into right field. Lujo scores.

-Tre Phelps smacks a double to left-center. Hudson to third.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick (3-0, 3.38 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*

-Daniel Jackson sends a two-run single up the middle.

• Five straight two-out hits for Georgia.

Jackson steals second.

-Jordy Oriach is walked.

• All 9 have come up to bat for Georgia this inning.

*Pitching change: R-Jr. LHP Brandon Arvidson (0-0, 3.86 ERA) in to pitch for Frederick*

-Henry Allen flies out to CF.

–FINAL LINE for Tegan Kuhns: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 XBH, 61 strikes on 86 total pitches–

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Bulldogs 4

6th Inning: 

T6

-Blake Grimmer skirts a single up the middle.

-Reese Chapman works a walk. Grimmer to second.

*Pitching change: RHP Justin Byrd (0-0, 1.88 ERA) on to pitch for Volchko*

-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Myatt grounds out to 3B. Baserunners advance.

• Excellent play by Tre Phelps to charge the difficult hopper. Great throw, too. Some good defense from Georgia.

-Manny Marin smacks a two-run double to right field.

• Over the right fielder’s head into the wall.

-Jay Abernathy pops up to SS in shallow center.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Cole Johnson is walked.

Johnson steals second.

-Kolby Branch pops up to 1B.

-Ryan Black strikes out looking.

-Rylan Lujo grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Bulldogs 4

7th Inning: 

T7

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging.

-Blaine Brown flies out to LF.

-Henry Ford ropes a solo homer to left field.

• Ford’s 7th HR of the season.
• 381 feet, 109 mph

-Blake Grimmer fouls out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Brennan Hudson slaps a single to left field.

-Tre Phelps strikes out swinging.

-Daniel Jackson grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Bulldogs 4

8th Inning: 

T8

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Stone Lawless powers a solo homer to left field.

• No doubter
• 377 feet, 101 mph
• Lawless’ 3rd HR of the season.
• Lawless was 0-3 with 3 K before the homer.

-Tyler Myatt grounds out to SS.

-Manny Marin smokes a solo homer to left field.

• Marin’s 3rd HR of the season.
• 373 feet, 98 mph

-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Tyler Myatt*

-Jordy Oriach grounds out to SS.

• Great play by Manny Marin. Crossbody throw was elite.

-Henry Allen is walked.

-Cole Johnson strikes out swinging.

-Kolby Branch strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Bulldogs 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Garrett Wright flies out to LF.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Henry Ford strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

*Cole Koniarsky pinch-hitting for Ryan Black*

-Cole Koniarsky singles to left field.

*Ryan Wynn pinch-running for Koniarsky*

-Rylan Lujo grounds out to 3B. Wynn to second.

-Brennan Hudson flies out to CF.

-Tre Phelps grounds out to SS.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Bulldogs 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, Georgia Bulldogs 4