SCORE: Tennessee 11, Alabama 4 | FINAL (Vols win series 2-1)

***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***

Tennessee baseball (28-15, 9-11 SEC) is set to battle the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (29-15, 10-10 SEC) Friday in game three of a three-game series in Knoxville.

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

Friday evening’s game serves as game two of a doubleheader to finish the series due to inclement weather projected in the Knoxville area Saturday. More details HERE.

For a full preview of the series, including first pitch times, broadcast details and a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee dominated game one of the doubleheader, run-ruling Alabama 10-0 in eight innings.

Starting pitcher Tegan Kuhns was excellent on the mound, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out nine in a career-high 8.0 innings.

Kuhns gets credit for a complete game in the win, marking the first complete game and complete game shutout for UT since Marcus Phillips in game two of last year’s Florida series (10-0, 7 inn).

Drew Beam owns Tennessee’s last nine-inning complete game, when he shutout Vanderbilt with a 5-0 win in the 2022 series finale.

Tennessee run-rules Alabama 10-0 in 8 inn. to even the series

Tegan Kuhns records an 8-inning complete game shutout.

The last time #Vols had:
CGSO: Marcus Phillips vs. Florida ’25 (7 inn)
CGSO 7+ inn: Drew Beam @ Vandy ’22 (9 inn)
CG 8+ inn: Beam @ Alabama ’24 (6-3 loss, 8 inn)

Advertisement

— Jack Foster (@jackfostermedia) April 24, 2026

Alabama won game one Thursday, 12-8. The Vols suffered the series-opening loss due to unbelievably poor pitching. Landon Mack struggled in 2.1 innings of work before Cam Appenzeller wasn’t sharp again out of the bullpen.

Mark Hindy and Brady Frederick had awful bullpen outings, and while Nic Abraham and Brayden Krenzel had moments, the pitching staff as a whole failed Tennessee. Volunteer arms allowed 10 walks and six hit-by-pitches, leading to head coach Josh Elander saying it is ‘impossible’ to win offering that many free passes.

Read recaps of both games below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Pitching Falters In Series-Opening Loss Against Alabama

GAME TWO RECAP: Tegan Kuhns Tosses Shutout As Tennessee Baseball Run-Rules Alabama

Offense has plagued Tennessee for the majority of the season, but UT out-hit Alabama 11-10 Friday. Uncharacteristic outings from Mack and Appenzeller combined with continued disappointment from bullpen arms such as Frederick and Hindy led to the defeat.

Tennessee got elite pitching from Kuhns in game two and they’ll hope to get good performances in game three from reliable arms Evan Blanco, Brandon Arvidson and Bo Rhudy.

Tennessee certainly has the pitching advantage in game three, but the Vols haven’t shown much consistency this season.

Still, the offensive performances have been encouraging, and Tennessee is in solid position to claim a massive series win.

Winning at least one game int he doubleheader was a must for Tennessee as it continues to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume. Even if Alabama beats Tennessee Friday evening, the Vols will be back in solid position to make the tournament with a series win next week at Kentucky.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where Tennessee Baseball Is Projected To Land In Latest Bracketology Updates

Opponent Scout

When Alabama defeated Oklahoma in a three-game series three weekends ago, they improved to 8-4 in SEC play and looked like a true SEC title contender this season.

But things have gone sideways since then. Arkansas swept Alabama in Tuscaloosa two weeks ago before Texas took two of three over the Crimson Tide in Austin. Both of those teams are better SEC opponents, but it is still not a strong showing.

Alabama also dropped its midweek matchup against UAB, 11-2, earlier this week. The Crimson Tide’s offense has been particularly shaky, scoring just six runs in their last four games.

• 2025 Record: 41-18 (16-14 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Hattiesburg Regional (0-2)
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 12^th  
• Head Coach: Rob Vaughn
  • Overall Record: 285-173 (9^th year)
  • Record at UA: 102-56 (3^rd year)
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (1):
  • SS Justin LeBron (1^st Team)

SERIES HISTORY

• Overall: Alabama leads, 82-49
• In Knoxville: Alabama leads, 27-25
• In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads, 49-21
• At Neutral Sites: Alabama leads, 6-3
• Last 10 Meetings: Tennessee leads, 6-4
• Last Meeting: May 21, 2025 (UT W, 15-10 in Hoover, Ala.)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins one.

