SCORE: Tennessee 29, UNC Asheville 4 | FINAL (7 inn. – Run-Rule)

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

Fourth-ranked Tennessee baseball (3-0) is set to battle the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (3-0) Tuesday in the first midweek contest of 2025.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on SECN+.

First pitch was initially scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET but was moved up 30 minutes due to dropping temperatures & inclement weather later in the evening.

The Vols enter Tuesday coming off a series sweep of the Hofstra Pride to open the 2025 season. Recaps of all three games can be found 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

GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Run-Rules Hofstra To Complete The Series Sweep

Tennessee is 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

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Rankings Following Opening Weekend Sweep

Vitello has experimented plenty with the lineup so far this season and will moving forward in non-conference play in efforts to find the best nine, which may involve more freshmen than anticipated. True freshmen Levi Clark, Manny Marin and Chris Newstrom received five starts combined in the season-opening series, all looking like sure-fire consistent contributors. Freshman Jay Abernathy also saw playing time in all three games and impressed.

PREVIEW: Tennessee Baseball 2025 Season Preview: Accolades, Predictions

DESERVING: Tennessee Freshman Jay Abernathy Deserves To Start

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

UNC Asheville also enters Tuesday’s contest 3-0 coming off a series sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson over the weekend. The Bulldogs outscored FDU 26-14 in the series

This will mark the fourth straight season that the Vols and Bulldogs have played each other in Knoxville. Tennessee has won the last 10 meetings between the two programs dating back to 2015. The Vols and Bulldogs played a highly competitive game a year ago when Tennessee won 3-2, scoring the go-ahead run in the 7th inning.

The two sides also played a competitive game in 2023 when the Vols won 5-0 but didn’t score until the 5th inning.

UNC Asheville finished 2024 with a 22-28 record as a mediocre Big South team, going 10-14 in the conference. The Bulldogs were picked to finish 7th in the Big South this preseason and have one Preseason All-Conference selection in RHP Colby Guy.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Completed Sweep Of 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 the Vols’ series sweep of Hofstra, click here.

For the 2025 Tennessee Baseball season preview podcast, click here.

More From RTI: Tennessee Athletics Announces Schedule, Details For 2025 Big Orange Caravan

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Discusses Tennessee Baseball Series Sweep 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)

3B Andrew Fischer (L)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

DH Levi Clark (R)

1B Dalton Bargo (L)

LF Jay Abernathy (L)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Fischer getting his first start at 3B – which is where he’s expected to primarily play this season – after starting at 1B in the Hofstra series while working his way back to 100% from an arm injury.
• Bargo gets the 1B nod with Fischer going back to third. Not a surprise.
• Clark gets the DH start after an amazing weekend at the plate (1.000 avg.)
• Abernathy getting his first Tennessee start. He appeared in all three games of the Hofstra series and passed the eye test.
  • Likely first of many starts for the highly-touted freshman
• Peebles behind the plate over Stone Lawless. They will rotate but Peebles is the primary catcher.
• Chapman still in the 9-hole after a 7 RBI weekend.
• This was a popular projected starting nine with Osuna still ineligible, this why Tennessee being a lefty-heavy lineup was a common preseason storyline.

UNC ASHEVILLE STARTING NINE: 

SS Logan Lowe (R)

2B Corbin Lanowitz (L)

3B Patrick Gillen (L)

LF Owen Michelson (R)

DH Rylen Stockton (R)

1B Ben Hemphill (R)

RF Caiden Chilausky (R)

C Coleman McGinnis (R)

CF Jake Pereira (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols R-So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 app., 0 starts, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 BF, .000 opp. batting avg., .00 WHIP)

vs.

Bulldogs R-Jr. RHP Branden Barna (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 XBH, 7 BF, .143 opp. batting avg., .50 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• First start for Arvidson in his Tennessee career.
• Arvidson is a JUCO transfer who logged a 1-2-3, 7-pitch inning in Tennessee’s 18-1 win over Hofstra Saturday. It was Arvidson’s only appearance in the series.
• Barna was used as an opener in UNC Asheville’s 11-7 series-sweeping victory over FDU on Sunday.

Uniforms

Tennessee: NEW Midweek Pinstripes

UNC Asheville: Blue tops grey pants

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*NOTES*

• The run-rule IS in effect today. 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 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 poll.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Logan Lowe strikes out swinging.

