SCORE: Tennessee 10, Kentucky 9 | FINAL (Kentucky wins series 2-1)

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Tennessee baseball (30-17, 10-13 SEC) is set to battle the Kentucky Wildcats (29-15, 11-12 SEC) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Lexington.

First pitch at Kentucky Proud Park is at 1:00 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 Sunday’s game having already lost the series. Kentucky has dominated games one and two 9-2 and 12-2, respectively. The Cats run-ruled the Vols in eight innings Saturday.

UT’s offense has been shut down by UK’s starting pitching in both games. Ben Cleaver shoved in 7.0 scoreless innings Friday before Jaxon Jelkin tossed a complete game in game two to clinch the series.

Additionally, Tennessee’s starting pitching has underwhelmed. Tegan Kuhns was the worst he’s been in over a month Friday, allowing six runs on 10 hits in 6.0 innings.

Evan Blanco was shaky Saturday, allowing six runs on six hits – three home runs – in 5.0 innings. Tennessee head coach Josh Elander unsurprisingly went with lower-tier bullpen arms Friday in an uncompetitive game, but on Saturday, he entrusted Brayden Krenzel in the sixth with two on, no outs and down two runs.

Krenzel faltered in the big moment, walking his first batter to load the bases before plunking his next to bring in a run. Ethan Baiotto then allowed four runs in 1.1 innings before Will Haas and Brady Frederick allowed the run-rule in the eighth.

Read full recaps of both losses below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball’s Offense Shut Down in Series-Opening Loss to Kentucky

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Run-Ruled as Kentucky Clinches Series in Game Two

Tennessee has all its top bullpen arms ready to go Sunday. Brandon Arvidson, Cam Appenzeller and Bo Rhudy are all fresh. The ability to use the three best bullpen arms in the final game of a series is uncommon, but with Elander’s pitching decisions in game two, the Vols now clearly have the pitching advantage in game three.

Sunday’s game is a must-win. Tennessee needed to win a minimum of three games across Alabama and Kentucky series to stay on track to make the NCAA tournament.

After winning two of three over Alabama, it seemed very likely UT would win three – likely more – across the two weekends given Kentucky’s skid. But after back-to-back disappointing losses, Tennessee’s back is up against the wall yet again as it tries to stay on pace.

If the Vols lose, they’ll have to win either the Texas series at home next weekend or beat Oklahoma on the road in the final week of the regular season. Both are tall tasks.

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

In seven of the past nine SEC contests coming into the weekend, Tennessee’s offense had looked completely different than it did in the first half of the season. The Vols were displaying more power and consistency. Situational hitting was a strong suit.

But in game one and two at Kentucky, Tennessee has cooled off at the plate, totaling just eight hits and two runs in 15 innings against Kentucky starting pitching.

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. Kuhns and Blanco were moved up.

The moves seemingly backfired as Kuhns and Blanco struggled. Tennessee hopes to get Mack back on track with a strong outing Sunday.

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

Freshman relief pitcher Cam Appenzeller’s recent dip in production has been a troubling development for Tennessee, as time and time again, bullpen arms beyond Appenzeller, Arvidson and Rhudy have been unreliable.

Appenzeller started Tuesday’s midweek game against West Georgia and looked good in an opener role. Expect to see Appenzeller Sunday and like Mack, Tennessee hopes to see the freshman return to form.

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

Opponent Scout

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

But the Wildcats needed 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, this weekend was a must-win for Kentucky. Mission accomplished.

• 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, 184-160
• In Knoxville: Tennessee leads, 104-74
• In Lexington: Kentucky leads, 84-76
• At Neutral Sites: Tennessee leads, 4-2
• Last 10 Meetings: Kentucky leads, 6-4
• Last Meeting: May 2, 2026 (L, 12-2 (8 inn.) in Lexington)

Info courtesy UT Athletics in italics

Prediction: Tennessee wins game three

This team can look like one of the best in the league or one of the worst in the league. The toughest Tennessee team to predict this decade.

But how can you not pick Tennessee with the pitching available on Sunday. Somehow Appenzeller Arvidson and Rhudy all haven’t thrown. Even if the offense remains subpar, Tennessee should win a low-scoring game. And I’ll say the bats have a better performance Sunday than in games one and two.

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 Alabama series, click HERE.

