SCORE: Tennessee 9, Alabama 2 | FINAL
***SCROLL DOWN FOR LIVE AT-BAT BY AT-BAT FEED***
No. 1 Tennessee baseball (21-2, 4-1 SEC) is set to battle the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide (22-2, 4-1 SEC) Saturday in game three of a three-game series in Tuscaloosa. The series is tied 1-1.
First pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium is at 2:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.
For a full preview of the Alabama series, including information on how to watch all three games and a prediction, click HERE.
Tennessee enters Saturday’s contest coming off a 10-7 series-evening win over Alabama on Friday. Tennessee’s offense had its best game in over a week while Nate Snead, Andrew Behnke and Tanner Franklin all provided valuable appearances out of the bullpen.
Tennessee’s Friday win over Alabama snapped a two-game losing streak and forced a Saturday rubber match.
Tennessee lost the series opener to the Tide, 6-5. The Vols could not overcome a five-run second inning from Alabama and came up just short.
Liam Doyle wasn’t his usual dominant self but bounced back well after a poor start, saving the bullpen. Dylan Loy was incredible in two innings out of the bullpen. Read more about Tennessee’s series-opening loss and series-evening win below.
GAME ONE RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Fails to Overcome Early Deficit, Loses Series Opener at Alabama
GAME TWO RECAP: Tennessee Baseball Takes Game Two To Even Up Weekend Series At Alabama
Tennessee enters the Alabama 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.
In the ETSU loss, Kilen suffered a lower-body injury when an ETSU player slid into him. The star second baseman remains OUT after missing game one as well. Tony Vitello said in Thursday’s in-game interview that Kilen is dealing with a hamstring issue and is “day-to-day.” UT’s coach said the most Kilen would do this series is pinch hit.
Prior to the midweek 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 is starting for Alabama Saturday.
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 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.
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. Tony Vitello told John Wilkerson on the radio Friday that Tennessee is going to have to “inch back” Kilen into the lineup.
- UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
- 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. Before the Tennessee series, 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, and 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 started Thursday.
TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Evened Up Series At Alabama
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: Tennessee’s Tony Vitello, Dalton Bargo React to Vols’ 10-7 Win Over Alabama in Game Two
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)
LF Jay Abernathy (L)
CF Hunter Ensley (R)
1B Andrew Fischer (L)
DH Dalton Bargo (L)
RF Reese Chapman (L)
2B Manny Marin (R)
C Cannon Peebles (S)
SS Ariel Antigua (R)
Lineup Notes:
- With Gavin Kilen OUT with a lower-body injury, Manny Marin starts at second base.
- Dalton Bargo gets the DH nod after recording two huge RBI hits in Friday’s win.
- Levi Clark is not in the starting lineup for the first time in awhile. He is on a 2-19 slump at the plate with 10 strikeouts.
- Dean Curley is starting at third instead of short.
- Ariel Antigua gets the nod at short with Curley working at third.
- Antigua’s fifth SEC start of his career and second straight.
- Jay Abernathy moves up in the order to the two-hole with Kilen out. He also hit second Thursday and Friday.
- Abernathy makes more sense there than Fischer or Chapman given the style of play.
- Cannon Peebles behind the plate. Lawless got his lone catcher start of the weekend on Friday.
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 Fr. RHP Tegan Kuhns (2-0, 1.08 ERA, 5 app., 2 starts, 8.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 3 XBH, .200 opp.batting avg., 0.96 WHIP)
vs.
Crimson Tide R-Sr. RHP Bobby Alcock (3-0, 3.60 ERA, 5 app., 5 starts, 20.0 IP, 16 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 25 K, 3 XBH, .211 opp. batting avg.)
Pitching notes:
- Kuhns’ second straight Sunday start and third overall. Has started against Arizona and Florida.
- Kuhns has only been used as an opener so far. His longest outing is 2.2 innings. We’ll see if Tony lets him go longer today.
- Alcock has been a weekend guy for Alabama all season and is coming off his best outing of the season. The redshirt senior recorded seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 series-sweeping win over Texas A&M last weekend.
Uniforms
Tennessee: Orange shirts grey pants
Alabama: White shirts and pants with maroon caps
*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 singles up the middle.
-Jay Abernathy grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.
-Hunter Ensley singles up the middle.
-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 1B unassisted.
END OF TOP HALF
B1
-Bryce Fowler flies out to CF.
-Justin Lebron strikes out looking.
-Coleman Mizell strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 0, Crimson Tide 0
2nd Inning:
T2
-Dalton Bargo triples to right-center.
-Reese Chapman rips a sac fly to LF. Bargo scores.
-Manny Marin works a walk.
-Cannon Peebles HBP. Marin to second.
-Ariel Antigua works a walk after a long at-bat (9 pitches).
- Bases loaded with one out for Dean Curley.
-Dean Curley flies out to shallow right field.
- Too shallow for Marin to make it home.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging on three pitches.
- Big missed opportunity for Tennessee in the second.
END OF TOP HALF
B2
-Jason Torres grounds out to SS.
- Great play by Ariel.
-Will Hodo grounds out to 3B.
-Brennen Norton strikes out looking.
- 95 mph strike three.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 1, Crimson Tide 0
3rd Inning:
T3
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Andrew Fischer smokes a solo homer right center.
- 416 feet, 105 mph.
-Dalton Bargo ropes a solo homer to right field.
