SCORE: Tennessee 4, Missouri 8 | B9

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No. 22 Tennessee baseball (15-6, 1-2 SEC) is set to host the Missouri Tigers (15-6, 0-3 SEC) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Knoxville.

First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network +.

All three games will be streamed on SEC Network + this weekend. For a full preview of the series, including information on Missouri, pitching matchup, first-pitch times and more, click HERE.

Tennessee enters the weekend coming off a stress-free 10-3 midweek win over Eastern Kentucky. Before Tuesday, the Vols dropped two-of-three last weekend in Georgia to open SEC play.

The Vols picked up an incredibly impressive 7-4 series-opening win Friday before falling just short in a 4-2 game two loss to even the series.

Sunday, Tennessee led 5-0 after the first three innings but Georgia completed the comeback with a 5-run 7th inning to win 8-7. Stone Lawless was inches away from a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth, but Georgia right fielder Cole Johnson made an incredible catch to end the game.

Four takeaways from Tennessee’s SEC-opening series loss to Georgia are below.

GEORGIA SERIES TAKEAWAYS: Four Takeaways From Tennessee Baseball’s Series Loss At Georgia

Despite the series loss, Tennessee’s offense showed more consistency last weekend after it had struggled throughout the first month of the season. Additionally, Tennessee’s pitching staff has put together a very strong start to the season.

Missouri is the worst team in the SEC. Tennessee has a great opportunity to earn multiple SEC wins this weekend.

Opponent Scout

Missouri was swept in its first SEC series against Auburn on the road. The Tigers had a very manageable non-conference slate, including a series win over Mount St. Mary’s and series sweeps against New Haven, UIC and North Dakota State.

Mizzou has dropped a pair of midweek contests to Southern Indiana and Kansas, the latter of which came Tuesday in a 10-0 run-rule defeat.

Missouri’s pitching was very good last weekend in Auburn on Friday and Saturday but struggled Sunday allowing nine runs. The Tigers have struggled most offensively, with the Friday starting nine having tallied just 13 home runs on the season. The team has totaled 19 on the year.

• 2025 Record: 16-39 (3-27 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: N/A
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 16^th
• Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson
  • Overall Record: 130-172 (7^th year)
  • Record at MU: 54-77 (3^rd year)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections: None

SERIES HISTORY:

• Overall: Mizzou leads, 17-16
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 10-8
• In Columbia: Mizzou leads, 9-6
• Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
• Last Meeting: April 27, 2024 (W, 3-2 in Knoxville)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins by 3-5 runs | Tennessee sweeps series

Tennessee doesn’t blow out Missouri to open the series but takes care of business against a weak Tigers squad in the first of three wins this weekend.

Since 2018, Tennessee is 7-0 in the first home SEC series of the season, including five sweeps and a 19-2 overall record. It will be 8-0 after this weekend.

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 Josh Elander Said Following Tennessee Baseball Win Over Eastern Kentucky

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 Recaps Tennessee Baseball’s Midweek Win Over Eastern Kentucky

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:

• Ariel Antigua gets the 2B start to open the weekend as he continues to compete with Chris Newstrom and Tyler Myatt for the role.
• Jay Abernathy moves back to CF after starting at 2B Tuesday. Wright moves back to LF.
• Lawless behind the plate to open the series. Levi Clark will start there Sunday in all likelihood.
• Ford back in the lineup after missing Tuesday with an illness.

MISSOURI STARTING NINE: 

LF Cameron Benson (L)

DH Jase Woita (R)

RF Pierre Seals (R)

CF Kaden Peer (L)

SS Kam Durnin (R)

C Mateo Serna (S)

2B Blaize Ward (L)

3B Keegan Knutson (R)

1B Tyler Macon (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 28.0 IP, 23 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 4 BB, 35 K, 10 XBH, .217 opp. batting avg., 0.96 WHIP)

vs.

Tigers Gr-Sr. LHP Javyn Pimental (2-0, 3.52 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 23 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 11 BB, 23 K, 5 XBH, .182 opp. batting avg., 1.09 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Kuhns was incredible last week until things spiraled in the 5th inning. His highs have been unbelievable but he’s yet to put together a long and complete dominant outing.
• Pimental has been Mizzou’s Friday night guy so far this year. Did well last week against Auburn (3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K in 6.0 IP) despite the Tigers’ loss.
  • 6.0 IP was the most Pimental’s tossed this year. 96 is highest pitch count. Has walked three batters in each of his past three contests.
  • Struggled GREATLY two weeks ago against UIC (2 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 1 K in 1.1 IP)
  • Pimental missed last year with Tommy John.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Icy Whites

Missouri: Black tops, white pants with yellow accents.

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*NOTES*

• Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Missouri leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Cameron Benson strikes out swinging.

-Jase Woita strikes out looking.

-Pierre Seals drops a single into shallow center.

Seals steals second.

-Kaden Peer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Garrett Wright flies out to RF.

-Blaine Brown lines out to 3B in the 3.5-hole.

• Into the shift. Soft lineout.

