SCORE: Tennessee 4, LSU 1 | FINAL (Series tied 1-1)
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Tennessee baseball (19-11, 3-7 SEC) is set to host the LSU Tigers (21-10, 5-5 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game series in Knoxville.
First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
For a full preview of the series, including first pitch times and broadcast details for all three games, click here.
Tennessee enters Saturday coming off another gut-wrenching loss, as the Vols lost the series opener 7-5 to the Tigers. LSU hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth against Bo Rhudy after Brandon Arvidson walked the bases loaded.
The loss hurts even more considering the fact that Landon Mack was brilliant in a 7.0-inning start, allowing one run and striking out 10. Reese Chapman, Levi Clark and Blake Grimmer homered in the defeat, but the Vols’ offense struggled with situational hitting again, going 0-8 with RISP.
RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Blows Late Lead In Series Opener Against LSU
Tennessee head coach Josh Elander took blame for the eighth-inning pitching decisions which caused things to spiral for the Vols. Read Elander’s comments HERE.
Friday night’s defeat marks the fourth straight for Tennessee, as UT got swept last weekend at Vanderbilt. All three losses at Vanderbilt were via walk-offs, so Tennessee could have easily won its past four SEC contests.
Before the LSU series, Tennessee handled Austin Peay Tuesday with a 13-4 midweek win.
The LSU series is a big one for Tennessee. At 3-6 in league play entering the weekend, the Vols must get back on track sooner rather than later, and LSU is mediocre this season. With the series at home, it’s a good time to begin righting the ship.
But after four straight heartbreaking losses in conference, it may become tougher and tougher for Tennessee to get off the mat.
Opponent Scout
LSU started the season 8-0 but things have gotten shaky since. The Tigers went 4-5 in their final nine games before the start of SEC play including a series loss against Sacramento State.
SEC play started in similarly poor fashion with Vanderbilt winning two of three games over LSU in Nashville. The Tigers then went on the road and dropped two out of three games at Oklahoma.
LSU seemed to steady the ship last week, winning the final two games of its series against Kentucky after dropping the opener. The Tigers enter the weekend 4-5 in SEC play and are looking to continue their momentum from last weekend while Tennessee looks to regroup after a brutal weekend at Vanderbilt.
- 2025 Record: 53-15 (19-11 SEC)
- 2025 Postseason: MCWS (National Champions)
- 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 1st
- Head Coach: Jay Johnson
- Overall Record: 527-259 (14th year)
- Record at LSU: 210-87 (5th year)
- Preseason All-Conference Selections (5):
- OF Derek Curiel (1st team), SP Casan Evans (1st team), RP Zac Cowan (1st team), SS Steven Milam (2nd team), OF Jake Brown (2nd team)
SERIES HISTORY:
- Overall: LSU leads, 66-34
- In Knoxville: UT leads, 21-21
- In Baton Rouge: LSU leads, 40-10
- At Neutral Sites: LSU leads, 5-3
- Last 10 Meetings (before the series): UT leads, 6-4
- Last Meeting: April 27, 2025 (L, 12-2 in Baton Rouge)
- Tennessee had won eight straight games against LSU in Knoxville dating back to 2021.
Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics
POLLS
Below is where Tennessee is ranked in various preseason polls.
- D1 Baseball: Unranked (Last week: 21)
- D1 Baseball rankings will be referenced by RTI all season.
- Baseball America: Unranked (Last week: 20)
- Perfect Game: Unranked (Last week: 21)
- USA Today Coaches Poll: Unranked (Last ranked: 21)
- NCBWA: Unranked (Last week: 23)
Prediction: LSU wins series
Tennessee needs to win this series, but at the bare minimum it needs to take one. With the Vols’ lack of consistency offensively, and growing concerns about the bullpen depth beyond a few arms, I’ll say LSU wins a close series in Knoxville.
Injury/Availability Notes
- Garrett Wright back being able to catch after hamate surgery before the season. He will catch Saturday after Levi Clark caught Friday. Clark will catch Sunday.
