SCORE: Tennessee 5, Ole Miss 8 | FINAL (Series tied 1-1)

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

No. 5 Tennessee baseball (30-4, 10-3 SEC) is set to battle the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (26-8, 8-5 SEC) Saturday in game two of a three-game series in Oxford.

First pitch at Swayze Field is at 5:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network +.

For a full preview of the series, including how to watch all three games, pitching matchups and a prediction, click HERE.

Tennessee enters Saturday’s contest coming off a thrilling 3-2 series-opening win over the Rebels. Starting pitcher Liam Doyle carried the Vols to the win, allowing two runs on three hits in a career-long 8.1 innings pitched while tying his career high with 14 strikeouts.

Doyle was the best he’s been all season and Tennessee needed him to be, as the Vols offense was shut down by Ole Miss reliever Mason Morris.

Read about Tennessee’s Doyle’s night in his return to Oxford HERE.

The Vols would clinch the series with a win on Saturday, which would mark their fourth SEC series win of the season. A loss would force Tennessee’s third series rubber match on the year.

RETURN: Tennessee Baseball Stars Readying For Return To Ole Miss This Weekend

Before this weekend, Tennessee suffered its first series loss of the season last weekend against Texas A&M. After securing a run-rule no-hit win over the Aggies in game one, Tennessee got swept in a Saturday doubleheader to drop the series.

It wasn’t pretty either, as A&M recorded 11 home runs across the two games and capped off the doubleheader with a 17-6 run-rule win in eight innings. It was by far the worst day for Tennessee’s pitching staff this season and the offense did minimal damage in 17 innings.

However, Tennessee has still had a great season to date. The Vols own series sweeps over South Carolina and Florida and also won two of three on the road against a Top-15 Alabama team. Looking at the season as a whole, last Saturday is a major outlier but certainly was the first true cause for concern so far this season.

Tuesday, Tennessee bounced back from the A&M series loss with a 10-2 win over Alabama State.

The series loss to Texas A&M marked Tennessee’s first in over a year, snapping Tennessee’s streak of 12 straight SEC series wins dating back to March 2024.

After the series loss, Tennessee dropped four spots in D1 Baseball’s Top 25 poll from No. 1 to No. 5. Read about where Tennessee is ranked in all five major polls below.

RANKINGS: How Far Tennessee Baseball Fell In Rankings Following First Series Loss Of The Season

Tennessee is the healthiest they’ve been in a while this weekend. Star junior infielder Gavin Kilen was not on the injury report heading into game one and is starting at DH for the second straight game. Kilen ran the bases in Friday’s game but did so gingerly.

Additionally, RHP AJ Russell was not on the injury report, meaning he can pitch for the Vols this weekend if called upon. He has started each of the past two midweek games and pitched three total innings.

The worst part of Tennessee’s season so far is first baseman Alberto Osuna having his injunction for another season of eligibility denied by a judge at the beginning of March.

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.

Injury/Availability Notes

• OF Chris Newstrom is OUT for the second straight game with an illness.
• UNC transfer first baseman Alberto Osuna remains ineligible.
• 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

Ole Miss’ great season has been a surprise thus far.

Picked to finish 15th in the SEC Preseason Poll, the Rebels are off to a 8-4 start in league play with series wins over Florida and Kentucky and a series sweep over Missouri on the road. The Rebels lone SEC series loss came to Arkansas on the first weekend of conference play.

Ole Miss also owns a 15-5, seven-inning run-rule win over Clemson in opening weekend.

Head coach Mike Bianco’s squad hasn’t had the toughest of schedules though, as Missouri, Florida and Kentucky have all been bottom-tier or mid-tier at best in the SEC so far.

The Rebels boast just one Preseason All-Conference selection in starting LHP Hunter Elliott, who started Friday’s game.

Prediction: Tennessee wins two-of-three in Oxford.

TRANSCRIPT: Everything Tennessee HC Tony Vitello Said Following Thrilling Series Opening Win Over Ole Miss

For all of RTI’s baseball coverage so far this season, click here.

For the latest RTI Diamond Pass, discussing the biggest takeaways from Tennessee’s series loss to Texas A&M, click HERE.

---

 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)

DH Gavin Kilen (L)

CF Hunter Ensley (R)

1B Andrew Fischer (L)

3B Dalton Bargo (L)

LF Levi Clark (R)

RF Reese Chapman (L)

2B Manny Marin (R)

C Cannon Peebles (S)

Lineup Notes:

• Gavin Kilen stays in the lineup at DH after making his return from a hamstring injury in Friday’s game.
• Levi Clark starting his first game since the South Carolina series. His first outfield start of the season.
  • Clark is currently in a 0-16 slump at the plate.
• Dalton Bargo moves to third base for the day with Clark in left. No Jay Abernathy for the second straight day.
• Ariel Antigua goes to the bench for the first time in SEC play since the series opener at Alabama. He went 0-4 in the series opener.
• Cannon Peebles behind the plate for the second straight game in the series.