-Henry Ford singles through the right side.

-Blake Grimmer knocks a single to shallow center.

-Reese Chapman out at first 1B to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Tigers 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Kam Durnin works a walk.

• 5th walk for Kuhns this year. 8-pitch at-bat.

-Mateo Serna strikes out looking.

Durnin steals second.

• Kuhns attempted multiple pickoffs. Durnin eventually makes his way to second.

-Blaize Ward flies out to CF.

-Keegan Knutson pops up to SS in shallow left field.

• Kuhns at 40 pitches through two. 20 pitches in each frame.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Manny Marin flies out to RF.

-Stone Lawless flies out to RF.

-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Tigers 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Tyler Macon slaps a single to right-center.

**Several, several pickoff attempts from Tegan Kuhns tonight**

-Cameron Benson flies out to CF.

Macon steals second.

-Jase Woita rips an RBI double off the rop of the right-center wall. Macon steals second.

• 107 mph off the bat.

-Pierre Seals powers a two-run homer off the scoreboard.

• 103 mph, 354 feet.

-Kaden Peer reaches on a bunt single to P.

-Kam Durnin grounds out to SS. Peer to second.

-Mateo Serna strikes out looking.

• 25-pitch inning. At 65 through three.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to SS.

-Garrett Wright lays down a bunt single to P.

Wright reaches on a wild pitch.

-Blaine Brown is walked on four pitches.

-Henry Ford reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Brown to second. Wright out at third, 5U.

• Overslid the bag and was tagged out.

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Reese Chapman.

-Reese Chapman strikes out looking.

• Should have been ball three. High and inside. Bad call.
• 10-pitch at-bat.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Tigers 3

4th Inning: 

T4

-Blaize Ward leadoff double down the right-field line.

• Third straight inning with the leadoff man on.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick (4-0, 3.07 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*

-Keegan Knutson grounds out to P, sac bunt. Ward to third.

-Tyler Macon pops up to 2B. Runner stays at third.

-Cameron Benson grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

• Deep flyout.

-Stone Lawless rips a solo homer to left field.

• 4th HR of the season for Lawless.
• 101 mph, 375 feet.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to P on a bunt.

-Ariel Antigua grounds out to SS.

• TREMENDOUS play by shortstop Kam Durnin. Fielded the ball in the 5.5 hole and fired the cross-body throw on time.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 3

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jase Woita pops up to SS.

-Pierre Seals strikes out swinging.

-Kaden Peer singles off the pitcher.

-Kam Durnin sends a single to center.

-Mateo Serna HBP.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Blaize Ward.

-Blaize Ward lines a two-run single up the middle. Peer and Durnin score. Serna to second.

-Keegan Knutson flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP JD Dohrmann (1-1, 4.24 ERA) on to pitch for Pimental*

-Garrett Wright pops up to SS.

-Blaine Brown grounds out to P.

-Henry Ford works a walk.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Tigers 5

6th Inning: 

T6

*Pitching change: R-Jr. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 2.38 ERA) on to pitch for Frederick*

-Tyler Macon grounds out to 2B.

-Cameron Benson strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Jase Woita singles up the middle.

-Pierre Seals works a walk. Woita to second.

-Kaden Peer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Reese Chapman drills a ground-rule double to right field.

-Manny Marin singles to P.

• Pitcher tried to back-hand the ball but was unable to. Marin reaches as a result. Wasn’t very hard-hit so a good break for Tennessee.

-Stone Lawless strikes out swinging.

Marin steals second.

-Jay Abernathy sends an RBI groundout to 2B. Chapman scores. Marin to third.

*Tyler Myatt pinch-hitting for Ariel Antigua*

-Tyler Myatt ropes an RBI single to right field. Marin scores.

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Tigers 5

7th Inning: 

T7

-Kam Durnin strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Mateo Serna works a walk.

-Blaize Ward singles to center. Serna to second.

-Keegan Knutson launches a three-run homer to left field.

-Tyler Macon flies out to CF.

-Cameron Benson grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Blaine Brown smokes a solo homer to right field.

• 364 feet, 110 mph. Got out in a hurry
• Brown’s 7th HR of the season.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to RF.

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 8

8th Inning: 

T8

-Jase Woita grounds out to 2B.

-Pierre Seals lines out to RF.

-Kaden Peer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Manny Marin grounds out to 2B.

-Stone Lawless doubles to right field.

-Jay Abernathy out at first 3-1. Lawless to third.

-Tyler Myatt strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 8

9th Inning: 

T9

-Kam Durnin lines out to 3B.

-Mateo Serna strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Eric Maisonet lines out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

-Garrett Wright lines out to SS.

-Blaine Brown is walked on four pitches.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Isaiah Salas (0-0, 1.17 ERA) on to pitch for Dohrmann*

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

• Bases loaded for tying run Manny Marin.

*Pitching change: RHP Sam Rosand (1-2, 4.91 ERA) on to pitch for Salas*

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Tigers 8

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, Missouri Tigers 8