SCORE: Tennessee 5, Alabama 6 | FINAL
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No. 1 Tennessee baseball (20-1, 3-0 SEC) is set to battle the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide (21-1, 3-0 SEC) Thursday night in Tuscaloosa in game one of a three-game series.
First pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
For a full preview of the Alabama series, including information on how to watch all three games and a prediction, click HERE.
Tennessee enters the series coming off its first loss of the season. The Vols dropped a midweek game to ETSU Tuesday night, 7-6, in 10 innings. The Vols had key performances from Hunter Ensley and Brayden Krenzel but two late, costly homers proved to be the difference.
Read about Tennessee’s first loss of 2025 HERE.
In the loss, Kilen suffered a lower-body injury when an ETSU player slid into him. The star second baseman is OUT for Thursday night’s series finale and his status for the remainder of the series is unknown.
Prior to the ETSU loss, Tennessee swept Florida in Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols used an elite relief outing from Nate Snead, solid start from Liam Doyle and a handful of crucial hits to earn a 5-3 series-opening win. Tennessee then run-ruled Florida 10-0 on Saturday behind an elite Marcus Phillips start before winning the series finale, 7-4.
With his complete-game shutout in Tennessee’s 10-0 win last Saturday, Phillips earned Co-SEC Pitcher of the Week honors with Alabama’s Bobby Alcock, who was tremendous in a 7.0-inning start in a series-sweeping win over Texas A&M.
Following the sweep of the Gators, Tennessee became the consensus No. 1 team in the country.
RANKINGS: Tennessee Baseball The Consensus Top Team In Nation Following Sweep Of Florida
The Vols have been dominant in their 20-1 start. UT’s pitching staff has a 1.94 team ERA while the offense has recorded 54 home runs. Overall, Tennessee has outscored opponents 231-51 this season.
The Vols have scored 10 or more runs in 12 of 19 games. In all 12 of those games, Tennessee also won by 10 or more runs. UT has recorded nine run-rule wins, and it would be 11 had Xavier and St. Bonaventure agreed to it.
More From RTI: Tennessee Set to Wear Alternate Uniforms For March Madness Opener
The worst part of Tennessee’s undefeated season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge last Monday.
In response, Osuna penned a letter to the NCAA requesting they make things right and grant him eligibility.
Read more about the court’s decision and its impact on Osuna HERE.
Tennessee fans have been showing extra support for Osuna as of late. The Rock on UT’s campus had Osuna’s face painted on it last week with a message saying “#FreeBerto.”
Additionally, during a meeting of the House of Representatives, East Tennessee congressman Tim Burchett used his one minute, 53 second general speech to inform people about Osuna’s case while imploring the NCAA to grant the transfer slugger immediate eligibility.
Infielder Dean Curley also showed support for Osuna last Saturday during the series-clinching win over Florida, displaying a “Free Berto” tank top after hitting a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning.
FREE BERTO: Dean Curley Shows Support for Alberto Osuna With Double Celebration
With Osuna still ineligible, Andrew Fischer figures to get the vast majority of reps at first base. With Fischer playing first instead of third base, his natural position, Manny Marin and Dalton Bargo will get the majority of opportunities at third.
Injury/Availability Notes
Tennessee is relatively healthy but not 100%. See notable injuries/unavailabilities below.
- 2B Gavin Kilen is OUT with a lower-body injury. He suffered it against ETSU when a runner slid into him. It remains to be seen if Kilen will be able at some point in the series.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- LHP Andrew Behnke made his RETURN Tuesday against ETSU, pitching a scoreless 2.0 innings. He is AVAILABLE for Tennessee moving forward.
- RHP AJ Russell is fine and did not suffer a setback after making his return from UCL surgery against North Alabama, but Tennessee is exercising caution and likely won’t ramp up his action until April.
- 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
Alabama has had a very hot start to the season. The Tide are coming off a road sweep of Texas A&M that they capped off with a 2-0 win in the series finale. Day three pitching was the worry for the Tide entering the season, but Bobby Alcock shoved in a 7.0-inning start.
Alabama also has arguably the best player in the nation in infielder Justin Lebron. Lebron is hitting .360 on the season with 12 home runs, which is tied for the most in the NCAA. He’s also hit six doubles, one triple, and stole five bases.
