SCORE: Tennessee 13, Hofstra 1 | (7 inn. – Run-Rule)

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Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (2-0) is set to battle the Hofstra Pride (0-2) Sunday in game three of a three-game series in Knoxville. Tennessee won the series opener 15-0 in a seven-inning, run-rule victory and defeated the Pride Saturday in an 18-1, series-clinching, run-rule win. Read the recaps from games one and two below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Liam Doyle Dominates As Tennessee Baseball Run-Rules Hofstra In Season Opener

GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Clinches Hofstra Series With Dominant, Run-Rule Victory

With the series already clinched, the Vols will aim to sweep their first series of the season on Saturday.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 11:00 a.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 Reese Chapman, Cannon Peebles, Stone Lawless 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 Pitching Plan for Hofstra Series Finale

Vitello has experimented plenty with the lineup throughout the weekend and will moving forward in non-conference play in efforts to find the best nine. And while Friday and Saturday’s starting pitchers were announced before the series, Sunday’s starter was not announced until the post-game press conference on Saturday.

Junior right-hander Nate Snead will start on the bump in the series finale. It will be his second career start as a Vol.

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.

Hofstra is no match for Tennessee, and this will in all likelihood be a series sweep for the Vols to begin the season.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Series Win Over Hofstra

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: Tony Vitello Recaps Series-Clinching Win Over 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: 

3B Dean Curley (R)

SS Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

DH Cannon Peebles (S)

C Stone Lawless (R)

LF Chris Newstrom (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

2B Ariel Antigua (R)

Lineup Notes:

• 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.
• Freshman Chris Newstrom gets the nod in LF for the second straight day. He went 2-3 at the plate with 3 RBI on Saturday. Vitello will continue to rotate at that spot and others throughout non-conference play.
• Stone Lawless behind the plate for the second time this series (Friday), and Peebles goes back to handling DH duties. Peebles is the primary catcher for the Vols but is working his way back to 100% from a preseason injury.
• Ariel Antigua gets the start at second base, his first start of the season. Kilen and Curley then move over one spot to SS and #B, respectively. Manny Marin had started Friday and Saturday at third.
• Ensley, Chapman, Kilen and Curley are all no doubt starters moving forward, though Kilen and Curley could clearly play multiple spots in the infield.

HOFSTRA STARTING NINE: 

2B Dylan Palmer (L)

LF Tyler Cox (L)

3B Bryce Curry (R)

C CJ Griggs (L)

1B Sean Lane (R)

RF Luke Masiuk (R)

CF Trenton Snyder (R)

3B Mike Sweeney (R)

SS Michael Brown (S)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP Nate Snead (2024 stats: 10-2, 3.11 ERA, 6 SV, 29 app., 1 start, 75.1 IP, 71 H, 28 R, 26 ER, 26 BB, 61 K, 19 XBH, .251 opp. batting avg., 1.29 WHIP)

vs.

Pride RHP Branden Brown (2024 stats at Chesapeake College: 4-6, 4.38 ERA, 12 app., 12 starts, 49.1 IP, 32 H, 37 R, 24 ER, 46 BB, 78 K, 1.58 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Second start for Snead in his Tennessee career.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Sunday creams (old tops, new pants)

Hofstra: All blue with gold accents.

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*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.

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GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

*Jake Harring to 2B for Dylan Palmer*

• Hofstra mistakenly had Palmer starting and leading off when they turned in the lineup card.

-Harring legs out an infield single to C.

• Lawless’ throw was too far outside but would’ve been a tough play anyway.

Harring steals second.

• Lawless’ throw was far too high.

-Tyler Cox grounds out to 1B unassisted. Harring advances to third.

-Bryce Curry sends a sac fly to RF.

-CJ Griggs out at first 1B to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley slaps a single to CF, advances to second and third on a fielding error by CF.

Curley scores on a wild pitch.

-Gavin Kilen is walked.

-Hunter Ensley drives a single to LF. Kilen advances to second.

-Andrew Fischer works a walk.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Cannon Peebles.

-Cannon Peebles knocks an RBI single to 1B to score Kilen. Ensley and Fischer advance to second and third.

• Shocked that was ruled a hit. Thought it was clearly an error on Sean Lane at first base.

-Stone Lawless smacks an RBI single to LF to score Ensley. Peebles and Fischer advance.

• Bases still loaded with no outs.

-Chris Newstrom strikes out swinging.

-Reese Chapman dribbles an RBI groundout to 1B to score Fischer. Lawless advances to second, Peebles advances to third.

-Ariel Antigua lines out to 2B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Pride 1

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Sean Lane doubles to left-center.

