Tennessee baseball faces a potential series sweep against Kentucky after suffering two heavy losses, scoring only four runs combined. The team needs to address its offensive inconsistencies to avoid further defeat.
Key points
Tennessee baseball has lost the first two games of the series against Kentucky
The team has scored only four runs in the series so far
Tennessee's record in the SEC is now 10-13
Offensive inconsistencies have plagued Tennessee throughout the season
TennesseeKentucky
What does Tennessee baseball need in order to avoid series sweep at Kentucky
After scoring at least six runs in all but two of their last nine SEC games, there was reason to believe the inconsistencies that had previously plagued the Vols’ offense had been remedied.
But in their first two games at Kentucky (29-15, 11-12 SEC), both lopsided losses, those offensive woes returned at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. Tennessee (30-17, 10-13) has managed just four total runs in the series, dropping the first matchup on May 1, 9-2, and Game 2 on May 2 in eight innings, 12-2.
Q&A
What was the score of the first game between Tennessee and Kentucky?
Tennessee lost the first game against Kentucky with a score of 9-2.
How many runs did Tennessee score in the series against Kentucky?
Tennessee scored a total of four runs in the series against Kentucky.
What does Tennessee need to improve to avoid being swept by Kentucky?
Tennessee needs to address its offensive inconsistencies to avoid being swept by Kentucky.
What is Tennessee's current record in the SEC after the losses to Kentucky?
After the losses to Kentucky, Tennessee's record in the SEC is 10-13.
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Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn meet during the pregame meeting of an NCAA college baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee's Landon Mack (18) opens against Alabama in an NCAA college baseball game between on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee's Garrett Wright (5) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee's Garrett Wright (5) and Henry Ford (9) celebrate after Wright hit a home run in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee's Henry Ford (9) after hitting a double during an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee baseball fans watch a foul ball soar over the stadium during an NCAA college baseball game between Tennessee and Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee's Manny Marin (4) field a ground ball during the NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Tennessee dugout celebrates with Garrett Wright (5) on his second home run during an NCAA college baseball game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn meet during the pregame meeting of an NCAA college baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander and Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn meet during the pregame meeting of an NCAA college baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee's Landon Mack (18) opens against Alabama in an NCAA college baseball game between on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee's Garrett Wright (5) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee's Garrett Wright (5) and Henry Ford (9) celebrate after Wright hit a home run in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee's Henry Ford (9) after hitting a double during an NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee baseball fans watch a foul ball soar over the stadium during an NCAA college baseball game between Tennessee and Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
Tennessee's Manny Marin (4) field a ground ball during the NCAA college baseball game against Alabama on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Tennessee baseball, Landon Mack vs Alabama, our best photos
The Tennessee dugout celebrates with Garrett Wright (5) on his second home run during an NCAA college baseball game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on April 23, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
As it prepares for the series finale on May 3 (1 p.m. ET, SEC Network+), UT finds itself needing an offensive spark to avoid being swept.
“A lot went wrong again,” first-year UT coach Josh Elander said on May 2. “Not a good approach by our guys, swinging at too many pitches out of the strike zone. Good stuff by (Kentucky starter Jaxon Jelkin) today, but we didn't get out of the gates. … Not a good formula in any capacity today.”
Tennessee has had to play from behind in both games
Slow starts have become a dangerous habit for the Vols through two games against the Wildcats. Their two runs in the series opener didn’t arrive until Henry Ford hit a home run in the eighth inning, the team by then already down 9-0.
They generated a few opportunities before but weren't able to cash in on three separate chances with a runner in scoring position — once seeing a potential Jay Abernathy RBI single prevented by a full-extension diving catch in shallow left field.
In the second game, Tennessee didn’t manage a baserunner off Jelkin until the fifth and were caught trying to make up an early deficit again. During a mid-game flurry that saw the deficit lessened to 4-2 by a Blaine Brown home run, Tennessee worked the tying run to the plate in the sixth with the heart of the order up.
That was the closest they would get; the next nine batters went down in order and Kentucky pounced on the Vols’ bullpen to run-rule them.
Postseason stakes put extra importance on series finale
In Tennessee's first 12 SEC matchups, it averaged 5.7 runs per game, contributing to a 4-8 start in league play. But in the nine following conference games, beginning with a sweep of Mississippi State, that number jumped to 7.3 runs per game and included two series wins, boosting the Vols’ SEC record to 10-11. That stretch removed doubt from their NCAA Tournament resume and put them in position to earn a bye in the single-elimination conference tournament.
Now, Tennessee enters the series finale needing a result before facing No. 4 Texas next week – which owns arguably the most feared pitching staff in the SEC.
“At this point, there needs to be more sense of urgency and a little bit more pride,” Elander said. “Very, very frustrating day all the way around, especially after the performance last night. We have to come into tomorrow and basically throw this game in the trash and reset and be ready to go and salvage the weekend tomorrow.”