I picked Tennessee to win the series. Mack and Appenzeller have been major letdowns in the last two weeks after carrying Tennessee’s pitching staff the first half of the season. The Vols scored eight runs Friday. With this staff, that should be an auto win.

Tennessee entered the Friday doubleheader with the pitching advantage. Tegan Kuhns amplified that with a complete-game in the run-rule win in game one of the doubleheader.

It’s hard to sweep a doubleheader. I picked the Vols to split and am sticking with it, though UT has plenty of pitching depth and the offense saw the ball well in game one.

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast discussing the Ole Miss series, click HERE.

WATCH: Tennessee Baseball HC Josh Elander Discusses Series-Opening Loss to Alabama, Pitching Struggles

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

ALABAMA STARTING NINE: 

SS Justin Lebron (R)

2B Brennan Holt (L)

C Brady Neal (L)

CF Bryce Fowler (L)

LF Eric Hines (R)

DH Will Plattner (R)

1B Andrew Purdy (L)

3B Jason Torres (R)

RF Peyton Steele (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Sr. LHP Evan Blanco (4-2, 3.76 ERA, 10 app., 10 starts, 55.0 IP, 43 H, 27 R, 23 ER, 19 BB, 66 K, 18 XBH, .210 opp. batting avg., 1.13 WHIP)

vs.

Crimson Tide Fr. RHP Myles Upchurch (5-2, 3.05 ERA, 10 app., 10 starts, 41.1 IP, 26 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 28 BB, 50 K, 6 XBH, .182 opp. batting avg., 1.31 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Blanco will look to continue his strong season. He’s coming off a strong 6.0 inning start against Ole Miss in which he allowed three runs.
• Upchurch shoved last week vs. Texas, allowing one hit and no runs in 5.1 IP. Upchurch was awful vs. Florida earlier this year allowing three runs while recording just one out.
  • Longest outings: 102 pitches (Texas), 6.0 IP (Arkansas, North Florida)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, white pants

Alabama: Grey tops and bottoms with crimson caps

---

*NOTES*

• Run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Alabama leads by 10 or more runs at the end of the seventh inning or later, the game is over.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Justin Lebron strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Brennan Holt flies out to CF.

-Brady Neal out at first 1B to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Garrett Wright grounds out to SS.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• 6-pitch inning for Upchurch.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Crimson Tide 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Bryce Fowler grounds out to 2B.

-Eric Hines flies out to CF.

-Will Plattner strikes out swinging.

• 6 up, 6 down for Blanco on 18 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Trent Grindlinger flies out to CF.

-Stone Lawless flies out to RF.

-Reese Chapman singles off the right-field wall.

• First baserunner of the game

-Manny Marin singles up the middle. Chapman to second.

-Blaine Brown drives an RBI single up the middle. Chapman scores. Marin to third.

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Crimson Tide 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Andrew Purdy strikes out looking.

-Jason Torres strikes out swinging.

• 8-pitch at-bat

-Peyton Steele hammers a solo homer to left-center.

-Justin Lebron strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Garrett Wright flies out to RF.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 3B up the middle.

• Hit into the shift.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Crimson Tide 1

4th Inning: 

T4

-Brennan Holt fouls out to 3B.

-Brady Neal flies out to CF at the warning track.

-Bryce Fowler doubles off the left-center wall.

• Off the top of the wall, almost a homer
• Play was challenged and the ruling was UPHELD. Just a double

-Eric Hines intentionally walked.

-Will Plattner drives an RBI double to left-center. Fowler scores. Hines to third.

-Andrew Purdy strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Trent Grindlinger drills a solo homer to center.

• 5th homer of the season.
• Off the batter’s eye. A missile.
• 419 feet, 113 mph

-Stone Lawless is walked on four pitches.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Manny Marin flies out to CF.

-Blaine Brown works a walk. Lawless to second

-Levi Clark flies out to CF at the warning track.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Crimson Tide 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-Jason Torres powers a solo homer to left field.