OLE MISS STARTING NINE: 

CF Isaac Humphrey (L)

3B Luke Hill (R)

LF Mitchell Sanford (L)

1B Will Furniss (L)

RF Ryan Moerman (R)

DH Hayden Federico (S)

2B Judd Utermark (R)

C Austin Fawley (R)

SS Brayden Randle (L)

Pitching Matchup:

Vols Jr. RHP Marcus Phillips (2-1, 2.68 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 1 CGSO, 40.1 IP, 29 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 10 BB, 48 K, 9 XBH, .196 opp. batting avg., 0.97 WHIP)

vs.

Rebels Sr. RHP Riley Maddox (3-2, 6.10 ERA, 8 app., 8 starts, 31.0 IP, 33 H, 22 R, 21 ER, 15 BB, 31 K, 9 XBH, .280 opp. batting avg., 1.55 WHIP)

Pitching notes:

• Phillips will look to bounce back from a forgetful 4.2-inning outing against Texas A&M last weekend in which he gave up three home runs.
• Maddox has been hit or miss this season but is coming off his best outing, allowing one unearned run on four hits in 5.0 innings against Kentucky.
  • Maddox’ ERA is heavily influenced by two really bad outings (6 R in 3.1 IP vs. Texas & 7 R in 2.1 IP vs. Missouri)

Uniforms

Tennessee: Orange shirts grey pants

Ole Miss: Red shirts with white pants and dark blue caps

---

*NOTES*

• The run-rule is MANDATORY in SEC play. If Tennessee or Texas A&M leads by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, the game is over.

---

GAME THREAD

1st Inning: 

T1

-Dean Curley flies out to CF in left-center.

-Gavin Kilen rips a solo homer to right center.

• 11th HR of the season for Kilen.
• 1-2 pitch that just got over.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to 2B.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to LF.

END OF TOP HALF

B1

-Isaac Humphrey strikes out swinging.

-Luke Hill works a walk after an eight-pitch at-bat.

Hill steals second.

-Mitchell Sanford is walked. Hill steals second.

Sanford steals third.

-Will Furniss sends an RBI groundout to SS. Sanford to third.

-Ryan Moerman ropes an RBI double down the LF line.

-Hayden Federico knocks an RBI single up the middle.

Federico steals second.

Federico steals third.

-Judd Utermark strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 1, Rebels 3

2nd Inning: 

T2

-Dalton Bargo grounds out to 2B.

-Levi Clark hammers a solo homer to center.

• Clark’s 7th HR of the season.
• First homer for Clark since March 9 vs. St. Bonaventure
• Breaks him out of an 0-16 slump at the plate.

-Reese Chapman grounds out to SS.

-Manny Marin strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B2

-Austin Fawley launches a solo homer to left field.

-Brayden Randle singles up the middle.

Randle steals second.

• Ole Miss’ 6th stolen base.

-Isaac Humphrey fouls out to 3B.

• Really nice sliding catch by Bargo.

-Luke Hill strikes out looking on three pitches.

Brayden Randle caught stealing third, 2-5.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Rebels 4

3rd Inning: 

T3

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

-Dean Curley grounds out to 3B.

-Gavin Kilen singles up the middle.

-Hunter Ensley flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B3

-Mitchell Sanford strikes out swinging on three pitches.

-Will Furniss strikes out swinging, out at first C to 1B.

• Went around on a check swing for strike three.
• Phillips up to 5 Ks.

-Ryan Moerman lines out to SS.

• First 1-2-3 inning for Phillips today. Nice bounce back frame.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Rebels 4

4th Inning: 

T4

-Andrew Fischer grounds out to 2B.

-Dalton Bargo strikes out swinging, assist by C.

-Levi Clark flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B4

-Hayden Federico works a leadoff walk.

• Fell behind 0-2 then four straight pitches missed for Phillips.

Frank Anderson calls a mound meeting.

• Had some choice words for the home plate ump.

-Judd Utermark strikes out swinging. Federico steals second, advances to third on a throwing error by C.

• Peebles’ throw slipped out of his hand and went well into the outfield.

*Pitching change: So. LHP Brandon Arvidson (2-0, 3.68 ERA) on to pitch for Phillips*

Federico steals home.

• Suicide squeeze attempt. Runner was going regardless.
• Fawley doesn’t get bunt down but ball gets away from Peebles, allowing Federico to score.
• 8th stolen base for Ole Miss today.

