SCORE: Tennessee 7, North Alabama 5 | FINAL

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

Third-ranked Tennessee baseball (7-0) is set to battle the North Alabama Lions (3-3) Tuesday in a midweek contest in Knoxville.

First pitch at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. ET on SECN+.

Tennessee is looking to remain undefeated on the season after sweeping Samford last weekend. The Vols own series sweeps over Hofstra and Samford as well as a midweek win over UNC Asheville on the young season.

Samford was the toughest opponent Tennessee had faced to date. The Vols beat the Bulldogs in a stress-free 5-1 on Friday before clinching the series Saturday in a 7-3 thriller thanks to a go-ahead grand slam from freshman Levi Clark. Samford’s lack of pitching depth led to a less-competitive game on Sunday, with Tennessee achieving a 11-1 run-rule series-sweeping victory.

Read the recaps of Tennessee’s trio of wins over Samford below.

GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Opens Weekend Series With Victory Over Samford

GAME TWO RECAP: Late Grand Slam Gives Tennessee Baseball Series-Clinching Win Over Samford

GAME THREE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Run-Rules Samford To Complete Weekend Sweep

With the series sweep, Tennessee moved up one spot in D1 Baseball’s rankings from No. 4 to No. 3. Additionally, Tennessee claimed the No. 1 spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Tennessee is the highest-ranked of the four undefeated teams in D1’s Top 10.

RANKINGS: Where Tennessee Baseball Lands In Various Rankings Following 7-0 Start

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 pitching 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 was 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.

NOTEBOOK: Tennessee Baseball Notebook: Takeaways From The Vols’ First Seven Games 

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. Vitello is also still experimenting with the day three starting pitcher role. Nate Snead started game three of the Hofstra series but then came out of the bullpen in game two of the Samford series, leading to Brandon Arvidson getting the nod in the series finale in an opener role.

Arvidson last week’s midweek contest against UNC Asheville, but Russell will get the ball against North Alabama with Arvidson having thrown just two days ago. This will be Russell’s first appearance and start of the season.

Expect Russell to throw just one inning and be used as an opener before Vitello opts to use many bullpen arms Tuesday.

EYE-OPENING STATS: Tennessee Baseball By the Numbers Seven Games Into the Season

Injury/Availability Notes

Tennessee enters the season relatively 100%, but a few players of note are either sidelined due to injury or still unable to play.

• 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 set to return Tuesday from UCL surgery last summer. The star junior made an incredibly speedy recovery. We’ve known Russell was on a great recovery track after Tony Vitello gave a positive update before the season.
• 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.
• LHP Dylan Loy is working his way back to 100% and may make his season debut Tuesday.
• RHP Tegan Kuhns did not pitch on opening weekend due to an illness. Kuhns was available in Sunday’s series finale against Samford but did not see action. The highly-touted freshman may make his season debut against North Alabama.

Opponent Scout

The Lions were picked to finish 10th in the ASUN (Atlantic Sun) Preseason Poll. Head Coach Jad Prachniak is entering his 10th year with the program after an 18-35-1 (10-19-1 ASUN) record in 2024.

UNA won two-of-three games in a season-opening series against Army. The Lions followed it up with a midweek loss to Auburn and then split a doubleheader vs. Saint Louis last weekend. Game three of the Saint Louis series was canceled.

North Alabama has no Preseason All-Conference Selections. Tonight’s game should be fairly one-sided in Tennessee’s favor.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Finished Sweeping Samford

For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, including how VFL Christian Moore is turning heads in Los Angeles Angels spring training, click here.

For the latest RTI Press Pass baseball podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep of Samford, click here.

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

VIDEO: Tony Vitello Recaps Series-Sweeping Win Over Samford

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

TENNESSEE STARTING NINE: 

SS Dean Curley (R)

2B Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

3B Andrew Fischer (L)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

DH Levi Clark (R)

1B Stone Lawless (R)

LF Jay Abernathy (L)

Lineup Notes:

• Clark gets the DH start, his first since the series opener vs. Samford. Clark hit a pinch-hit home run in Saturday and Sunday’s win over Samford, continuing his hot start to season at the plate as a freshman.
• Andrew Fischer starting at 3B for the second time this season, which is his natural spot. Fischer has mostly worked at 1B this season given the lack of options at the position while Osuna remains ineligible.
• Cannon Peebles behind the plate after Stone Lawless got the catcher start Sunday.
• Lawless getting his first career start at 1B with Fischer working at first. In the only game Fischer hasn’t started at 1B before today, Dalton Bargo started at first.
  • Lawless impressed at the plate Sunday going 2-3 and hitting his first career home run.
• Jay Abernathy working in left-field after back-to-back DH starts on Saturday and Sunday.
• No Dalton Bargo today, who started all three games of the Samford series.

