SCORE: Tennessee 15, Hofstra 0 | FINAL (7 inn. – Run-Rule Victory)
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Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (0-0) is set to battle the Hofstra Pride (0-0) Friday in game one of a three-game series in Knoxville. The game serves as the season opener for both teams.
First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on SECN+.
Tennessee enters the season coming off a National Championship victory in 2024, the first in program history. The Vols must replace many key pieces of that historic roster, including six starters and its entire starting rotation.
However, Tony Vitello and the rest of Tennessee’s coaching staff replenished well as always, bringing in key transfers INF Gavin Kilen, LHP Liam Doyle, 1B Alberto Osuna and INF Andrew Fischer, among others.
Tennessee is a unanimous top five team across all preseason polls and figures to be a force in the SEC once again. The Vols boast returning stars Dean Curley and Hunter Ensley as well as high-upside pieces Colby Backus, Reese Chapman, Cannon Peebles and Dalton Bargo.
In addition to the aforementioned transfers, Tennessee brought in a slew of JuCo arms to fill out the bullpen and the Vols’ top-ranked 2024 freshman class features loads of star potential.
ELIGIBILITY: Judge Denies Alberto Osuna’s Request For Temporary Restraining Order Against NCAA
PITCHING: Tony Vitello Reveals Tennessee Baseball Starting Pitching Plan For Hofstra Series
Vitello will undoubtedly experiment plenty with the lineup throughout the weekend and moving forward in non-conference play in efforts to find the best nine. And while the starting pitchers for Friday and Saturday have been announced, Sunday’s starter is up in the air. Expect to potentially see a few guys get chances at winning the day three starter role over the coming weeks.
Tennessee’s Friday starter on the mound is Liam Doyle, a junior transfer from Ole Miss who shined throughout the offseason and preseason. Doyle has the potential to be one of Tennessee’s top players in 2025.
Returning arm Marcus Phillips will get the ball to start on Saturday. The second-year Vol was a fringe contributor for Tennessee down the stretch out of the bullpen. Phillips is one of the most talented arms on Tennessee’s roster, and the righty has as high of an upside as anyone.
PREVIEW: Tennessee Baseball 2025 Season Preview: Accolades, Predictions
EMOTION: Tennessee Pitcher Brought to Tears Thinking About Brotherhood From Vols’ Championship Team
Injury/Availability Notes
Tennessee enters the season relatively 100%, but a few players of note are either sidelined due to injury or not able to play this weekend.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna has not yet been granted eligibility from the NCAA. Osuna figured to be Tennessee’s opening day starter at first base, and it is unknown when or if he will be able to take the field as a Vol this year.
- Star RHP AJ Russell is still recovering from UCL surgery last June. Tony Vitello recently gave a positive update regarding a potential midseason return for Russell.
- Infielder Alex Perry, who was in competition to start at first base before Osuna’s arrival, left the program in January to tend to a personal matter. It remains to be seen when or if Perry will return. He is in his second season at Tennessee.
Opponent Scout
The Coastal Athletic Conference coaches picked Hofstra to finish ninth in the 12-team conference this season. Hofstra posted a 24-33 (13-14 CAA) record a season ago.
The Pride faced Virginia in a three-game series last season and it was their only matchups against a power five opponent. Virginia swept Hofstra in Charlottesville, scoring 10-plus runs in all three games and winning by a total of 42-20.
Hofstra infielder Dylan Palmer was the Pride’s only Preseason All-CAA selection this season after he hit .386 with nine extra-base hits and 31 RBIs in 2024.
The Vols are no match for Hofstra and this will in all likelihood be a series sweep for Tennessee to begin the season.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said Ahead Of Tennessee Baseball’s 2025 Season Opener
For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, including a full pitching preview for this season, click here.
For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, discussing Alberto Osuna’s eligibility issues and the Hofstra series, click here.
For the 2025 Tennessee Baseball season preview podcast, click here.