-Austin Fawley strikes out swinging.

-Brayden Randle is walked.

-Isaac Humphrey flies out to LF.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Rebels 5

5th Inning: 

T5

-Reese Chapman works a leadoff walk.

-Manny Marin grounds out to 3B. Chapman to second.

Ole Miss challenged a safe ruling on a pickoff attempt at second. Call stood.

-Cannon Peebles strikes out swinging.

-Dean Curley strikes out looking.

END OF TOP HALF

B5

-Luke Hill smokes a solo homer to center.

-Mitchell Sanford flies out to CF.

-Will Furniss strikes out swinging.

-Ryan Moerman strikes out swinging.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 2, Rebels 6

6th Inning: 

T6

*Pitching change: LHP Ryne Rodriguez (0-0, 1.93 ERA) on to pitch for Maddox*

-Gavin Kilen grounds out to 2B.

• Could’ve been close had Kilen been running at full speed, but he’s clearly on order to not run very fast.

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to SS.

-Andrew Fischer HBP.

• Hit Fischer hard on the hand. He’s taking a moment before going to first.

-Dalton Bargo pounds a two-run homer to right-center.

• 10th HR for Bargo this season.
• Bargo is the fourth Vol to hit 10 or more homers.

Mike Bianco is NOT HAPPY about something Tennessee did. Gives the home-plate ump an earfull.

*Pitching change: RHP Will McCausland (2-0, 6.23 ERA) on to pitch for Rodriguez*

-Levi Clark flies out to RF.

END OF TOP HALF

B6

-Hayden Federico works a leadoff walk.

-Judd Utermark reaches on a throwing error by SS. Federico to second.

• Just sailed it to the left of Fischer. Bad throw on the run.
• Tennessee was fortunate the ball came right back to Fischer preventing Federico from going to third.

-Austin Fawley delivers an RBI single up the middle to score Fawley. Utermark to second.

*Pitching change: Jr. RHP Tanner Franklin (1-1, 4.74 ERA) on to pitch for Arvidson*

-Brayden Randle strikes out looking on three pitches.

-Isaac Humphrey drives an RBI single to right field. Utermark scores, Fawley to third.

-Luke Hill grounds into a 6-4-3 double play.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 4, Rebels 8

7th Inning: 

T7

-Reese Chapman slaps a single up the middle.

-Manny Marin singles through the left side. Chapman to second.

-Cannon Peebles reaches on a fielder’s choice to SS. Marin safe at second. Chapman to third.

• Bases loaded with no outs for Dean Curley.
• Big moment here.

-Dean Curley grounds into a 5-4-3 double play. Chapman scores on the double play. Marin to second.

-Gavin Kilen works a walk.

-Hunter Ensley grounds into a fielder’s choice to SS. Kilen out at second 6U.

END OF TOP HALF

B7

-Mitchell Sanford strikes out looking.

-Will Furniss singles to 2B.

-Ryan Moerman strikes out looking.

-Hayden Federico grounds out to C on a bunt.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Rebels 8

8th Inning: 

T8

*Luke Cheng to SS for Brayden Randle*

-Andrew Fischer drops a single into left field.

-Dalton Bargo flies out to LF.

-Levi Clark flies out to CF after a long at-bat.

-Reese Chapman singles through the right side. Fischer to third.

*Pitching change: RHP Connor Spencer (0-1, 0.73 ERA) on to pitch for McCausland*

*Jay Abernathy pinch-hitting for Manny Marin*

-Abernathy works a walk.

• Bases loaded with two outs for Cannon Peebles.

*Blake Grimmer pinch-hitting for Cannon Peebles*

-Blake Grimmer strikes out swinging.

END OF TOP HALF

B8

*Abernathy to 2B*

*Stone Lawless to C for Blake Grimmer*

-Judd Utermark flies out to CF at the warning track.

-Austin Fawley strikes out looking.

-Luke Cheng singles to SS.

• Curley had no hurry to throw to first. Took his time and Cheng legged it out as a result.

-Isaac Humphrey works a walk. Cheng to second.

-Luke Hill grounds out to 3B.

END OF BOTTOM HALF

Score: Vols 5, Rebels 8

9th Inning: 

T9

-Dean Curley strikes out looking.

-Gavin Kilen dumps a single to center.

*Colby Backus pinch-running for Kilen*

-Hunter Ensley grounds out to P unassisted. Backus to second.

-Andrew Fischer flies out to CF.

END OF TOP HALF

Score: Vols 5, Rebels 8

END OF GAME

FINAL: Tennessee Vols 5, Ole Miss Rebels 8