WATCH: Josh Elander Recaps Series-Clinching Loss to Kentucky in Lexington

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 Hudson Brown (L)

3B Caeden Cloud (R)

C Owen Jenkins (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols So. RHP Landon Mack (3-4, 5.01 ERA, 11 app., 11 starts, 55.2 IP, 61 H, 33 R, 31 ER, 23 BB, 71 K, 20 XBH, 7 HBP, .280 opp. batting avg., 1.51 WHIP)

vs.

Wildcats Jr. RHP Connor Mattison (2-1, 5.81 ERA, 11 app., 4 starts, 31.0 IP, 30 H, 20 R, 20 ER, 11 BB, 35 K, 10 XBH, 8 HBP, .259 opp. batting avg., 1.32 WHIP)

Pitching Notes:

• Mack is looking to bounce back after two bad starts against Ole Miss and Alabama. He’s allowed 11 runs in 8 IP over those two starts.
  • Mack was shaky three weeks ago at Miss State, too. His last great outing came against LSU on April 3 (1 R in 7.0 IP)
  • This is Mack’s first game three start. He started every Saturday the first seven weeks before starting the last four Fridays.
• Mattison, a Grand Canyon transfer, became a part of the weekend rotation three weeks ago. This is his third SEC start.
  • He had two midweek earlier in the year and did well. All but one relief appearance (3 R, 2 HR in 0.0 IP vs Ole Miss) were solid.
  • His SEC starts have been shaky. 10 H, 9 R in 10.0 IP.
  • Doesn’t struggle with command. Struck out 8 in 4.2 IP last week. An arm Tennessee can have success against.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Smokey Greys

Kentucky: Pinstripes with American flag themed logo on blue caps

---

*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.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Garrett Wright strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Blake Grimmer grounds out to 2B.

-Henry Ford grounds out to SS.

• First pitch
• 6-pitch inning for Mattison

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Jayce Tharnish flies out to RF.

-Tyler Bell works a walk.

Bell steals second.

-Luke Lawrence lines out to SS.

Bell advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Ethan Hindle singles to P on a bunt.

-Braxton Van Cleave cracks an RBI single to SS. Bell scores. Hindle to second.

-Scott Campbell Jr. strikes out swinging on three pitches.

• 28-pitch inning for Mack.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 0, Wildcats 1

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Trent Grindlinger flies out to CF.

-Reese Chapman slaps a solo homer to left field.

• 7th HR of the season for Chapman

Mattison’s pitches have suddenly gotten VERY wild. Nowhere near the mitt

-Levi Clark lifts a solo homer to right field.

• Another opposite field shot as Tennessee goes back-to-back
• 8th HR for Clark

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

• Great contact. Almost 3 straight homers. Tennessee hammering Mattison

-Stone Lawless flies out to 2B in right-center.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Hudson Brown lines out to CF.

-Caeden Cloud strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Owen Jenkins strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Wildcats 1

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Blaine Brown stripes a single through the right side.

-Garrett Wright drives a single through the left side. Brown to third.

• Tennessee continuing to hit Mattison hard.

Brown scores on a wild pitch. Wright to second.

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF in right-center. Wright to third.

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging.

• Tennessee was trying to argue Ford was hit, which he was, but Ford swung for strike three. So no HBP of course.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Jayce Tharnish grounds out to SS.

-Tyler Bell doubles to right field.

Bell picked off, 1-6.

-Luke Lawrence smacks a single to left field.

• 7-pitch at-bat

-Ethan Hindle strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 3, Wildcats 1

4th Inning: 

T4

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

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

-Manny Marin HBP.

*Jay Abernathy pinch-hitting for Stone Lawless*

• Lawless was hit in the facemask hard by a pitch in the third. He stayed in the game but needed a moment after the pitch. Likely taken out of the game as a result of getting hit. Wright or Clark will move to catcher and the defense will rotate.

*Pitching change: RHP Ryan Mullan (2-0, 4.20 ERA) in to pitch for Mattison*

-Jay Abernathy HBP.

• Bases loaded with one out for Blaine Brown.

-Blaine Brown delivers an RBI single to left field. Clark scores. Runners advance.

• Bases loaded with one out for Garrett Wright
• Two-hit day for Brown after homering Saturday

*Pitching change: RHP Ira Austin IV (0-0, 9.64 ERA) in to pitch for Mullan*

-Garrett Wright reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to 2B. Brown out at second, 4-6. Abernathy to third, Marin scores.

*Pitching change: LHP Leighton Harris (0-0, 9.22 ERA) in to pitch for Austin*

-Blake Grimmer flies out to CF at the warning track.

