SCORE: Tennessee 12, Northern Kentucky 6 | FINAL
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Tennessee baseball (20-12, 4-8 SEC) is set to host the Northern Kentucky Norse (13-17, 6-6 Horizon) Tuesday in a midweek contest.
First pitch in Lindsey Nelson Stadium is at 6:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
Tennessee enters Tuesday coming off a series loss to LSU. The Vols lost games one and three, despite leading by three or more runs in each contest, and won game two.
The series finale was especially devastating for UT as the Vols mounted a 5-0 lead, but it slowly evaporated before LSU tied the game 5-5 in the ninth to force extras. The Tigers would then score a whopping 10 runs in the 12th inning to win 16-6 and claim the series. Read recaps of all three games below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Blows Late Lead In Series Opener Against LSU
GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Pitching Dominates In Series-Evening Victory Over LSU
GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Drops Series Rubber Match Against LSU In Extra Innings
Heartbreaking losses have become a troubling, common theme for Tennessee. The Vols aren’t suffering blowout losses but are blowing leads. UT lost all three games to Vanderbilt via walk-off two series ago. It led by five runs in a rubber match loss at Georgia. If Tennessee has hopes of reaching the postseason, the Vols have to find a way to finish games or extend leads. That starts with better bullpen pitching and more consistency offensively.
HORSES: Tennessee Baseball Needs Its ‘Horses To Run’ At Top Of Lineup
Opponent Scout
- 2025 Record: 31-25 (18-12 Horizon)
- 2025 Postseason: N/A
- 2026 Horizon League Preseason Poll: 3rd
- Head Coach: Dizzy Peyton
- Overall Record: 128-128 (5th year)
- Record at NKU: Same
- Preseason All-Conference Selections: No Preseason Team Selected
Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics
Prediction: Tennessee wins easily
Tennessee can struggle with any opponent given the nature of the offense, but the Vols have mostly hit the ball well in midweeks this season. They do so again en route to a stress-free Tuesday win.
Injury/Availability Notes
- 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 Following Extra-Innings Loss Against LSU
For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the LSU series loss, click HERE.
VIDEO: Josh Elander Reacts to Extra-Innings Loss to LSU in Series Rubber Match
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)
CF Reese Chapman (L)
3B Henry Ford (R)
2B Blake Grimmer (L)
DH Trent Grindlinger (R)
LF Blaine Brown (L)
1B Levi Clark (R)
SS Manny Marin (R)
RF Nate Eisfelder (R)
Lineup Notes:
- Wright moves to catcher. He started the midweek at catcher and game two of the LSU series.
- Clark moves to first, Grimmer to second as a result
- Grindlinger remains the starting DH, moves up in the order today. Marin moves down.
- Big change is Reese to center. Nate Eisfelder gets the nod in right field.
- No Abernathy, Newstrom, Antigua or Myatt.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY STARTING NINE:
CF Mark Nowak (R)
C Jake Paulick (R)
RF Josh Williams (L)
3B Pierce Bauerle (R)
2B Marcus Harrison (R)
DH Zach Pomatto (L)
1B Ethan Thomas (R)
SS Alex Brazer (R)
LF Hunter Friedberg (L)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Fr. RHP Ethan Baiotto (1-0, 5.63 ERA, 6 app., 1 start, 8.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 5 XBH, .294 opp. batting avg., 1.63 WHIP)
vs.
Norse RHP MJ Castaneda (1-0, 5.65 ERA, 9 app., 1 start, 14.1 IP, 17 H, 13 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 15 K, 9 XBH, .288 opp. batting avg., 1.53 WHIP)
Pitching Notes:
- Baiotto gets another midweek nod. He bounced back well after a rough first couple batters last week.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Icy Whites
Northern Kentucky: Black tops and bottoms with gold accents
*NOTES*
- Run-rule IS in effect. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Mark Nowak grounds out to SS.
-Jake Paulick pops up to CF.
-Josh Williams flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Garrett Wright is walked on four pitches.
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Henry Ford flies out to LF.
-Blake Grimmer drives a two-run homer to right field.
- 368 feet, 98 mph
- Grimmer’s 6th HR of the season
-Trent Grindlinger works a walk.
-Blaine Brown grounds out to SS.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Norse 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Pierce Bauerle grounds out to 2B.
-Marcus Harrison strikes out looking on three pitches.
-Zach Pomatto grounds out to 2B.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Levi Clark grounds out to 3B.
-Manny Marin delivers a solo homer to left center.
- 391 feet, 100 mph
- Marin’s 5th HR of the season
-Nate Eisfelder singles to right field.
-Garrett Wright grounds out to 3B. Eisfelder to second.
Eisfelder advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Norse 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Ethan Thomas singles to SS.
-Alex Brazer singles through the left side. Thomas to second.
Runners advance on a throwing error by P, failed pickoff attempt.
-Hunter Friedberg drills a three-run homer to right field.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Brady Frederick (4-1, 4.09 ERA) in to pitch for Baiotto*
-Mark Nowak strikes out swinging.
- 7-pitch at-bat.