-Corbin Lanowitz singles to 2B.

• Kilen dove to stop it from going into the outfield but was unable to get back up and fire it to first in time.

-Patrick Gillen strikes out looking.

-Owen Michelson grounds out to 2B.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Dean Curley smokes a leadoff home run to left center.

• 2nd HR for Curley on the young season.
• 428 feet, 107 mph.

-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 2B.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

-Andrew Fischer smacks a double to right-center.

-Cannon Peebles works a walk.

-Levi Clark strikes out swinging on three pitches.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Bulldogs 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Rylen Stockton works a leadoff walk.

-Ben Hemphill flies out to RF.

-Caiden Chilausky rips a double to LF. Stockton advances to third.

-Coleman McGinnis slaps a three-run homer to RF.

-Jake Pereira strikes out swinging.

-Logan Lowe strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

*Pitching change: RHP Zachary Gaydos on to pitch for Barna*

-Dalton Bargo knocks a leadoff homer to right center.

• Bargo’s first of the season.
• 392 feet, 100 mph.

-Jay Abernathy is walked on four pitches.

-Reese Chapman flies out to LF.

Abernathy steals second.

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.

-Gavin Kilen launches a three-run home run to RF.

• Kilen’s first HR of the season. Ninth Vol to hit a HR this season and third today.
• Absolute no-doubter.
• 403 feet, 105 mph.

-Hunter Ensley is walked on four pitches.

*Pitching change: RHP Matthew Hall on to pitch for Gaydos*

-Andrew Fischer works a walk after a nine-pitch at-bat. Ensley advances to second.

-Cannon Peebles fouls out to 3B.

-Levi Clark singles to SS.

• Shortstop stopped the ball from going into the outfield but was unable to plant and throw.
• Bases loaded with two outs for Bargo.

-Dalton Bargo smokes a grand slam straight away to CF.

• 2nd HR of of the game and season for Bargo.
• 426 feet, 106 mph. Mashed.
• Third grand slam of the season for Tennessee (Chapman, Ensley).

-Jay Abernathy is walked on four pitches.

Abernathy steals second.

Abernathy steals third, scores on a throwing error by C.

-Reese Chapman singles to CF.

-Dean Curley works a walk. Chapman advances to second.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 10, Bulldogs 3

3rd Inning: 

T3

*Pitching change: RHP Nic Abraham on to pitch for Arvidson*

• Tennessee debut for Abraham

-Corbin Lanowitz grounds out to 2B.

-Patrick Gillen strikes out looking.

-Owen Michelson pops up to 3B.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: RHP Shea Walker on to pitch for Hall*

-Hunter Ensley singles to SS.

-Andrew Fischer sends a single to CF. Ensley advances to second.

-Cannon Peebles works a walk.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Levi Clark.

-Clark works an RBI walk after a 7-pitch at-bat. Ensley scores.

• Bases still loaded with no outs for Bargo.

-Dalton Bargo strikes out looking.

• Questionable ball four call. Looked outside. Bargo went to flip his bat and walk to first but the home plate ump rung him up.

-Jay Abernathy delivers a sac fly to CF to score Fischer. Clark and Peebles advance to second and third.

-Reese Chapman reaches on a throwing error by SS. Clark and Peebles score on the error.

• First baseman couldn’t make the pick on the poor throw in the dirt. Two Vols score as a result.

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches. Chapman advances to second.

-Gavin Kilen cracks an RBI single to right field. Chapman scores. Curley advances to second.

*Pitching change: LHP Sam Thompson on to pitch for Walker*

-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice to 3B. Kilen advances to second, Curley advances to third.

• Third baseman struggled fielding the ball, looked like he was initially going to try and tag third, then when it was too late, went to throw to first but was too late there as well.
• Bases loaded with two outs for Andrew Fischer.

-Andrew Fischer RBI HBP.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Cannon Peebles.

-Cannon Peebles smacks a two-run single through the left side to score Kilen and Ensley.

-Levi Clark reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Peebles out at second, 4-6.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 18, Bulldogs 3

4th Inning: 

T4

-Rylen Stockton flies out to RF.

-Ben Hemphill reaches on a throwing error by 3B.

• Fischer’s throw was too high, took Bargo off the bag.