More From RTI: How to Watch Tennessee Baseball Series Against Hofstra
VIDEO: WATCH: Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Previews Season-Opening Series Against Hofstra
Lineups, pitching matchup and additional pre-game notes are below, followed by the LIVE at-bat by at-bat game thread.
Starting Lineups
TENNESSEE STARTING NINE:
SS Dean Curley (R)
2B Gavin Kilen (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
DH Cannon Peebles (S)
3B Manny Marin (R)
LF Dalton Bargo (L)
C Stone Lawless (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
Lineup Notes:
- Lots of new faces in Tennessee’s lineup to open the season.
- Fischer figures to start at 3B primarily this season but is at 1B as he works his way back to 100% from an arm injury.
- Dalton Bargo gets the nod in LF over Jay Abernathy and Colby Backus, who were competing for the spot throughout the offseason.
- Peebles starts the season as the DH as he works his way back to 100%, so redshirt freshman Stone Lawless gets the catcher start to open the season.
- Freshman Manny Marin has turned plenty of heads as of late and gets the 3B nod with Fischer working at first.
- Ensley, Chapman, Kilen and Curley are all no doubt starters moving forward, though Kilen and Curley could alternate between 2B and SS.
HOFSTRA STARTING NINE:
2B Dylan Palmer (L)
RF Luke Masiuk (R)
LF Tyler Cox (L)
3B Bryce Curry (R)
1B Sean Lane (R)
DH Tyler Castrataro (R)
CF Trenton Snyder (R)
C Dom Camera (R)
SS Michael Brown (S)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. LHP Liam Doyle (2024 stats at Ole Miss: 2-4, 6.35 ERA, 14 app., 9 starts, 45.1 IP, 42 H, 35 R, 32 ER, 18 BB, 72 K, 18 XBH, .240 opp. batting avg., 1.33 WHIP)
vs.
Pride Jr. LHP Jackson Bauer (2024 stats: 4-6, 4.78 ERA, 14 app., 9 starts, 1 SV, 2 CG, 43.1 IP, 49 H, 38 R, 23 ER, 10 BB, 56 K, 9 XBH, .266 opp. batting avg., 1.36 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Doyle’s first start and appearance in a Tennessee uniform. Doyle figures to be the Friday night guy for the Vols this season.
- Doyle is an Ole Miss transfer who had a solid season a year ago.
- Doyle shoved in his lone appearance against Tennessee in 2024 (6.0 IP (5 scoreless), 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K)
- Bauer, a JuCo transfer (CCBC Catonsville in Maryland), is making his first career start and appearance for Hofstra.
Uniforms
Tennessee: NEW Home Whites
Hofstra: Grey tops and bottoms with blue caps and accents
*NOTES*
- There IS a run-rule for all three games this weekend. If Tennessee leads by 10 or more runs in M7 or later, the game is over.
- Tennessee’s No. 4 ranking refers to D1 Baseball’s preseason poll.
- Tennessee is No. 2 in the NCBWA and USA Today polls, No. 3 according to Baseball America and No. 5 in the Perfect Game preseason poll.
GAME THREAD
VFL Aaron Combs throws out the first pitch in LNS.
#VFL Aaron Combs throws the first pitch before the season opener in Lindsey Nelson Stadium
pic.twitter.com/z741xisDvZ
— Jack Foster (@jackfostermedia) February 14, 2025
1st Inning:
T1
-Dylan Palmer grounds out to SS.
-Luke Masiuk strikes out swinging.
-Tyler Cox strikes out looking.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Dean Curley singles to 3B.
- Hard-hit ball that ricocheted off the third baseman’s glove.
-Gavin Kilen works a walk.
Runners advance on a wild pitch.
-Hunter Ensley chops an RBI grounder to 3B, out 5-3. Kilen advances to third.
Kilen scores on a wild pitch.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk.
Fischer advances to second then third on a wild pitch.
-Cannon Peebles smacks an RBI single off the left-field wall, out at second 7-4.
-Manny Marin flies out to shallow LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Pride 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Bryce Curry strikes out swinging.
-Sean Lane strikes out swinging.
-Tyler Castrataro strikes out swinging.
