BSB PREVIEW: Vols Set to Duel with #22/25 Rebels at LNS

April 16, 2026 | Baseball

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off its first SEC series sweep in the Josh Elander era, Tennessee will look to continue its recent run of success against the Mississippi schools as it hosts No. 22/25 Ole Miss this Friday through Sunday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

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Game & Broadcast Info

Opponent: Ole Miss Rebels
Dates: April 17-19
Location: Knoxville, Tenn.
Venue: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (8,012)
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: Vol Network/UT Athletics App
Live Stats: UTStats.com
Game 1: Friday, April 17 – 6:30 p.m. (SECN+)
Game 2: Saturday, April 18 – 6 p.m. (SECN+)
Game 3: Sunday, April 19 – 1 p.m. (SECN+)

Tennessee (25-12 | 7-8 SEC)

Roster Schedule Stats

#22/25 Ole Miss (27-11 | 8-7 SEC)

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The Big Orange have won five straight entering this weekend's series, including a series sweep on the road against No. 8/9 Mississippi State last weekend in Starkville. The Rebels are also coming off a sweep, taking all three at home against LSU last weekend in Oxford.

CHECKER LNS

Tennessee announced on Monday that it will hold its second Checker Lindsey Nelson Stadium game in program history when the Vols and Rebels square off on Saturday night, showcasing UT's iconic checkerboard pattern throughout the ballpark.

The only other Checker LNS occurrence came on May 15, 2021, when UT defeated No. 1 Arkansas, 8-7, on a Max Ferguson walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning.

To find your assigned color, visit CheckerLNS.com and enter your section, row and seat number. Students and fans with standing room only tickets are encouraged to wear orange. For more information, click HERE.

THE NEW LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM

The new Lindsey Nelson Stadium now has the amenities to match its elite environment after undergoing a $100-plus million renovation to transform it into one of the nation's finest facilities. The updated capacity for Lindsey Nelson Stadium is 8,012 after the newly added premium seating areas and additional standing room only spaces.

The following is a list of new amenities that will be in place at Lindsey Nelson Stadium for the 2026 season:
- NEW: Home plate entrance and plaza area
- NEW: Left field plaza entrance
- NEW: Third level suites and club space
- NEW: Additional chairback seats under a new mezzanine level
- NEW: First base line restrooms and concessions
- NEW: Left field bar on main concourse (behind the current 4Topps section)
- NEW: Kitchen, which will enhance the food offerings throughout Lindsey Nelson Stadium
- NEW: Ticket office and team merchandise shop inside the main entrance
- NEW: Player entry corridor
- NEW: Third base line restrooms, a mother's room and concessions which will open around SEC play
- NEW: Multiple elevators
- NEW: Permanent, programmable LED and stadium lighting
- Fully completed mezzanine level with a new press box and broadcast booths
- Renovated concessions on main concourse behind home plate
- MVP Room expansion

GAMEDAY INFO

Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.

PROMOTIONS & GIVEAWAYS

All upcoming promotions for all home games during the season can be found HERE.

The first 1,000 students for Saturday's game will receive a free Checker LNS orange t-shirt sponsored by Dick's Sporting Goods. Gates for Saturday's contest open at 4:30 p.m.

BROADCAST INFO

Myan Patel (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will have the call for all three games this weekend on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

Fans can also listen to the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and VFL Will Heflin call the action on the Vol Network (FM 991./AM 990), UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

Game 1 – Friday (6:30 pm on SEC Network+):
UT: RHP Landon Mack (9 GS, 3-2, 3.75 ERA)
UM: LHP Hunter Elliott (9 GS, 3-1, 3.69 ERA)

Game 2 – Saturday (6 pm on SEC Network+):
UT: RHP Tegan Kuhns (8 GS, 2-3, 3.77 ERA)
UM: RHP Cade Townsend (8 GS, 3-1, 2.02 ERA)

Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm on SEC Network+):
UT: LHP Evan Blanco (9 GS, 3-2, 3.67 ERA)
UM: RHP Taylor Rabe (3 GS, 3-1, 3.16 ERA)

SERIES HISTORY

Vols vs. Rebels
Overall: Ole Miss leads, 52-47-1
in Knoxville: Ole Miss leads, 23-21
in Oxford: Ole Miss leads, 26-25-1
at Neutral Sites: Ole Miss leads, 3-1
Last 10 Meetings: UT leads, 7-3
Last Meeting: April 13, 2025 (W, 10-8 in Oxford)

Tennessee has won four consecutive series against Ole Miss dating back to 2019, two in Knoxville and two in Oxford. The Vols won a back-and-forth rubber game to take last year's series at Swayze Field behind a three-run ninth inning that featured a two-run homer from Reese Chapman.