-Caiden Chilausky reaches on a fielding error by SS.

• Ball went under Curley’s glove. Poor infield defense from Tennessee this inning.

*Pitching change: RHP Austin Hunley (0-0, 0.00) ERA on to pitch for Abraham*

-Coleman McGinnis strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Jake Pereira knocks an RBI single up the middle. Chilausky advances to second.

-Logan Lowe strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Lanowitz to 3B*

*Isaac Turner to 2B for Patrick Gillen*

-Dalton Bargo works a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat.

-Jay Abernathy works a walk. Bargo to second.

-Reese Chapman flies out to CF. Bargo to third.

Abernathy steals second.

-Dean Curley cranks a three-run homer off the batter’s eye.

• 3rd of the season for Curley, 2nd of the game.
• 5th HR of the day for Tennessee.
• 415 feet, 103 mph.

-Gavin Kilen is walked.

*Ariel Antigua pinch-running for Kilen*

*Pitching change: RHP Ryland Howell on to pitch for Thompson*

-Hunter Ensley grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 21, Bulldogs 4

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: RHP Tanner Wiggins on to pitch for Hunley*

*Antigua to SS*

*Fischer to 1B*

*Bargo to LF*

*Abernathy to 2B*

*Curley to 3B*

-Corbin Lanowitz strikes out swinging.

-Isaac Turner grounds out to SS.

*Kolby Watson pinch-hitting for Owen Michelson*

-Watson strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Watson to LF*

-Andrew Fischer is walked.

*Blake Grimmer pinch-running for Fischer*

-Cannon Peebles bloops a single to left field. Grimmer to second.

• Some miscommunication between the left-fielder and third baseman on who was going to catch it. Ball fell in between them.

-Levi Clark ropes a two-run double down the LF line. Grimmer and Peebles score.

-Dalton Bargo singles to CF. Clark to third.

-Jay Abernathy is walked.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Colby Backus.

*Colby Backus pinch-hitting for Reese Chapman*

-Backus strikes out looking.

-Dean Curley works an RBI walk. Clark scores.

*Hunter High pinch-running for Curley*

-Ariel Antigua sends a two-run single through the left side to score Abernathy and Bargo. Curley to second.

*Chris Newstrom pinch-hitting for Hunter Ensley*

-Newstrom works a walk.

• Bases loaded with one out for Blake Grimmer*

*Pitching change: RHP Garrett Crum on to pitch for Howell*

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

Runners advance on a wild pitch. High scores on a wild pitch.

-Cannon Peebles is walked.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Levi Clark

-Clark is issued an RBI walk to score Antigua.

-Dalton Bargo reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Clark out at second, 6U.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 28, Bulldogs 4

6th Inning: 

T6

*Pitching change: LHP Brayden Sharp on to pitch for Wiggins*

*Backus to CF*

*High to LF*

*Newstrom to RF*

*Grimmer to 3B*

*Bargo to 1B*

*Stone Lawless to C for Peebles*

*Jake Minarik pinch-hitting for Rylen Stockton*

-Minarik grounds out to 3B.

-Ben Hemphill strikes out looking.

-Caiden Chilausky strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

• Nice 1-2-3 inning for Sharp in his season debut on the mound.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: RHP Cal Barna on to pitch for Crum*

-Jay Abernathy singles up the middle.

-Colby Backus strikes out looking.

Abernathy advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Hunter High is walked on four pitches.

-Ariel Antigua is walked.

• Bases loaded with one out for Chris Newstrom.

-Chris Newstrom is issued a four-pitch RBI walk.

• Bases still loaded.
• 29 runs ties a Vitello-era record for most runs in a game by Tennessee baseball.

*Pitching change: RHP John Whiteside (0-0, 9.00 ERA) on to pitch for Barna*

-Blake Grimmer strikes out looking.

-Stone Lawless lines out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 29, Bulldogs 4

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: RHP Brayden Krenzel on to pitch for Sharp*

*Brock Mercado pinch-hitting for Coleman McGinnis*

-Jake Pereira lines into a 1-3 double play.

*Eric Krumpe pinch-hitting for Logan Lowe*

-Krumpe strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 29, Bulldogs 4

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 29, UNC Asheville Bulldogs 4 (7 inn. – Run-Rule Victory)