- Bargo’s last four ABs: RBI double, 2-run single, triple, HR
- 337 feet, 106 mph
*Pitching change: LHP Matthew Heiberger (2-1, 2.08 ERA) on to pitch for Alcock*
-Reese Chapman slaps a double to left-center.
-Manny Marin lines out to SS.
- Throw was a tad off so Chapman is safe coming back to the bag. Avoids the double play.
-Cannon Peebles grounds out to P.
END OF TOP HALF
B3
-Kade Snell grounds out to SS.
-Will Plattner grounds out to SS.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. strikes out swinging on three pitches.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 3, Crimson Tide 0
4th Inning:
T4
-Ariel Antigua singles to center.
-Dean Curley sends a single through the right side. Antigua to second.
-Jay Abernathy grounds out to 1B unassisted, out on interference. Runners stay at first and second.
- Was initially ruled as a throwing error by Heiberger allowing Abernathy to reach and Antigua to score. But the call was OVERTURNED after review. Interference is the ruling and Abernathy is out.
*Pitching change: RHP Braylon Myers (2-0, 1.32 ERA) on to pitch for Heiberger*
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
-Andrew Fischer is walked.
- Bases loaded with two outs for Dalton Bargo.
Antigua scores on a wild pitch. Other runners advance.
-Dalton Bargo flies out to LF.
END OF TOP HALF
B4
-Bryce Fowler grounds out to 1B unassisted.
-Justin Lebron strikes out swinging.
-Coleman Mizell works a walk.
- First baserunner for Alabama today.
-Jason Torres flies out to LF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 4, Crimson Tide 0
5th Inning:
T5
-Reese Chapman delivers a solo homer to right field.
- 359 feet, 107 mph.
-Manny Marin singles to right center.
-Cannon Peebles grounds out to 2B. Marin to second.
-Ariel Antigua grounds out to 2B. Marin to third.
-Dean Curley flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B5
-Will Hodo works a walk.
-Brennen Norton flies out to RF.
-Kade Snell singles through the right side. Hodo advances to third.
*Pitching change: Fr. RHP Brayden Krenzel (0-0, 0.00 ERA) on to pitch for Kuhns*
-Will Plattner strikes out looking.
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. flies out to CF.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 0
6th Inning:
T6
*Pitching change: RHP Hagan Banks (0-0, 1.23 ERA) on to pitch for Myers*
-Jay Abernathy strikes out swinging.
-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk.
-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging after an eight-pitch at-bat.
END OF TOP HALF
B6
-Bryce Fowler out at first, 1-4-3.
- Ground ball ricocheted off Krenzel’s foot. Marin was able to easily make the play.
-Justin Lebron strikes out swinging.
- Bad day for the Alabama start. He’s 0-3 with 3 K.
-Coleman Mizell singles to 2B.
- Close call but he’s safe. Would’ve been an incredible play by Marin.
-Jason Torres smacks a single to left field. Mizell to second.
-Will Hodo strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 5, Crimson Tide 0
7th Inning:
T7
*Pitching change: RHP Aidan Moza (0-0, 3.86 ERA) on to pitch for Banks*
-Reese Chapman singles through the right side.
-Manny Marin flies out to LF.
Chapman advances to second on a wild pitch.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF. Chapman to third.
-Ariel Antigua sends an RBI single up the middle. Chapman scores.
-Dean Curley singles through the right side. Antigua to second.
-Jay Abernathy works a walk to load the bases.
- Bases loaded with two outs for Hunter Ensley.
*Pitching change: RHP Coulson Buchanan (0-0, 1.93 ERA) on to pitch for Moza*
-Hunter Ensley drives a three-run double to left field.
- Left-fielder dove for the ball and didn’t come up with it. Leads to the double clearing the bases.
-Andrew Fischer works a walk.
-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 1B unassisted.
END OF TOP HALF
B7
-Brennen Norton grounds out to SS.
-Kade Snell flies out to LF.
-Will Plattner strikes out swinging.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 9, Crimson Tide 0
8th Inning:
T8
-Reese Chapman strikes out swinging.
-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.
-Cannon Peebles flies out to CF.
END OF TOP HALF
B8
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. doubles down the LF line.
-Bryce Fowler out at first 1B to P. Bonomolo Jr. to third.
-Justin Lebron sends an RBI groundout to P.
-Coleman Mizell grounds out to 2B.
END OF BOTTOM HALF.
Score: Vols 9, Crimson Tide 1
9th Inning:
T9
*Pitching change: RHP Aeden Finateri (0-0, 3.68 ERA) on to pitch for Buchanan*
-Ariel Antigua doubles to left field.
-Dean Curley strikes out swinging.
-Jay Abernathy strikes out looking.
Antigua advances to third on a wild pitch.
-Hunter Ensley strikes out swinging.
END OF TOP HALF
B9
-Jason Torres strikes out swinging.
-Will Hodo strikes out swinging.
-Brennen Norton works a walk.
*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) on to pitch for Krenzel*
-Kade Snell singles to LF. Norton to second.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Aaron Combs (0-0, 5.40 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*
-Will Plattner sends an RBI single up the middle. Snell to second. Norton scores.
*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 3.46 ERA) on to pitch for Combs*
-Richie Bonomolo Jr. strikes out looking.
END OF BOTTOM HALF
Score: Vols 9, Crimson Tide 2
END OF GAME
FINAL: Tennessee Vols 9, Crimson Tide 2