- Stone Lawless won’t be available for the foreseeable future. He took an 89 mph pitch to the face Sunday.
- Ariel Antigua is still managing a banged up shoulder but he hasn’t been unavailable.
- VolQuest’s Eric Cain reported freshman INF Evan Hankins is OUT for the season with a knee injury.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Josh Elander Said After Series Opener Loss Against LSU
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: Elite Defensive Play From Tennessee Baseball Outfielder Runner-Up in SportsCenter Top 10 Plays
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
C Garrett Wright (R)
LF Blaine Brown (L)
3B Henry Ford (R)
2B Blake Grimmer (L)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
SS Manny Marin (R)
DH Trent Grindlinger (R)
1B Levi Clark (R)
CF Jay Abernathy (L)
Lineup Notes:
- Wright catching after Clark caught Friday. Clark will catch Sunday. Wright made his catching debut in Tuesday’s midweek win over APSU.
- Grindlinger remains in the DH spot as he’s made the most of his opportunities.
- Grimmer to second with Clark moving to first. No Tyler Myatt, Antigua or Newstrom.
- Jay Abernathy occupying center with Wright behind the plate.
- 1-6 remain in the same order.
LSU STARTING NINE:
SS Steven Milam (S)
RF Jake Brown (L)
DH Omar Serna Jr. (R)
CF Derek Curiel (L)
3B John Pearson (R)
2B Seth Dardar (L)
LF Chris Stanfield (R)
1B Zach Yorke (L)
C Cade Arrambide (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (1-3, 4.08 ERA, 7 app., 6 starts, 35.1 IP, 34 H, 18 R, 16 ER, 6 BB, 46 K, 13 XBH, .246 opp. batting avg., 1.13 WHIP)
vs.
Tigers So. RHP William Schmidt (4-1, 2.55 ERA, 7 app., 7 starts, 35.1 IP, 29 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 11 BB, 49 K, 7 XBH, .220 opp. batting avg.)
Lineup Notes:
- Kuhns is back in the starting rotation after being in the bullpen for one week. Brandon Arvidson started last Friday and Kuhns came out of the bullpen, pitching very well in 4.1 innings despite taking the loss.
- Arvidson returned to his bullpen role Friday, walking the bases loaded before recording an out against his fourth and final batter in the eighth against LSU on Friday.
- Expect Cam Appenzeller to be first out of the bullpen today.
- Schmidt has been LSU’s Saturday guy for the last three weeks. Pitched Sundays before that.
- Schmidt is coming off back to back strong outings, allowing one run in 9.1 innings across his last two starts against OU and Kentucky.
- His worst outings have come against Sac State (4 R in 5.2 IP) Vandy (3 R, 3 BB in 4.0 IP) and Milwaukee (3 R, 3 BB in 4.0 IP)
- Not a dominant pitcher. Consistently throws around 90 pitches per outing.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Dark Mode
LSU: All greys with purple caps and accents
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or LSU leads by 10 or more runs at the end of the 7th inning or later, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Steven Milam lines out to RF.
- 7-pitch at-bat.
-Jake Brown grounds out to 2B.
-Omar Serna Jr. grounds out to SS.
- 13-pitch inning. Quick ABs after Milam.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Garrett Wright works a leadoff walk.
-Blaine Brown chops a single through the right side. Wright to third.
-Henry Ford strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Blake Grimmer reaches on a fielding error by 1B, RBI. Wright scores, earned. Brown scores on the error, unearned. Grimmer advances to second.
- Ball wasn’t hit that hard but gets passed Yorke, under his legs. Costly mistake as Tennessee scores two.
-Reese Chapman flies out to RF.
-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Derek Curiel singles to left field.
-John Pearson drops a single into center.
- Both singles shallowly hit into no mans land.
-Seth Dardar strikes out swinging.
-Chris Stanfield knocks an RBI single up the middle. Pearson to second. Curiel scores.
- Hit off of Tegan. Looked like his shoulder area. Potentially shoulder blade area.