-Jake Paulick grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Josh Williams grounds out to SS.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
*Pitching change: LHP Tannis Lange (1-2, 8.00 ERA) on to pitch for Castaneda*
-Henry Ford flies out to CF.
-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B.
-Trent Grindlinger strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Norse 3
4th Inning:
T4
-Pierce Bauerle grounds out to 3B.
-Marcus Harrison grounds out to 2B.
-Zach Pomatto strikes out swinging.
- 6 straight retired for Frederick
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Levi Clark flies out to CF.
-Manny Marin strikes out swinging, reaches first on a wild pitch.
-Nate Eisfelder is walked on four pitches. Marin to second.
-Garrett Wright drops an RBI double into left field. Marin scores. Eisfelder to third.
-Reese Chapman fouls out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Norse 3
5th Inning:
T5
-Ethan Thomas pops up to 2B in shallow right field.
-Alex Brazer out at first 1B to P.
-Hunter Friedberg pops up to P, bunt.
- Frederick has retired 9 straight.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Henry Ford lines out to CF.
-Blake Grimmer launches a solo homer to right field.
- 7th HR for Grimmer this season. 2nd HR of the game.
- 422 feet, 109 mph
*Pitching change: RHP Elijah Green (0-3, 9.76 ERA) on to pitch for Lange*
-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.
-Blaine Brown lines out to 1B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Norse 3
6th Inning:
T6
-Mark Nowak sends a single to right field.
-Jake Paulick strikes out swinging on three pitches.
*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Mark Hindy (2-0, 4.91 ERA) in to pitch for Frederick*
-Josh Williams strikes out swinging.
-Pierce Bauerle flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
*Pitching change: LHP Gerald Hanson in to pitch for Green*
-Levi Clark reaches on a throwing error by SS, advances to second on the error.
-Manny Marin flies out to RF. Clark to third.
-Nate Eisfelder strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Garrett Wright chops an RBI single up the middle.
-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielding error by RF. Wright to third on the error, out at home, 9-4-2.
- Line drive at the right fielder up and he couldn’t make the catch. But Wright tries to score and is easily thrown out at home to end the frame.
- Seemed like Wright was very slow getting a jump off first. Results in an easy throw out at home for NKU.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Norse 3
7th Inning:
T7
-Marcus Harrison works a walk.
*Braydon Rogers pinch-hitting for Zach Pomatto*
-Rogers is walked.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Sawyer Deering (0-0, 6.75 ERA) on to pitch for Hindy*
-Ethan Thomas powers a three-run homer to left-center.
*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Taylor Tracey (0-0, 2.19 ERA) in to pitch for Deering*
-Alex Brazer lines out to 3B.
-Hunter Friedberg strikes out looking.
-Mark Nowak strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
*Pitching change: RHP Gannon Wentz (0-1, 4.24 ERA) in to pitch for Hanson*
-Henry Ford singles to left field, advances to second on a fielding error by LF.
-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B. Ford to third.
-Trent Grindlinger reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Ford out at home, 6-2.
- Not close Ford was always going home and then easily thrown out.
-Blaine Brown flies out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 6, Norse 6
8th Inning:
T8
-Jake Paulick strikes out swinging.
- 7-pitch at-bat.
-Josh Williams reaches on a fielding error by 1B, advances to second on the error.
- Lots of Vols in the area but no one could catch it. Seems to have tipped Grimmer’s glove so he’s responsible for the error.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bo Rhudy (0-1, 3.00 ERA) in to pitch for Tracey*
-Pierce Bauerle strikes out swinging.
-Marcus Harrison strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Levi Clark lines out to LF.
-Manny Marin is walked on four pitches.
*Tyler Myatt pinch-hitting for Nate Eisfelder*
-Tyler Myatt ropes a double to right field. Marin to third.
*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Tyler Myatt*
-Garrett Wright intentionally walked.
- Bases loaded with one out for Reese Chapman
*Pitching change: RHP Gabe Stout (2-1, 6.11 ERA) in to pitch for Wentz*
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Henry Ford reaches on a throwing error by SS. Marin and Abernathy score on the error, unearned. Wright to third.
- Just a slow and bad throw far wide of the first baseman. Costly mistake.
-Blake Grimmer rips an RBI single through the right side. Wright scores. Ford to third.
-Trent Grindlinger launches a three-run homer to right field.
- Big time oppo shot to put the nail in the coffin for NKU.
- 1st career homer for Grindlinger.
*Pitching change: Ryan Gill to pitch for Stout*
-Blaine Brown grounds out to 2B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 12, Norse 6
9th Inning:
T9
*Abernathy to CF*
*Chapman to RF*
*Grimmer to 1B*
*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Levi Clark*
-Braydon Rogers strikes out swinging.
-Ethan Thomas lines out to P.
- Crazy catch by Rhudy. Line drive goes right to him and as he dodges the ball it finds his glove.
-Peter Krumins works a walk.
Krumins advances to second.
-Jake Altman flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 12, Norse 6
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 12, Northern Kentucky Norse 6
