SCORE: Tennessee 2, Kentucky 9 | FINAL (Kentucky leads series 1-0)

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Tennessee baseball (30-15, 10-11 SEC) is set to battle the Kentucky Wildcats (27-15, 9-12 SEC)) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Lexington.

First pitch at Kentucky Proud Park is at 6:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

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

Tennessee enters the weekend on a relative hot streak, having won two of its past three series. In the last three, the Vols have swept Mississippi State, won one of three against Ole Miss and won two of three against Alabama.

In seven of the past nine SEC contests, Tennessee’s offense has looked completely different than it did in the first half of the season. The Vols have displayed more power and consistency, with situational hitting becoming a strong suit.

Tennessee’s starting pitching has remained great aside from Landon Mack in the past couple of weeks. As a result, Mack was bumped to Sunday after serving as the Friday night guy for the past month. Tegan Kuhns will now start Friday with Evan Blanco handling Saturday duties.

ROTATION CHANGE: Tennessee Baseball Mixing Up Starting Rotation For This Weekend’s Series At Kentucky

Cam Appenzeller’s recent dip in production has been a troubling development for Tennessee, as time and time again, bullpen arms beyond Appenzeller, Brandon Arvidson and Bo Rhudy have proved to be unreliable.

Bullpen depth is Tennessee’s biggest problem now, but it can be avoided if starting pitching and a handful of top bullpen arms can perform well on a weekly basis.

Appenzeller started Tuesday’s midweek game against West Georgia and looked good in an opener role.

WHY APPENZELLER STARTED: Josh Elander Explains Why Cam Appenzeller Started For Tennessee Against West Georgia

Weeks ago, it was uncertain if Tennessee could do enough to make the NCAA Tournament. After winning six of its last nine SEC games, it is very likely the Vols make the dance. In fact, it is more likely Tennessee hosts than misses the tournament to begin May.

BRACKETOLOGY: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Latest NCAA Tournament Field of 64 Projections

Opponent Scout

Kentucky came out the gates hot in SEC play, sweeping Alabama in Lexington to begin its conference slate. But the Wildcats have lost six straight series since. They have done a good job avoiding disaster, winning one game every weekend to keep them in striking distance of an NCAA Tournament appearance,

But the Wildcats likely need to get at least one more series win to make the NCAA Tournament. They had a disappointing performance last weekend, dropping two of three games against South Carolina.

With a road series against Florida and a home series against Arkansas left on the schedule, the Wildcats desperately need to win this series.

• 2025 Record: 31-26 (13-17 SEC)
• 2025 Postseason: NCAA Clemson Regional (2-2)
• 2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 11^th  
• Head Coach: Nick Mingione
  • Overall Record: 320-207 (10^th year)
  • Record at UK: Same
• Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
  • SS Tyler Bell (1^st Team), SP Ben Cleaver (2^nd Team)

SERIES HISTORY

• Overall: Tennessee leads, 184-158
• In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 104-74
• In Lexington: Kentucky leads, 82-76
• At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 4-2
• Last 10 Meetings: Tennessee leads, 6-4
• Last Meeting: April 20, 2025 (L, 8-2 in Knoxville)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins two of three.

Tennessee has obviously been playing much better than Kentucky. As long as the offense can remain consistent and Tennessee doesn’t have to rely on its bullpen depth, i.e. the 5-6 dependable arms of the pitching staff perform well, UT should easily win the series.

POLLS:

• D1 Baseball: Unranked
• USA Today Coaches Poll: Unranked
• Baseball America: No. 24
• Perfect Game: Unranked
• NCBWA: Unranked

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: Josh Elander Discusses Midweek Win Over West Georgia

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

KENTUCKY STARTING NINE: 

CF Jayce Tharnish (R)

SS Tyler Bell (S)

2B Luke Lawrence (L)

1B Ethan Hindle (R)

RF Braxton Van Cleave (L)

LF Scott Campbell Jr. (R)

DH Tagger Tyson (R)

3B Caeden Cloud (R)

C Owen Jenkins (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Tegan Kuhns (3-3, 2.90 ERA, 11 app., 10 starts, 1 CG, 59.0 IP, 50 H, 21 R, 19 ER, 11 BB, 73 K, 17 XBH, 4 HBP, .221 opp. batting avg., 1.03 WHIP)

vs.

Wildcats LHP Ben Cleaver (1-3, 4.60 ERA, 10 app., 10 starts, 29.1 IP, 30 H, 21 R, 15 ER, 20 BB, 34 K, 8 XBH, 8 HBP, .265 opp. batting avg., 1.72 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Kuhns has been unbelievable for a month now, coming off a complete game shutout in an eight-inning run-rule last week.
• Cleaver returns to the starting rotation after a week off. He’s had a shaky season, hasn’t pitched more than 4.2 innings. 72 pitches is most in an outing.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange tops, grey pants

Kentucky: White shirts and pants with blue hats and accents

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*NOTES*

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

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Garrett Wright flies out to SS in left-center.