• Wild catch. Had to turn his back to the playing field and put his glove up to make the grab. Great play, but went face first into the wall. Ouch.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Wright to C*

*Abernathy to CF*

-Braxton Van Cleave flies out to LF.

-Scott Campbell Jr. lines out to 1B.

-Hudson grounds out to SS up the middle.

• Nice diving stop by Marin.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Wildcats 1

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: RHP Nile Adcock (4-1, 4.26 ERA) in to pitch for Harris*

-Henry Ford strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Trent Grindlinger flies out to RF.

• First pitch.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

Chapman steals second.

-Levi Clark HBP.

• 3-2 pitch

-Manny Marin grounds into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Clark out at second, 6-4.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Caeden Cloud grounds out to SS.

-Owen Jenkins strikes out swinging.

-Jayce Tharnish drops a single into left field.

Tharnish caught stealing second, 2-6.

• Good throw. Mack faces the minimum and has put together a quality start in Lexington. Really nice bounce back effort.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Wildcats 1

6th Inning: 

T6

-Jay Abernathy flies out to LF.

-Blaine Brown out at first 1B to P.

-Garrett Wright singles through the left side.

• Hammered past Caeden Cloud at third

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Tyler Bell flies out to CF in left-center.

-Luke Lawrence strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Ethan Hindle works a walk.

• Second walk Mack has issued today. First since his second batter.

-Braxton Van Cleave singles to right field. Hindle to second.

-Scott Campbell Jr. flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Wildcats 1

7th Inning: 

T7

-Henry Ford doubles down the left-field line.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to 1B unassisted, sac bunt. Ford to third.

-Reese Chapman sends an RBI double to right field. Ford scores.

Chapman advances to third on a wild pitch.

-Levi Clark sends a sac fly to CF. Chapman scores.

-Manny Marin grounds out to SS.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Cam Appenzeller in to pitch for Mack*

-Hudson Brown flies out to LF.

-Caeden Cloud HBP.

-Owen Jenkins doubles to right field. Cloud to third.

• Chapman misplayed it. Braced for the jump but the ball dropped around 5-10 feet to the left of him. He could’ve made the catch if he was in position.

-Jayce Tharnish drops an RBI single to right field. Jenkins to third. Cloud scores.

-Tyler Bell bounces an RBI single up the middle. Tharnish to third. Jenkins scores.

-Luke Lawrence sends an RBI groundout to 3B. Bell to second. Tharnish scores.

-Ethan Hindle delivers an RBI single to center, advances to second on a throwing error by Jay Abernathy.

• Jay lost his footing and sent the throw home way wide right. Run was scoring even with a good throw probably.

-Braxton Van Cleave strikes out swinging.

• HUGE K. Rhudy wins a 7-pitch battle against one of Kentucky’s top sluggers.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Wildcats 5

8th Inning: 

T8

*Pitching change: LHP Toby Peterson in to pitch for Adcock*

-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.

*Pitching change: RHP Jack Bennett in to pitch for Peterson*

-Blaine Brown flies out to CF.

-Garrett Wright reaches on a bunt single.

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Scott Campbell Jr. strikes out looking.

-Hudson Brown rips a double to right field.

-Caeden Cloud knocks an RBI double to right-center.

-Owen Jenkins pops up to 2B.

-Jayce Tharnish strikes out swinging.

• 8-pitch at-bat. Another big-time win from Rhudy.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Wildcats 6

9th Inning: 

T9

-Henry Ford smacks a ground-rule double to left field.

-Trent Grindlinger grounds out to P, sac bunt. Ford to third.

-Reese Chapman intentionally walked.

-Levi Clark powers a three-run homer to left-center.

• First pitch of the at-bat. Mashed.
• Clark’s 9th HR of the season. Second of the game.

-Manny Marin singles to right field.

*Pitching change: LHP Jackson Soucie in to pitch for Bennett*

-Jay Abernathy reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Marin out at second, 4-6.

-Blaine Brown strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B9

*Ariel Antigua to 2B for Blake Grimmer*

-Tyler Bell ropes a solo homer to right field.

-Luke Lawrence strikes out swinging.

-Ethan Hindle works a walk.

Hindle advances to second.

-Braxton Van Cleave crushes a two-run homer to right-center.

-Scott Campbell Jr. singles through the left side.

-Hudson Brown strikes out looking.

-Caeden Cloud flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 10, Wildcats 9

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 10, Kentucky Wildcats 9 (Tennessee loses series 2-1)