-Luke Masiuk works a walk.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Trenton Snyder strikes out swinging.

-Mike Sweeney strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Michael Brown is walked on four pitches.

• Bases loaded with two outs for leadoff man Jake Harring.

-Jake Harring grounds out to 1B unassisted.

• Good play by Fischer.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.

-Gavin Kilen is walked.

Curley advances to all the way to third. Ball four was a wild pitch.

-Hunter Ensley reaches on an RBI fielder’s choice to SS. Curley scores. Kilen advances to third on throwing error by SS.

Ensley advances to second on a throwing error by P, failed pickoff attempt. Kilen scores on the error.

-Andrew Fischer is walked.

-Cannon Peebles pops up to SS.

-Stone Lawless is walked.

• Bases loaded with one out for Chris Newstrom.

-Chris Newstrom is issued an RBI walk.

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Grady Lacourciere on to pitch for Brown*

-Reese Chapman launches a grand slam to the left-field porches.

• 2nd grand slam of Tennessee’s season. 104 mph, 341 feet. Wall-scraper.

-Ariel Antigua is walked on four pitches.

-Dean Curley singles through the right side. Antigua advances to third.

-Gavin Kilen lines out to 2B.

-Hunter Ensley delivers an RBI single up the middle. Antigua scores. Curley advances to second.

*Colby Backus pinch-running for Hunter Ensley*

-Andrew Fischer flies out to LF.

• 8 runs on just TWO hits for Tennessee in the 2nd inning.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Pride 1

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Backus to CF*

-Tyler Cox strikes out swinging.

-Bryce Curry grounds out to SS.

-CJ Griggs grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Cannon Peebles works a walk.

-Stone Lawless is walked.

-Chris Newstrom grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. Peebles advances to third.

• Some good, fundamental defense from Hofstra!

-Reese Chapman flies out to RF.

• Nice sliding catch by Hofstra right-fielder Luke Masiuk.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Pride 1

4th Inning: 

T4

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Andrew Behnke on to pitch for Snead*

Final line for Nate Snead: 3.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 25 strikes on 40 total pitches

-Sean Lane strikes out swinging.

-Luke Masiuk singles to LF.

-Trenton Snyder flies out to RF.

-Mike Sweeney flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Aidan Gallagher to LF for Tyler Cox*

*Michael Craig to 1B for Sean Lane*

*Nick Gallelo to RF for Luke Masiuk*

*Tyler Cox to CF for Trenton Snyder*

*Blake Grimmer pinch-hitting for Ariel Antigua*

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

*Manny Marin pinch-hitting for Dean Curley*

-Marin deposits a single into right field. Grimmer advances to second.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to RF.

-Colby Backus strikes out swinging.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Pride 1

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Ryan Combs on to pitch for Behnke*

• Tennessee debut for Combs

*Grimmer to 3B*

*Marin to 2B*

-Michael Brown strikes out swinging.

-Jake Harring strikes out swinging.

-Tyler Cox sends a single to CF.

-Bryce Curry grounds out to P.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Brayden Gregg on to pitch for Lacourciere*

*Brayden Sharp pinch-hitting for Cannon Peebles*

-Brayden Sharp flies out to LF.

-Stone Lawless works a walk.

*Dalton Bargo pinch-hitting for Chris Newstrom*

-Bargo strikes out swinging.

*Hunter High pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

-High strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 12, Pride 1

6th Inning: 

T6

*Pitching change: LHP Luke Payne on to pitch for Combs*

*Marin to SS*

*Jay Abernathy to 2B for Gavin Kilen*

*Levi Clark to C for Andrew Fischer*

*Lawless to 1B*

*Bargo to LF*

*High to RF*

-CJ Griggs flies out to RF.

-Michael Craig works a walk.

-Nick Gallelo pops up to P.

-Aidan Gallagher strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Blake Grimmer works a walk.

-Manny Marin HBP. Grimmer advances to second.

-Jay Abernathy knocks a single to LF. Runners advance.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Colby Backus.

-Backus strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Levi Clark sends a sac fly to CF to score Grimmer.

-Brayden Sharp strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 13, Pride 1

7th Inning: 

T7

*Austin Breedlove on to pitch for Payne*

*Trent Jenks pinch-hitting for Mike Sweeney*

-Jenks grounds out to 3B.

• Nice stretch by Lawless at first.

-Michael Brown grounds out to P.

• Really nice defensive play by Breedlove.

-Jake Harring grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 13, Pride 1

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 13, Hofstra Pride 1 (7 inn. – Run-Rule)