• Kept carrying, Tyler Bell makes a great over-the-shoulder catch to retire Wright.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

-Blake Grimmer out at first 1B to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jayce Tharnish stripes a single through the left side.

-Tyler Bell doubles to left field. Tharnish to third.

• Blaine Brown misjudged it at first then was indecisive to let it bounce or go for the catch. Ball drops and it’s a double.

-Luke Lawrence strikes out swinging.

-Ethan Hindle strikes out swinging.

-Braxton Van Cleave grounds out to SS up the middle.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Trent Grindlinger lines out to 3B.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Levi Clark works a walk.

-Blaine Brown pops up to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Scott Campbell Jr. strikes out swinging.

-Tagger Tyson flies out to CF.

• Really nice running catch by Jay into the sun

-Caeden Cloud singles through the left side.

Cloud advances to second on a wild pitch.

Could advances to third on a balk.

-Owen Jenkins grounds out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Manny Marin dribbles a single up the middle.

• Softly hit, got under Cleaver’s glove.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to P, sac bunt. Marin to second.

-Garrett Wright reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Marin out at third, 5U.

-Henry Ford drives a single up the middle. Wright to second.

-Blake Grimmer pops up to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Jayce Tharnish flies out to RF.

-Tyler Bell pops up to SS.

• Wind is carrying out to right HEAVILY. Took Manny all the way into right field.

-Luke Lawrence slaps a single to center.

• 7-pitch at-bat

-Ethan Hindle smacks a two-run homer to right field.

-Braxton Van Cleave out at first 1B to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 2

4th Inning: 

T4

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF.

-Levi Clark drops a single into center.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

• Long at-bat. 8 pitches.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Scott Campbell Jr. is walked.

-Tagger Tyson grounds out to SS.

• Tennessee CHALLENGED the ruling of safe and the call was OVERTURNED. Great effort by Marin.

-Caeden Cloud strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Owen Jenkins grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 2

5th Inning: 

T5

-Manny Marin flies out to RF at the warning track.

• Wind almost carried it out.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 1B unassisted.

-Garrett Wright lines out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Jayce Tharnish doubles to right-center.

-Tyler Bell singles to right field. Tharnish to third.

-Luke Lawrence grounds out to P, RBI sac bunt. Bell to second. Tharnish scores.

• Kuhns thought about going home but takes the easy play at first. Run scores.

-Ethan Hindle HBP.

-Braxton Van Cleave punishes a three-run homer to right field.

-Scott Campbell Jr. strikes out swinging.

-Tagger Tyson doubles through the right side.

Tyson steals third, out at home 6-2.

• Tried to score on ball not being cleanly caught by Ford, but bad decision. Easily thrown out.
• Tyson’s face made contact with Wright’s cleat when coming home. Was able to walk off the field.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 6

6th Inning: 

T6

-Henry Ford grounds out to P.

-Blake Grimmer pops up to 2B.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Caeden Cloud strikes out looking.

-Owen Jenkins singles to left field.

-Jayce Tharnish flies out to LF.

Jenkins steals second.

-Tyler Bell strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 6

7th Inning: 

T7

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF in left-center.

-Levi Clark singles through the left side.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Manny Marin is walked on four pitches.

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

• Really nice diving catch by Kentucky’s Scott Campbell Jr.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Taylor Tracey in to pitch for Kuhns*

• 2nd SEC appearance for Tracey

-Luke Lawrence reaches on a fielding error by SS.

• Can’t cleanly make the exchange.

-Ethan Hindle smacks a double to left field off the wall. Lawrence to third.

-Braxton Van Cleave pops up to SS.

-Scott Campbell Jr. strikes out looking.

*Tyler Cerny pinch-hitting for Tagger Tyson*

Hindle advances to third on a wild pitch. Lawrence scores on a wild pitch.

-Tyler Cerny works a walk.

-Caeden Cloud is walked on four pitches. Cerny to second.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Owen Jenkins

*Pitching change: RHP Nic Abraham in to pitch for Tracey*

-Owen Jenkins cracks a two-run single to left-center, advances to second on the throw. Cloud to third.

-Jayce Tharnish grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 9

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: RHP Oliver Boone in to pitch for Cleaver*

*Stone Lawless pinch-hitting for Garrett Wright*

-Stone Lawless singles through the left side.

-Henry Ford powers a two-run homer to left field.

*Pitching change: RHP Ryan Mullan in to pitch for Boone*

-Blake Grimmer singles to SS.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

-Reese Chapman flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Tyler Bell reaches on a throwing error by 2B.

-Luke Lawrence lines out to SS.

-Ethan Hindle strikes out swinging.

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Mark Hindy in to pitch for Abraham*

-Braxton Van Cleave singles to 2B. Bell to second.

-Scott Campbell Jr. grounds out to P.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 9

9th Inning: 

T9

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.

-Blaine Brown strikes out swinging.

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 9

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 2, Kentucky Wildcats 9