NO SIR EEE
The Sultan Of Swat
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Kent State Golden Flashes
(3-1) Overall (0-0) MAC
@
Tennessee Volunteers
(4-0) Overall (0-0) SEC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/13 Tennessee will look to keep its hot start to the year going this weekend against Kent State, who visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday afternoon.
The Volunteers are coming off a 10-3 midweek win over UNC Asheville on Tuesday after sweeping Nicholls to open the season last weekend, while the Golden Flashes enter the series with a 3-1 record after sweeping Southeastern Louisiana before dropping a hard-fought midweek contest at LSU on Monday.
Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ciaran Caughey (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (4 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Easton Tumis (1 GS, 1-0, 3.38 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ben Rabatin (1 GS, 0-0, 4.91 ERA)
Overall: 0-0 (First Meeting)
in Knoxville: --
in Kent: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: --
The Volunteers had a successful opening weekend as Elander recorded his first three official wins as a head coach. Tennessee outscored Nicholls 27-3 and posted a pair of run-rule victories en route to a series sweep, which was the program's fifth straight when playing at home on opening weekend (2019, 2020, 2022, 2025, 2026).
Non-Conference = No Problem
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 152-25 record in that span. UT was 28-2 against non-SEC opponents last season after going 32-3 against non-SEC foes during the 2024 season, including an 8-1 mark in the postseason.
The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 18 of their 20 regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020, including 15 straight.
What Can Brown Do For You?
Few players in the country had a more impressive opening weekend than sophomore slugger Blaine Brown, who hit .571 with team highs in runs (seven), hits (eight), home runs (three), RBIs (five), total bases (18) and slugging percentage (1.286) during his debut series with Tennessee.
The Rice transfer finished with multiple hits in all three games of the series with half of his eight hits resulting in extra bases. In Saturday's doubleheader, Brown scored six runs, had six hits (including three homers) and had five RBIs. He was named to the Baseball America Team of the Week following his impressive opening weekend performances.
Brown, a two-way talent, made his first appearance on the mound this season in Tuesday's midweek win over UNC Asheville. The left-hander started the game by striking out the side in the first inning, which was his lone inning of work before settling into the DH spot, and recording an RBI double later in the game.
Premium Arms Shine on Opening Weekend
UT's pitching staff was dominant on opening weekend, holding Nicholls to just three runs on 14 hits and a .165 batting average. All three of the Vols' starters (Tegan Kuhns, Landon Mack, Evan Blanco) earned victories and had eight-plus strikeouts in their respective outings while allowing just one combined run.
(3-1) Overall (0-0) MAC
Tennessee Volunteers
(4-0) Overall (0-0) SEC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 3/13 Tennessee will look to keep its hot start to the year going this weekend against Kent State, who visits Lindsey Nelson Stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday afternoon.
The Volunteers are coming off a 10-3 midweek win over UNC Asheville on Tuesday after sweeping Nicholls to open the season last weekend, while the Golden Flashes enter the series with a 3-1 record after sweeping Southeastern Louisiana before dropping a hard-fought midweek contest at LSU on Monday.
BROADCAST INFO
Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will have the call on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app for all three contests against the Golden Flashes this weekend.Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action via a free audio stream on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1 – Friday (4:30 pm):UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ciaran Caughey (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game 2 – Saturday (4 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Easton Tumis (1 GS, 1-0, 3.38 ERA)
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (1 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA) OR LHP Evan Blanco (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA)
KSU: RHP Ben Rabatin (1 GS, 0-0, 4.91 ERA)
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. Kent StateOverall: 0-0 (First Meeting)
in Knoxville: --
in Kent: --
at Neutral Sites: --
Last Meeting: --
NOTABLE
Elander Era Off and RunningThe Volunteers had a successful opening weekend as Elander recorded his first three official wins as a head coach. Tennessee outscored Nicholls 27-3 and posted a pair of run-rule victories en route to a series sweep, which was the program's fifth straight when playing at home on opening weekend (2019, 2020, 2022, 2025, 2026).
Non-Conference = No Problem
Tennessee has been extremely successful against non-conference opponents since the start of the 2019 season, posting a 152-25 record in that span. UT was 28-2 against non-SEC opponents last season after going 32-3 against non-SEC foes during the 2024 season, including an 8-1 mark in the postseason.
The Vols have not lost a regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020 (Wright State) and have swept 18 of their 20 regular-season non-conference weekend series since 2020, including 15 straight.
What Can Brown Do For You?
Few players in the country had a more impressive opening weekend than sophomore slugger Blaine Brown, who hit .571 with team highs in runs (seven), hits (eight), home runs (three), RBIs (five), total bases (18) and slugging percentage (1.286) during his debut series with Tennessee.
The Rice transfer finished with multiple hits in all three games of the series with half of his eight hits resulting in extra bases. In Saturday's doubleheader, Brown scored six runs, had six hits (including three homers) and had five RBIs. He was named to the Baseball America Team of the Week following his impressive opening weekend performances.
Brown, a two-way talent, made his first appearance on the mound this season in Tuesday's midweek win over UNC Asheville. The left-hander started the game by striking out the side in the first inning, which was his lone inning of work before settling into the DH spot, and recording an RBI double later in the game.
Premium Arms Shine on Opening Weekend
UT's pitching staff was dominant on opening weekend, holding Nicholls to just three runs on 14 hits and a .165 batting average. All three of the Vols' starters (Tegan Kuhns, Landon Mack, Evan Blanco) earned victories and had eight-plus strikeouts in their respective outings while allowing just one combined run.
OPPONENT SCOUT
Kent State Golden Flashes (3-1)- 2025 Record: 38-18 (23-7 MAC)
- 2025 Postseason: N/A
- 2026 MAC Preseason Poll: 2nd
- Head Coach: Jeff Duncan
- Overall Record: 389-243 (13th year)
- Record at Kent State: Same
- Preseason All-Conference Selections: N/A
ON DECK
The Vols conclude their season opening eight-game homestand with a midweek matchup against Bellarmine on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m.
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