The Tide own series sweeps over NDSU and Bradley in addition to A&M as well as a series win over Presbyterian. Alabama’s only loss of the season came to Presbyterian in the series finale. The Tide also beat NC State, Ohio State and Coastal Carolina in the Jacksonville Classic in February.
Alabama was picked to finish 13th in the SEC in the 2025 Preseason Poll, as the Tide have exceeded expectations thus far. Head coach Rob Vaughn is entering his second season in Tuscaloosa and boasts three Preseason All-Conference selections in SS Justin Lebron, DH/UTL Will Hodo and starting pitcher Zane Adams, who is starting Thursday.
This will be a tough series for Tennessee and could go either way. It would not be surprising if Alabama wins at least one game.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Suffered First Loss of the Season
For all of RTI’s preseason baseball coverage, click here.
For the latest RTI Diamond Pass podcast, discussing all the major takeaways from Tennessee’s series sweep Florida, click here.
VIDEO: Tony Vitello Reacts to Tennessee Baseball Loss to ETSU
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)
LF Jay Abernathy (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
DH Levi Clark (R)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
2B Manny Marin (R)
3B Dalton Bargo (L)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
Lineup Notes:
- With Gavin Kilen OUT with a lower-body injury, Manny Marin starts at second base.
- Manny Marin moves over to second to fill in for Kilen.
- Dalton Bargo gets the start at third with Marin moving to second.
- Jay Abernathy moves up in the order to the two-hole with Kilen out.
- Figured this would be the case as Tennessee wants a left-handed bat in the two-hole. Abernathy makes more sense there than Fischer or Chapman given the style of play.
- Abernathy back in left field after not starting in the midweek. Clark remains at DH.
- Cannon Peebles behind the plate and moves down a little in the order to the nine-hole.
ALABAMA STARTING NINE:
RF Bryce Fowler (L)
SS Justin Lebron (R)
DH Coleman Mizell (L)
3B Jason Torres (R)
1B Will Hodo (L)
2B Brennen Norton (R)
LF Kade Snell (L)
C Will Plattner (R)
CF Richie Bonomolo Jr. (R)
Pitching Matchup:
Vols Jr. RHP Liam Doyle (3-0, 0.72 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 25.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 53 K, 3 XBH, .114 opp. batting avg., 0.64 WHIP)
vs.
Crimson Tide So. LHP Zane Adams (3-0, 3.00 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 24.0 IP, 22 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 9 BB, 26 K, 4 XBH, .242 opp. batting avg., 1.29 WHIP)
Pitching notes:
- Doyle continues to start in a game one setting. Expect Nate Snead or Dylan Loy to be the top arms out of the bullpen with Tanner Franklin having thrown Tuesday.
- Allowed one run on three hits against Florida last week. Threw 105 pitches in 4.2 innings.
- Adams has been really solid in a game one setting for Alabama. The sophomore hasn’t given up more than three runs in a start and is coming off a start against Texas A&M in which he gave up just one earned run in 5.2 innings.
- Adams has not thrown more than 96 pitches in a start this season. His longest outing is 6.0 innings (Presbyterian).
Uniforms
Tennessee: Smokey Greys
Alabama: Maroon shirts, white pants
*NOTES*
- The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Alabama leads by 10 or more runs at any point after the seventh inning, the game is over.
GAME THREAD
1st Inning:
T1
-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging after an eight-pitch at-bat.
-Hunter Ensley works a walk.
-Andrew Fischer smokes a two-run homer to center.
- 8th HR of Fischer’s season.
- No doubter. Stood in the box for a second as he watched the ball travel a long way.
- 425 feet (!!!), 107 mph.
-Levi Clark flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Bryce Fowler strikes out swinging.
-Justin Lebron grounds out to 2B.
-Coleman Mizell works a walk.
-Jason Torres strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 2, Crimson Tide 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Reese Chapman reaches on a fielding error by 3B.
Chapman advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Manny Marin grounds out to P. Chapman to third.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out looking on three pitches.
-Cannon Peebles reaches on a fielding error by 3B. Marin scores on the error.
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Will Hodo sends a single through the right side.
-Brennen Norton HBP. Hodo to second.
