Tennessee Returns Home to Host Austin Peay After Walkoff Sweep at Vanderbilt

Image: Ryan Beatty/Tennessee Athletics

By Aidan Sidoti

Tennessee baseball returns to the diamond of Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Tuesday night looking to bounce back after a brutal weekend in Nashville. The Vols, now 18‑10 overall and 3‑6 in SEC play, were swept by Vanderbilt in excruciating fashion, losing all three games on walkoffs, including one of the longest and most painful defeats Josh Elander will see.

Saturday’s 16‑inning marathon ended on a Braden Holcomb RBI bunt single, capping a game that stretched close to five hours long. Sunday, somehow managed to top it. The Vols held a 15‑10 lead in the bottom of the ninth before Holcomb delivered a two‑run single and Tommy Goodin followed with a pinch‑hit grand slam, giving Vanderbilt a 16‑15 win and completing a sweep that will be remembered for a while in Knoxville.

Tennessee now turns its attention to Austin Peay, which enters at 14‑14 and 5‑4 in ASUN play. The Vols hold a 23‑4 advantage in the all‑time series, with the most recent meeting coming in May 2023, a 9-4 Vols win.

The matchup opens a five‑game homestand for the Vols, who are looking to reset before diving back into SEC play this weekend against LSU. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern on SEC Network+.