- 10-pitch, 3 K inning for Doyle.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 2B.
-Stone Lawless flies out to RF.
-Reese Chapman singles up the middle.
-Dean Curley drills a two-run homer to the second deck of the left-field porches.
- 107 mph, 408 feet.
-Gavin Kilen slices a double to deep left field.
Kilen advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Pride 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Trenton Snyder strikes out swinging.
-Dom Camera strikes out swinging.
-Michael Brown strikes out looking.
- Doyle has not allowed a baserunner, retired 1-9 first time through.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Andrew Fischer sends a solo homer into the UT bullpen. First of many for Fischer.
- 108 mph, 373 feet.
-Cannon Peebles singles to 3B.
-Manny Marin singles through the left side. Peebles advances to second.
-Dalton Bargo is walked. Bases loaded with no outs.
-Stone Lawless flies out to LF.
- Peebles stayed at third.
-Reese Chapman connects on an RBI grounder to SS, out 6-3. Bargo advances to second, Marin advances to third.
-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 7, Pride 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Dylan Palmer singles but is thrown out at second, 3-9-6.
- Still no baserunners for Hofstra.
-Luke Masiuk strikes out swinging.
-Tyler Cox strikes out swinging.
- Doyle up to 10(!) Ks through four.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Gavin Kilen triples to CF.
Kilen scores on a wild pitch.
- Kilen has now scored on two wild pitches.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
-Andrew Fischer is walked.
Jay Abernathy pinch-running for Fischer.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to LF.
-Manny Marin slaps a single to LF. Abernathy advances to second.
Runners advance on a balk.
*JuCo transfer RHP Thomas Crabtree is warming up in the bullpen*
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 1B, unassisted.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Pride 0
5th Inning:
T5
*Bargo to 1B*
*Abernathy to LF*
-Bryce Curry flies out to CF.
-Sean Lane flies out to RF.
-Tyler Castrataro strikes out looking.
- 11 Ks for Doylem who has faced the minimum through five.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Brian Hart on to pitch for Bauer*
-Stone Lawless works a walk.
-Reese Chapman flies out to shallow LF.
-Dean Curley bloops a single into shallow CF. Lawless out at second.
- Shortstop nearly had the catch but barely misjudged it.
-Gavin Kilen strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 8, Pride 0
6th Inning:
T6
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin on to pitch for Doyle*
*Final line for Liam Doyle in his Tennessee debut*
- 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K, 42 strikes on 58 total pitches, faced the minimum (15 hitters)
-Trenton Snyder HBP.
- First baserunner for Hofstra today.
-Dom Camera strikes out swinging.
-Michael Brown strikes out looking.
-Dylan Palmer strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Hunter Ensley reaches on a throwing error by SS.
*Colby Backus pinch-running for Ensley*
-Jay Abernathy lines out to LF.
-Cannon Peebles works a walk. Backus advances to second.
*Blake Grimmer pinch-hitting for Manny Marin*
-Grimmer is walked and the bases are loaded with one out.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging.
-Stone Lawless drills a two-run double off the left-field wall. Backus and and Peebles score. Grimmer advances to third.
*Pitching change: So. RHP Mike Sweeney on to pitch for Hart*
-Reese Chapman HBP. Bases loaded with two outs.
*Ariel Antigua pinch-hitting for Dean Curley*
-Ariel Antigua drives a two-run single through the left side. Chapman advances to second.
*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Gavin Kilen*
-Hunter High smokes a three-run homer over the right-field wall.
- 103 mph, 391 feet. No doubter.
-Colby Backus strikes out swinging, out at first 2-3.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 15, Pride 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Antigua to SS*
*High to LF*
*Backus to CF*
*Abernathy to 2B*
*Grimmer to 3B*
-Luke Masiuk strikes out looking.
-Tyler Cox reaches on a fielding error by Bargo.
- Bargo dropped Abernathy’s throw.
-Bryce Curry grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 15, Pride 0
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 15, Hofstra Pride 0 (RUN-RULE VICTORY)
