It wasn’t pretty, but Tennessee baseball survived its midweek clash with USC Upstate, 4-2, on Tuesday evening in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols nearly blew a late lead, but used a Blake Grimmer bomb to snag the win to advance to 18-7 on the season.
Here’s what happened in the win that filled the stadium with anxiety for the majority of the game.
Taylor Tracey Can’t Find Control in the First
After stringing together strong midweek outings, Tennessee went back to freshman Taylor Tracey to start against USC Upstate. However, this time, Tracey could never find control.
After walking the first two batters of the game, the Vols held a meeting at the mound to talk things over. Tracey forced a flyout the following at-bat, but walked the next to load the bases.
That made way for a ground ball to second, with the shift on and the defense out of position to turn two, to result in only one out and the runner at third to score. After starting the following at-bat with a ball, Tracey was pulled for Brady Frederick. The ETSU transfer cleaned things up and stopped the bleeding.
This now moves Tracey to a 2.19 ERA on the season, but he avoids a loss on his record.
Nic Abraham Leads Bullpen to Strong Showing
Frederick would stay in the game for 2.1 innings of work. He finished with a line of one allowed hit, one walk, no runs and four strikeouts.
Replacing him was sophomore Nic Abraham. The Vols called on him to eat up some innings while staying out of danger, and that’s exactly what he did. In 3.1 innings, he allowed just three hits, but no runs crossed. He gave up no free passes and struck out three batters, as well.
Two of Abraham’s three allowed hits came in the top of the seventh. After recording one out with two on, thanks to a bunt that rolled foul with two strikes, Bo Rhudy entered. He got out of the jam to keep it just a 1-0 game at the stretch.
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Bats Go Quiet Until the Seventh
While the pitching held USC Upstate to just its first inning run for the majority of the game, the Tennessee bats fell quiet. The Vols struggled to put up any production at the plate, often going down in order or stranding the only runner to reach in the inning.
That changed in the seventh, though it took a stroke of luck. After Manny Marin lined out to right, Trent Grindlinger drew a walk, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jay Abernathy came in to pinch run and was instantly tested. On a Levi Clark grounder to short, he was caught in a run-down. However, he survived long enough for everyone to reach safely after a miscue by USC Upstate.
Tyler Myatt then came in to pinch-hit for Ariel Antigua. He roped a line drive that one-hopped the wall in right, but it was close enough to being caught that the runners had to freeze. This loaded the bases for Blake Grimmer.
Grimmer would strike out, placing Blaine Brown at the plate with two outs and the bases juiced. He delivered, smacking a single into right-center that scored both Abernathy and Clark. This gave UT a 2-1 lead.
Vols Cough Up Lead in the Ninth
The lead created in the seventh didn’t last long. With the chance to put the game away and earn a win, Bo Rhudy stayed in the game. However, he allowed a double to the first batter. After striking out the second, another double scored the runner and tied the game up at two.
Rhudy had a passed ball go against him to put a runner on third with one out, and ended his night. Brayden Krenzel came on in relief.
Despite any ball in play potentially proving costly, Krenzel got out of it. He forced a bunt attempt to be popped up to first for the second out of the inning before landing a big blow with a strikeout to end the inning.
Blake Grimmer is the Hero
After a 0-for-4 start to the game, Blake Grimmer came up as the hero. Hitting lead-off and starting the game at second base before moving to first, he came up to the plate with two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game.
On the first pitch he saw, Grimmer drilled a ball to right-center that left in a hurry. The decisive blow scored himself and Chris Newstrom to walk it off.
This is now the third home run and fifth and sixth RBI of the season for Grimmer.
GRIM REAPER TAKING SOULS!
VOLS WIN!!!
📺 https://t.co/0C0Asb8vB6#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/lsbxKuiNzx
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) March 25, 2026
Final Box Score
Up Next
Tennessee now turns its attention to a critical SEC series. After besting Missouri at home, the Vols travel to Nashville to play in-state rival Vanderbilt, with all three games airing on national television.
Friday is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Saturday is at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Sunday is at noon ET on ESPN2.