NOTABLE

Vols Against Ranked SEC Foes
This weekend's series against No. 22/25 Ole Miss will be UT's third against a ranked SEC foe this year. The Vols dropped two of three games at No. 6/8 Georgia to open conference play and swept No. 8/9 Mississippi State last week.

During Elander's time on staff in Knoxville, the Vols have played 48 SEC regular-season series against ranked teams and have won 28 of those series with an 81-63 overall record. Since 2021, Tennessee is 23-11 in such series with a 65-37 overall record, including 10 series wins. Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, the Big Orange have claimed 12 series victories while posting 42 total wins in the regular season since 2019.

Situational Hitting on Point
A major factor in Tennessee's series sweep against No. 8/9 Mississippi State was the impressive situational hitting throughout the weekend. In the Vols' three wins in Starkville, they combined to hit .415 (17-41) with runners on base, .357 910-28) with runners in scoring position and .342 (13-38) with two outs. Nine of UT's 19 runs in the series were scored with two outs.

Another Week, Another Appenzeller Gem
Cam Appenzeller continued his ridiculous string of dominant relief outings in last Friday night's series-opening victory against the Bulldogs. The freshman lefty earned his third SEC win and improved to 5-0 on the year after holding State's dangerous lineup to just two runs on three hits while pitching the game's final five innings in a 6-5 win. Appenzeller also posted a career-high eight strikeouts and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for his efforts.

MSU's two runs were the first Appenzeller has allowed in SEC play this season, ending a streak of 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings to begin league play. For the year, Appenzeller has a conference-leading 0.69 WHIP and also boasts a 1.49 ERA, which ranks second in the league. In SEC games, he has a 0.60 WHIP and 0.77 ERA with 27 strikeouts and just two walks in 23.1 innings of work.

G-Wright Getting It Done
Garrett Wright has provided a major boost to Tennessee's lineup after missing the first three weeks of the season due to injury and has become a serious weapon from the leadoff spot. The Bowling Green transfer has been a fixture in the starting lineup since his return (25 straight starts), slashing .348/.460/.587 with 24 runs, 11 doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Wright also leads the team with 13 hit by pitches to bring his career total to 62, which is tied for fifth most among active Division I players. Entering this weekend, he has reached base in 24 of his 25 starts and has recorded at least one hit in 20 of the 25 games in which he's had a plate appearance this year.

Wright was UT's most productive hitter in last weekend's series sweep at No. 8/9 Mississippi State, leading the team with a .500 batting average (5-for-10), three runs, two walks, and .800 slugging percentage and a .571on-base percentage. He also had a double, a triple and three RBIs against the Bulldogs. Over UT's last 10 games, Wright leads the team with a .405 batting average and 15 hits, including six doubles.

OPPONENT SCOUT

Ole Miss Rebels (27-11, 8-7 SEC)

2025 Record: 43-21 (16-14 SEC)
2025 Postseason: NCAA Oxford Regional (3-2)
2026 SEC Preseason Poll: 10^th
Head Coach: Mike Bianco
- Overall Record: 1,076-646-1 (29^th year)
- Record at UM: 976-575-1 (26^th year)
Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
- SP Hunter Elliott (1^st team), 1B Will Furniss (2^nd team)

The Rebels have been dominant at home this season with a 22-4 record in Oxford but are just 3-5 on the road entering this weekend's series in Knoxville.

ON DECK

The Vols continue their nine-game homestand with an in-state showdown against Lipscomb next Tuesday night before hosting Alabama for another challenging SEC series which will begin on Thursday night.