NORTH ALABAMA STARTING NINE: 

2B Jonathan Lane (R)

CF Alex Wilson (R)

C Matthew Delgado (R)

1B Petey Craska (R)

RF Alex Wade (R)

DH Wes Walker (R)

SS Leighton Jenkins (R)

LF RJ Sherwood (R)

3B Bryant Loving (R)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP AJ Russell (2024 stats: 0-1, 5.02 ERA, 6 app., 4 starts, 14.1 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 8 BB, 21 K, 2 XBH, .231 opp. batting avg., 2.00 WHIP)

vs.

Lions Fr. LHP Reese Young (0-0, 2.25 ERA, 1 app., 1 start, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 0 XBH, .214 opp. batting avg., 1.50 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• First start and appearance for Russell this season.
  • Russell is making his return from Tommy John surgery last June, a remarkable turnaround time given the type of surgery.
  • BUT, Russell’s UCL wasn’t completely torn allowing the hard-throwing righty to make a more speedy recovery.
  • Russell is expected to throw just one inning in an opener role.
  • Russell began 2024 as Tennessee’s opening day starter but got injured in his second appearance of the season and was never able to get back to 100%.
• Young was UNA’s midweek starter last week in a 6-2 loss to Auburn.

Uniforms

Tennessee: Midweek pinstripes (new)

North Alabama: Grey shirts and pants with purple caps

---

*NOTES*

• The run-rule IS NOT in effect tonight.
• Tennessee’s No. 3 ranking refers to D1 Baseball’s poll.
  • Tennessee is No. 1 in the USA Today Poll, No. 2 in the NCBWA and Baseball America polls and No. 4 in the Perfect Game poll.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Jonathan Lane strikes out looking after an 8-pitch at-bat.

• 96 mph strike three. Russell’s fastball was in the mid-90s that at-bat. 97 was the high.

-Alex Wilson strikes out looking.

• 95 mph strike three.

-Matthew Delgado strikes out looking.

• 95 mph strike three.
• Quite the 1-2-3 inning for Russell in his season debut with three backwards Ks.
• 17-pitch inning.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

LHP Michael Sharman is warming up in the bullpen.

-Dean Curley singles through the left side.

• Went under the shortstop’s glove.

-Gavin Kilen works a walk.

-Hunter Ensley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play. Curley to third.

-Andrew Fischer HBP.

-Cannon Peebles knocks an RBI single to LF to score Curley. Fischer to second.

-Reese Chapman drives an RBI single to LF to score Fischer. Peebles to second.

-Levi Clark works a walk after a long at-bat.

• 7-pitch at-bat.
• Bases loaded with two outs for Stone Lawless.

-Stone Lawless works an RBI walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Jay Abernathy.

-Jay Abernathy smacks a two-run single to LF.

• Just went over the third baseman’s glove. Abernathy continues his hot streak at the plate.
• All of Tennessee’s 5 runs so far have come with two outs.

-Dean Curley flies out to the warning track in RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Lions 0

2nd Inning: 

T2

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Michael Sharman (0-0, 27.00 ERA) on to pitch for Russell*

-Petey Craska strikes out swinging.

• Sharman’s first strikeout of his Tennessee career.

-Alex Wade grounds out to 3B.

-Wes Walker strikes out swinging.

• Nice 1-2-3 inning for Sharman, who struggled in his Tennessee debut vs. Hofstra.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

B2

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Anthony Pingeton (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Young*

-Gavin Kilen sends a single to RF.

-Hunter Ensley reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Kilen advances to second on a fielding error by SS.

• Shortstop bobbled the ball allowing Kilen to easily get to second.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to RF.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Reese Chapman slaps an RBI single to LF to score Kilen. Ensley to second.

• Chapman continues his remarkable consistency at the plate.

-Levi Clark works a walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Stone Lawless.

-Stone Lawless strikes out looking to strand the bases loaded.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 6, Lions 0

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Leighton Jenkins grounds out to 3B.

-RJ Sherwood works a walk.

-Bryant Loving ropes a double off the right-field wall. Sherwood to third.

• Chapman tried to make a jumping catch but his jump was too early.

*Pitching change: So. RHP Thomas Crabtree (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Sharman*

-Jonathan Lane strikes out swinging.

-Alex Wilson rips a two-run single up the middle.

-Matthew Delgado flies out to deep CF.

• Great catch by Ensley, who sprinted towards the wall to make it.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Hunter Bell (0-0, 6.00 ERA) on to pitch for Pingeton*

-Jay Abernathy out at first 1B to P.

-Dean Curley flies out to deep center.

-Gavin Kilen deposits a solo homer into the lower-deck of the left-field porches.

• 3rd HR of the season for Kilen.
• 351 feet, 96 mph.
• Kilen now tied with Curley, Bargo and Clark for the team lead in home runs.

-Hunter Ensley singles to 3B.

• Great stop by the third baseman Bryant Loving who dove to prevent it from going into left field.
• Loving was immediately in a lot of pain after the dive and never threw it to first. Exited the game after being checked out by trainers.