• 2nd deck of the porches

-Peyton Steele singles up the middle.

-Justin Lebron pops up to 2B in shallow center.

-Brennan Holt flies out to RF.

-Brady Neal grounds out to 2B.

• Hit into the shift

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Garrett Wright grounds out to 3B.

-Henry Ford singles through the left side.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

-Trent Grindlinger reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Ford out at second, 6U.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Crimson Tide 3

6th Inning: 

T6

-Bryce Fowler strikes out swinging.

-Eric Hines strikes out swinging.

-Will Plattner strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• Big bounce back inning from Blanco. Strikes out the side in order.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Stone Lawless reaches on a throwing error by 3B, advances to second on the error.

• Throw was low and the first baseman couldn’t make the scoop

-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielder’s choice to P, sac bunt. Lawless advances to third and scores on a throwing error by P. Lawless to second on the error.

• Awful mistake by Upchurch, went to third on the bunt to try and get Lawless but the throw was very low.
• Decision to go to third was risky anyway, don’t know if he would’ve gotten him.

*Pitching change: LHP Ashton Crowther in to pitch for Upchurch*

-Manny Marin grounds out to C, sac bunt. Chapman to third.

-Blaine Brown lines a two-run homer to left field.

• Into the porches. Got out in a hurry.
• Brown’s 11th HR of the season
• 360 feet, 103 mph

-Levi Clark reaches on a muffed throw by 1B, assist by 2B.

• Another error on Alabama. The Tide defense has been detrimental.

-Garrett Wright works a walk. Clark to second.

-Henry Ford drops an RBI single in center. Clark scores. Wright to second.

-Blake Grimmer drives a single through the right side. Baserunners advance.

• Bases loaded with one out for Trent Grindlinger.

*Pitching change: LHP Matthew Heiberger (2-2, 3.91 ERA) in to pitch for Crowther*

-Trent Grindlinger delivers a two-run double to center. Grimmer to third. Wright and Ford score.

• Bloop hit. Center fielder tried to sprint to get it but he wasn’t close diving for it. Grindlinger makes it to second as a result.

-Stone Lawless sends an RBI groundout to SS. Grindlinger to third.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 9, Crimson Tide 3

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: R-Jr. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 4.40 ERA) in to pitch for Blanco*

-Andrew Purdy works a walk.

• Was down 0-2, battled back.

-Jason Torres grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

-Peyton Steele grounds out to SS.

• Nice play by Manny

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

-Blaine Brown ropes a solo homer to right field.

• Hit off the top of the wall.
• 2 homer game for Brown
• Brown’s 12th HR of the season
• 360 feet, 98 mph

-Levi Clark rips a double down the left-field line.

*Pitching change: RHP Owen Sarna (0-0, 1.50 ERA) in to pitch for Heiberger*

-Garrett Wright works a walk.

-Henry Ford grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 10, Crimson Tide 3

8th Inning: 

T8

-Justin Lebron singles up the middle.

-Brennan Holt grounds out to 2B. Lebron to second.

-Brady Neal sends an RBI single to right-center. Lebron scores.

-Bryce Fowler grounds into a 5-6-3 double play. Neal out on the play.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Blake Grimmer knocks a single to center.

-Trent Grindlinger cracks a single up the middle. Grimmer to third.

-Stone Lawless flies out to RF. Grimmer out at home, 9-2.

• Easily thrown out trying to tag up.

-Reese Chapman singles to left field. Grindlinger to second.

*Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Grindlinger*

Abernathy advances to third on a wild pitch.

Abernathy steals home. Chapman out in a pickle between first and second, out 2-4-3.

• Stop-and-steal worked. We’ve seen Tennessee do it a couple times already this season.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 11, Crimson Tide 4

9th Inning: 

T9

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Bo Rhudy (1-1, 2.33 ERA) in to pitch for Arvidson*

*Grimmer to 1B*

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Levi Clark*

-Eric Hines strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Will Plattner pops up to 2B in shallow right field.

• Nice play by Ariel

-Andrew Purdy flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 11, Crimson Tide 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 11, Alabama Crimson Tide 4 (Vols sweep doubleheader, win series 2-1)