- Tennessee challenged the play saying he leaned into it. Call was upheld.
-Kade Snell reaches on a fielding error by 2B.
- Manny was looking to get a double play. Didn’t take his time and lost the ball in transition.
- Bases loaded with no outs for Will Plattner.
-Will Plattner works an RBI walk.
- Ball four was inside. Doyle’s command hasn’t been great.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. works an RBI walk.
- Doyle needs to rebound quickly. Things are unraveling.
-Bryce Fowler strikes out swinging.
-Justin Lebron smacks a bases-clearing double to left-center.
-Coleman Mizell strikes out looking.
-Jason Torres HBP.
-Will Hodo flies out to RF in right center.
- What an incredible catch. Chapman LAID out for it. Saved a run.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 5
3rd Inning:
T3
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 2B.
-Hunter Ensley slaps a single to right field.
-Andrew Fischer reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Ensley out at second, 4-6.
-Levi Clark strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Brennen Norton flies out to the warning track in center.
-Kade Snell singles to SS.
- Dropped it on the transition. Would’ve been a semi-tough play so it’s ruled a single. Could’ve been an error.
-Will Plattner delivers a double to left-center. Snell to third.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. sends an RBI groundout to SS.
-Bryce Fowler flies out to CF in left-center.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 6
4th Inning:
T4
-Reese Chapman singles through the right side.
-Manny Marin pops up to SS.
-Dalton Bargo lines out to CF in left-center.
- Great catch by Alabama CF Richie Bonomolo Jr. Some incredible outfield catches so far tonight.
-Cannon Peebles reaches on a fielder’s choice to 2B. Chapman out at second, 2B unassisted.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Justin Lebron flies out to RF.
-Coleman Mizell works a walk.
-Jason Torres strikes out swinging.
-Will Hodo flies out to RF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 6
5th Inning:
T5
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging on three pitches.
-Jay Abernathy singles through the left side.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to CF.
-Andrew Fischer strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Brennen Norton strikes out swinging.
-Kade Snell singles to right field.
-Will Plattner singles through the left side. Snell to second.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. strikes out swinging.
-Bryce Fowler strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 6
6th Inning:
T6
-Levi Clark strikes out looking.
-Reese Chapman flies out to the warning track in RF.
- Alabama’s Bryce Fowler scaled the wall and robbed Chapman of a home run. What a play. Caught it above the wall.
-Manny Marin flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Justin Lebron strikes out swinging.
-Coleman Mizell grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Jason Torres flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 6
7th Inning:
T7
-Dalton Bargo singles to 2B.
- Throw was a bit short and outside from the second baseman in shallow right field. Hodo couldn’t make the tough catch, allowing Bargo to reach.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to RF in right-center.
-Dean Curley singles up the middle. Bargo to second.
*Pitching change: LHP Matthew Heiberger (2-1, 2.38 ERA) on to pitch for Adams*
-Jay Abernathy singles to P.
- Short ground ball and the pitcher failed to pick it up.
- Bases loaded with one out for Hunter Ensley.
-Hunter Ensley hits an RBI single off the pitcher.
- Hit Heiberger in the ankle. When he went to pick it up, he slipped, allowing Bargo to score.
-Andrew Fischer knocks a sac fly to CF to score Curley.
-Levi Clark flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Will Hodo strikes out looking.
-Brennen Norton pops up to 2B.
-Kade Snell grounds out to 2B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 6
8th Inning:
T8
-Reese Chapman HBP.
-Manny Marin works a walk.
-Dalton Bargo lines into a 6-3 double play. Chapman safe at second.
- Marin was really far off the bag, was easily out coming back.
*Pitching change: RHP Carson Ozmer (1-0, 1.59 ERA) on to pitch for Heiberger*
-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging after a 7-pitch at-bat.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Will Plattner strikes out swinging.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. flies out to CF in left-center.
-Bryce Fowler grounds out to 1B unassisted.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 6
9th Inning:
T9
-Dean Curley grounds out to SS.
-Jay Abernathy singles to SS.
Abernathy caught stealing second, 2-4.
- Slid right into the tag. Tennessee challenged the play and the ruling STOOD.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.
END OF TOP HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 6
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Crimson Tide 6