*Jayden Sloan to 3B for Loving*

-Andrew Fischer flies out to RF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 2

4th Inning: 

T4

*Pitching change: Fr. LHP Dylan Loy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Crabtree*

• Season debut for Loy.

Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns is warming up in the bullpen.

-Petey Craska lines a double down the RF line.

-Alex Wade pops up to 1B.

• Was tough to track for Lawless. Ends up making a fairly impressive semi-diving catch for the out.

-Wes Walker grounds out to SS. Craska to third.

• Nice stretch by Lawless at first. Wasn’t a great throw by Curley.

-Leighton Jenkins strikes out swinging.

• Nice job by Loy to work around a little trouble there.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

*Pitching change: Sr. LHP Caleb Menina (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Bell*

-Cannon Peebles singles to 3B.

• Nice dive by Sloan to stop it and prevent an extra-base hit but did not come close to making the throw on time.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Levi Clark singles to right center. Peebles to second.

-Stone Lawless grounds out to C. Runners advance to second and third.

• Swinging bunt.

-Jay Abernathy lines out to CF.

• Hard-hit ball right to Alex Wilson. Strands a pair.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 2

5th Inning: 

T5

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Loy*

• Career debut for the highly-touted freshman.

-RJ Sherwood grounds out to 3B.

• Nice play by Fischer and Lawless. Was a hard-hit ball down the 3B line.

-Jayden Sloan grounds out to SS.

-Jonathan Lane grounds out to P.

• Nice 1-2-3 inning for Kuhns in his first inning as a Vol.
• 11-pitch inning.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

*Pitching change: John Allen Stogner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Menina*

-Dean Curley flies out to RF.

-Gavin Kilen flies out to CF.

-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 2

6th Inning: 

T6

-Alex Wilson strikes out swinging.

-Matthew Delgado works a walk.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Luke Payne (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*

-Petey Craska works a walk. Delgado to second.

*Pitching change: R-So. RHP Austin Hunley (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Payne*

-Alex Wade strikes out swinging after an 8-pitch at-bat.

-Wes Walker out at first 1B to P.

• Another nice appearance from Hunley, who has only entered games with runners on so far this season.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

*Pitching change: Jr. LHP Gavin Oswald (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Stogner*

-Andrew Fischer out at first 1B to P.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.

-Reese Chapman works a walk.

-Levi Clark smokes a double to left-center. Chapman advances to third, out at home 7-6-2.

• Bad send by Elander. Wasn’t even close.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 2

7th Inning: 

T7

*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Nic Abraham (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Hunley*

-Leighton Jenkins grounds out to 3B.

-RJ Sherwood flies out to LF.

-Jayden Sloan singles to CF.

-Jonathan Lane singles through the right side. Sloan to second.

-Alex Wilson sends an RBI single up the middle to score Sloan. Lane to second.

• Lane rounded second to head to third. Should’ve been thrown out coming back to second, but miscommunication from Tennessee led to a delay in a throw being made from Ensley.

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

-Matthew Delgado reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Wilson out at second, 6-4.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Landon Scruggs (0-1, 3.37 ERA) on to pitch for Oswald*

*Dalton Bargo pinch-hitting for Stone Lawless*

-Bargo grounds out to 2B.

-Jay Abernathy grounds out to SS.

• Nice play by UNA SS Leighton Jenkins to get the throw there on time.

-Dean Curley is walked on four pitches.

-Gavin Kilen is walked. Curley to second.

-Hunter Ensley HBP on a 3-0 count.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Andrew Fischer.

*Pitching change: Sr. RHP Kyle Lewis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Scruggs*

-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 1B unassisted.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 3

8th Inning: 

T8

*Bargo to 1B*

*Curley to 3B*

*Ariel Antigua to SS for Andrew Fischer*

-Petey Craska singles to right-center.

Craska advances to second on a wild pitch.

-Alex Wade grounds out to SS.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Ryan Combs (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Breedlove*

-Wes Walker drops a bloop single into left-center. Craska to third.

• Landed in no man’s land. Craska should’ve gone home.

-Leighton Jenkins sends an RBI groundout to SS. Walker to second.

• Great play by Antigua to get the out. Chopper was tough to field.

Walker advances to third on a wild pitch.

-RJ Sherwood strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

-Cannon Peebles strikes out looking.

-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.

-Levi Clark is walked on four pitches.

*Colby Backus pinch-running for Clark*

-Dalton Bargo flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 4

9th Inning: 

T9

-Jayden Sloan strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Jonathan Lane singles to LF.

-Alex Wilson is walked. Lane to second.

Runners advance on a wild pitch.

-Matthew Delgado connects for an RBI groundout to SS.

• Another excellent play by Antigua. Dude is a stud at shortstop.

-Petey Craska strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 7, Lions 5

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 7, North Alabama Lions 5