- Kuhns was checked out for a minute but is staying in the game. Almost hit him in the head. Avoided worst case scenario.
-Zach Yorke infield fly to SS.
-Cade Arrambide works a walk.
- Close call on the 3-2 pitch. Guess the home plate ump thought it was high and inside.
-Steven Milam flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Trent Grindlinger fouls out to RF.
- Good catch by Jake Brown all the way at the net.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking, reaches first on a passed ball.
-Garrett Wright grounds out to SS.
- Smooth play by Steven Milam. Back-handed it and fired to first.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Tigers 1
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jake Brown grounds out to 2B.
- Hit into the shift. Has hit into the shift both of his ABs to Grimmer.
-Omar Serna Jr. grounds out to 3B.
- Nice play by Ford. Fielded a ball that was really Manny’s to get but does a nice turn and throw.
-Derek Curiel singles to center.
-John Pearson flies out to LF at the warning track.
- Ball was hit a mile high. Wind kept it in. Brown stood at warning track the whole time.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Henry Ford flies out to CF.
-Blake Grimmer hammers a solo homer to right field.
- Knew it was gone off the bat.
- 5th HR of the season.
- 374 feet, 105 mph.
-Reese Chapman pops up to 2B in shallow right field.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Tigers 1
4th Inning:
T4
-Seth Dardar grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Chris Stanfield grounds out to SS.
-Zach Yorke flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Manny Marin is walked on four pitches.
-Trent Grindlinger reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Marin out at second, 5-4.
-Levi Clark flies out to RF.
Grindlinger advances to second on a passed ball.
-Jay Abernathy drives an RBI double into right field. Grindlinger scores.
- Passed ball proves costly.
-Garrett Wright grounds out to SS.
- Another really smooth play from Milam.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
5th Inning:
T5
-Cade Arrambide works a leadoff walk.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller (3-0, 1.37 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*
-Steven Milam singles through the right side. Arrambide to second.
-Jake Brown grounds out to 2B. Baserunners advance to second and third.
-Omar Serna Jr. fouls out to 1B.
-Derek Curiel strikes out looking.
- Curiel took a timeout mid at-bat. Appenzeller wins the 7-pitch battle and he is FIRED up afterward.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.
-Henry Ford flies out to CF.
-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.
- First time Tennessee has gone down in order today.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
6th Inning:
T6
-John Pearson strikes out swinging.
-Seth Dardar strikes out looking.
-Chris Stanfield flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Manny Marin flies out to LF.
-Trent Grindlinger works a walk.
- Great AB from Grindlinger. 9-pitch at-bat.
-Levi Clark HBP. Grindlinger to second.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Cooper Williams (1-1, 8.74 ERA) in to pitch for Schmidt*
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.
- Rough strike three to watch. Right down the middle at around 90 mph.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
7th Inning:
T7
-Zach Yorke grounds out to SS up the middle.
- Hit into the shift.
-Cade Arrambide flies out to CF.
-Steven Milam strikes out swinging.
- Wins a long battle, 8-pitch at-bat. Milam fouled off four pitches.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Garrett Wright works a six-pitch walk.
Wright advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.
-Henry Ford intentionally walked.
-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 1B unassisted. Baserunners advance.
-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
8th Inning:
T8
-Jake Brown grounds out to 2B.
- Hit into the shift again, same place for 3rd time tonight.
-Omar Serna Jr. pops up to P.
-Derek Curiel strikes out swinging.
- Appenzeller has retired 12 straight
END OF TOP HALF
B8
*Pitching change: RHP Marcos Paz (0-1, 8.10 ERA) in to pitch for Williams*
-Manny Marin flies out to CF.
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 3B.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
- 8-pitch at-bat.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
9th Inning:
T9
*Grimmer to 1B*
*Chris Newstrom to 2B for Levi Clark*
-John Pearson grounds out to 3B.
-Seth Dardar strikes out swinging.
-Chris Stanfield flies out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Tigers 1
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 4, LSU Tigers 1 (Series tied 1-1)
